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Fantasy
- Bannister. The Elsewhere Chronicles series, Book One: The Shadow Door. 2009.
(Ages 9-14) Four friends discover a movie projector that opens a passageway into a world threatened by creatures of shadow, where their only weapon is light.
- Cammuso, Frank. Knights of the Lunch Table series: The Dodge Ball Chronicles. 2008.
(Ages 9-12) Artie King is hoping to fit in at Camelot Middle School, but when he ends up in a dodge ball game against the school bully with only his Magical Locker and new friends to help, it looks like Artie may be in over his head.
- Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl series: The Graphic Novel. 2007.
(Ages 10-14) Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a brilliant criminal mastermind, but even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy: Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit.
- Espinosa, Rod. The Courageous Princess. 2007.
(Ages 8-12) When Princess Mabelrose is kidnapped by a dragon and told that no one will rescue her, she decides to escape and find her way home with her loyal companion Spiky, a talking porcupine, by her side.
- Hunter, Erin. Warriors series: The Lost Warrior: Vol. 1. 2007.
(Ages 10-14) Graystrip, deputy leader of Thunderclan, has finally returned to his forest home after being kidnapped by Twolegs, and finds that fire star has appointed a new deputy leader.
- Petersen, David. Mouse Guard series: Fall 1152. 2007.
(Ages 10+) Saxon, Kenzie and Lieam patrol borders, and try to keep mouse territories free from predators.
- Shiga, Jason. Meanwhile. 2010.
(Ages 8-12) In this choose-your-own adventure graphic novel, a boy stumbles on the laboratory of a mad scientist who asks him to test either a mind-reading device, a time machine or a doomsday machine.
- Smith, Jeff. Bone series: Out from Boneville. 2006.
(Ages 8+) Fone Bone, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone are run out of their home and become separated, but better fortune begins when the three cousins reunite at a farmstead in a deep forested valley, where Fone meets a young girl named Thorn.
Classics
- Burgan, Michael. Frankenstein. 2008.
(Ages 10-14) This retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is part of a series called Graphic Revolve.
- Chauvel, David. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. 2006.
(Ages 8-12) Dorothy is transported to the Land of Oz by a cyclone, and must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas.
- Plessix, Michel. The Wind in the Willows. 2008.
(Ages 8-11) The first in a series of Classics Illustrated Deluxe adaptations, Kenneth Grahame's classic follows the adventures of four amiable animals, Rat, Toad, Mole and Badger, along a river in the English countryside.
Collections
- Kibuishi, Kazu. Flight Explorer: Vol. 1. 2008.
(Ages 10-14) This anthology of short stories, by a variety of international artists, includes the full-color work of top video game animators, DreamWorks, emerging Web cartoonists and established comic book and graphic novel creators.
- Stine, R. L. Goosebumps Graphix series, Vol. 1: Creepy Creatures. 2006.
(Ages 9-12) Utilizing several illustration styles, three comic artists interpret some of R. L. Stine's creepiest stories.
Funny
- Craddock, Erick. Stone Rabbit series: BC Mambo. 2009.
(Ages 7-10) After Stone Rabbit is transported back to prehistoric times, his bottle of barbecue sauce becomes the key ingredient in a power-hungry Neanderthal's plan to dominate the world.
- Guibert, Emmanuel. Sardine in Outer Space: vol. 1. 2006.
(Ages 8-11)
- Krosoczka, Jarrett. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. 2009.
(Ages 5-7) This series features a crime fighting lunch lady who, in this installment, uncovers an evil plot to replace all the popular teachers with robots.
- Langridge, Roger. The Muppet Show Comic Book series: Meet the Muppets. 2009.
(Ages 8-12) Go backstage with the Muppets as they put on one of their gala television shows.
- Sava, Scott. My Grandparents are Secret Agents. 2009.
(Ages 7-12) When visiting your grandparents, you don't expect to find yourself in the middle of a spy mission, but when your grandparents are hired by social security and have spy equipment like hearing aids (that do more than you realized!), you're in for the adventure of a lifetime.
Girl
- De Campi, Alex. Kat & Mouse series: Volume 1: Teacher Torture. 2006.
(Ages 8-12) In order to go to the Snow Ball, Dover Academy's annual holiday dance, Kat will have to tutor Chloe in science, which could be the start of Dover's most unlikely friendship.
- Hale, Shannon. Rapunzel's Revenge. 2008.
(Ages 10-17) When Rapunzel learns her real mother is a slave, she uses her hair as a lasso to take on outlaws in this old West retelling of the classic tale.
- Harper, Charise. Fashion Kitty series: Volume 1. 2005.
(Ages 8-12) After a stack of fashion magazines falls on Kiki Kitty's head while she is blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, Kiki turns into Fashion Kitty, a feline superhero who saves other kitties from fashion disaster.
- Holm, Jennifer. Babymouse series: Queen of the World! 2005.
(Ages 7-10) An imaginative mouse dreams of being queen of the world, but will settle for an invitation to the most popular girl's slumber party.
- Thompson, Jill. Magic Trixie series. 2008.
(Ages 8-12) Magic Trixie is jealous of the attention her baby sister is getting, so she comes up with a magic trick to show her friends.
Historical Fiction
- Phelan, Matt. The Storm in the Barn. 2009.
(Ages 10-17; Dust Bowl) Jack Clark is transformed by unexpected courage during the dust storms in 1937 Kansas.
- Stamaty, Mark Alan. Shake, Rattle and Turn that Noise Down! 2009.
(Ages 5-9; Elvis Presley) Mark Stamaty was an Elvis fan after hearing the King sing for the first time. The only problem he has is convincing his Mother that Elvis is not just noise.
Issues
- Gownley, Jimmy. Amelia Rules series: The Whole World's Crazy. 2006.
(Ages 8-12; Divorce) This collection of comic stories features nine-year-old Amelia, who has moved from Manhattan to a small town in the wake of her parent's divorce, and her fourth-grade friends, the Gathering of Awesome Super Pals, otherwise known as G.A.S.P.
- Sava, Scott. Cameron and his Dinosaurs. 2009.
(Ages 10-14; Disabilities) When four dinosaurs are revived by a mad scientist, they are quickly befriended by a boy named Cameron. Together, they must fight the giant robot dinosaurs trying to help Professor Poppycock take over the world.
- Smith, Jeff. Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil. 2007.
(Ages 10+; Homeless) Billy Batson is a down-on-his-luck kid, until he gains superpowers when he says the word, "Shazam."
Manga
- Fujino, Moyamu. Animal Academy series. 2009.
(Ages 10-14) A girl finds herself attending a school where the other students are animals learning to live in the world of humans.
- Fuju, Machiko. The Big Adventures of Majoko series. 2009.
(Ages 7-12) A diary Nana finds in her room takes her to a magical world where she meets a little witch named Majoko.
- Maeda, Shunshin. Ninja Baseball Kyuma series. 2004.
(Ages 7-12) Kyuma, a young ninja, joins the Moonstar Baseball team when he confuses their captain for his new master.
- Shioya, Hitoshi. Dinosaur Hour series. 2009.
(Ages 7-10) Journey back to the Jurassic, and sneak a peek at your favorite dinosaurs as you've never seen them! Dinosaur Hour is a collection of comics about dinos who are bullies and ghost-believers, pranksters and bungling little brothers.
- Sonishi, Kenji. Leave it to PET series. 2009.
(Ages 7-10) PET was a simple plastic bottle until nine-year-old Noboru Yamada recycled him. Now he's a super robot programmed to protect Noboru at all costs.
- Tatsuyama, Sayuri. Happy Happy Clover series. 2009.
(Ages 7-10) Clover the Bunny and her fluffy friends are always getting into mischief in mysterious Mikazuki Forest! Clover uncovers the secret of a haunted spring, meets a big bad fox and more!
- Yamamoto, Lun Lun. Swans in Space series. 2006.
(Ages 7-12) When Corona and Lan join the Space Patrol, they quickly learn that their assigned jobs are not always easy, and trying to balance Space Patrol life with their Earth life is a little tricky.
Mystery
- Davis, Eleanor. The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook. 2009.
(Ages 8-12) Eleven-year-old Julian Calendar thought changing schools would mean leaving his "nerdy" persona behind, but instead he works with fellow inventors Greta and Ben to prevent an adult from using one of their gadgets for nefarious purposes.
- Lobdell, Scott. The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers series: Ocean of Osyria. 2005.
(Ages 8-12) In the first book of the series, Frank and Joe Hardy find themselves in the Middle East trying to find a missing gem that their best friend Chet is accused of stealing.
- Petrucha, Stefan. Nancy Drew Girl Detective series: The Demon of River Heights. 2005.
(Ages 8-12) Nancy and her friend step in and investigate when two film students disappear while shooting a horror movie in town and it looks like a local urban legend may actually be real.
- Robinson, Fiona. 3.2.3 Detective Agency: The Disappearance of Dave Warthog. 2009.
(Ages 8-12) Five animal friends decide to form a detective agency in Whiska City, where they investigate the rash of disappearances linked to a poodle beauty salon.
- Worley, Rob. The Boxcar Children series: The Pizza Mystery. 2010.
(Ages 8-11) When a blackout and other problems hurt business at the pizzeria where they're helping out, the Aldens begin to wonder if someone is trying to shut the place down.
Non-Fiction
- DeMolay, Jack. UFOs: The Roswell Incident. 2007.
(Ages 5-7) What really happened around Roswell, New Mexico in 1947? Was there a cover-up?
- Lutes, Jason. Houdini: The Handcuff King. 2007.
(Ages 10-14) Travel through Harry Houdini's day as he prepares for one of his more dangerous stunts.
- Siegel, Siena Cherson. To Dance: A Memoir. 2006.
(Ages 8-14) The author describes her first dreams of being a ballerina, and how that dream carried her from her home in Puerto Rico to dance class in Boston to performing with the New York City Ballet.
- Taylor, Sarah Stewart. Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean. 2010.
(Ages 10-14) Amelia Earhart arrives in Newfoundland determined to become the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air. Grace, an aspiring young journalist, is there when Earhart sends a telegram announcing her arrival in Ireland.
Science Fiction
- Kibuishi, Kazu. Amulet series. 2008.
(Ages 8-12) After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous.
- Parker, Jake. Missile Mouse. 2010.
(Ages 8-12) Missile Mouse, a secret agent for the Galactic Security Agency, battles deadly foes in order to rescue a scientist from the Rogue Imperium of Planets, which is trying to steal a doomsday machine capable of destroying the universe.
- Stadler, Alexander. Julian Rodriguez series: Trash Crises Earth. 2008.
(Ages 8-12) Julian Rodriguez has been sent to Earth, disguised as an eight-year-old boy, to study human life forms and their bizarre habits. Soon, Julian must face his archenemy, a villainess who bears an uncanny resemblance to his mother.
Superheroes
- Morse, Scott. Magic Pickle series. 2002.
(Ages 7-11) Meet the world's greenest, bumpiest, briniest superhero: the Magic Pickle. With his feisty sidekick Jo Jo Wigman, the Magic Pickle faces his worst nightmare, the Brotherhood of Evil Produce.
- Nickle, Scott. Jimmy Sniffles series. 2006.
(Ages 5-7) Jimmy is a superhero who relies on his nose to tell him when something sinister is about to happen. With his super-powered sneeze, Jimmy helps keep his neighborhood and the world safe from harm.
- Steinberg, D. J. Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy series: Sound Off. 2008.
(Ages 8-12) Daniel Boom, a kid born with an extremely loud voice, turns into Daniel Boom Superhero and fights the Kid-Rid Corporation.
Half Chapter & Half Graphic Novel
- Fontes, Justine. Twisted Journey's series: Captured by Pirates. 2007.
(Ages 9-11) Match your wits against a band of pirates on the high seas and try to defeat them— or join them! You control the action by choosing which path to follow.
- Hale, Bruce. Underwhere series: Prince of Underwhere. 2008.
(Ages 8-12) When Zeke, his twin sister Stephanie, their neighbor Hector and Hector's cat Fitz slide into the world of Underwhere, Zeke is hailed as a prince who will, according to an ancient prophecy, free the Undies from the evil UnderLord's rule by finding and destroying his throne.
- Schade, Susan. Fog Mound series: Travels of Thelonious. 2006.
(Ages 8-12) At a time when animals only know myths about the talking humans who once dominated and nearly destroyed the world, a young chipmunk escapes danger in the City of Ruins and, with new friends, finds the Fog Mound, where all creatures live in peace and harmony.
- Vernon, Ursula. Dragonbreath series. 2009.
(Ages 8-12) Danny Dragonbreath and his friend Wendell get an up-close underwater tour of the Sargasso Sea from Danny's sea-serpent cousin, encountering giant squid and mako sharks—and learn about standing up to bullies in the process.
- Wight, Eric. Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom series. 2009.
(Ages 7-10) Fourth-grader Frankie Piccolini has a vivid imagination when it comes to cleaning his disastrously messy room, but eventually even he decides that it is just too dirty.
Wordless
- Runton, Andy. Owly series. 2005.
(Ages 5-17) A lonely Owl tries to win the trust and friendship of a young worm.
- Slade, Christian. Korgi series. 2007.
(Ages 10-14) A young girl, Ivy, and her Korgi cub, Sprout, travel from their village and face danger for the first time.
revised April 2010