Skip to Main Content

Understanding Genres in Children's Literature: Graphic Novels

This guide is intended to help users understand the different genres in children's literature

What are Graphic Novels?

Graphic Novel Read Aloud

Call Number: Currently not in TRC Collection

Description: A happy-go-lucky, waffle-loving narwhal and a cynical, no-nonsense jellyfish forge an unlikely friendship and share adventures while exploring the ocean together in a first entry of a lighthearted graphic novel series. By the creator of Mo's Mustache.

Graphic Novels in the Classroom

Example Graphic Novel Titles in the TRC Collection

Eerie Tales from the School of Screams

Eerie Tales from the School of Screams

Call Number: F AN72E

Description: Guaranteed to scare readers silly, this collection of five terrifying tales follows Davis and Emily as they listen to their classmates tell the spookiest, most chilling stories ever.

Swim Team

Swim Team

Call Number: F C4646S

Description: When she has to take Swim 101, middle schooler Bree must face one of her greatest fears, but with a little help from an elderly neighbor and former swim team captain, she becomes her school's best hope to beat their rival.

New Kid

New Kid

Call Number: F C8425N

Description: Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft.

Amulet: the Stonekeeper

Amulet: the Stonekeeper

Call Number: F K533A1

Description: 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. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals....

Allergic

Allergic

Call Number: F L7778A

Description: Hoping to adopt a pet to find a sense of belonging in her busy family, Maggie is disappointed to discover she is severely allergic to anything with fur and tries to find a pet to love anyway.

The Witch Boy

The Witch Boy

Call Number: F OS76W01

Description: In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted . . . and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help -- as a witch.

Dog Man

Dog Man

Call Number: F P6442D01

Description: Dog Man, a crimefighter with the head of a police dog and the body of a policeman, faces off against his archnemesis Petey the Cat.

Drama

Drama

Call Number: F T237D

Description: Callie rides an emotional roller coaster while serving on the stage crew for a middle school production of Moon over Mississippi as various relationships start and end, and others never quite get going.

El Deafo

El Deafo

Call Number: B B4132B

Description: The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower.".

Hey Kiddo

Hey Kiddo

Call Number: B K928H

Description: A powerful graphic memoir by the award-winning author traces the author's unconventional coming of age with a drug-addict mother, an absent father and two lovingly opinionated grandparents.

Author Perspective