Early Graphic Novels

The titles on this list represent some of the favorites from our Early Graphic Novels section, home to books that hit the sweet spot right in between Elephant & Piggie and Dog Man.

Updated April 13, 2023
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King of the birds
Gravel, Elise
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly, Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds is the first in a new early graphic chapter book series about the friendship between Arlo, an arrogant crow, and a sarcastic little bird named Pips.  Like most crows, Arlo has a big...
A mountain of a problem
Anstee, Ashlyn
Paper Book
Mystery-solving duo Shelby & Watts are back on the trail! They're saving the environment, one case at a time. Violet the bear has awoken early from her hibernation, but she doesn't know why. She's called on Shelby & Watts to solve the case before her son, Theodore, is roused from...
Arlo & Pips. Join the crow crowd!
Gravel, Elise
Paper Book
Everyone's crowing about Arlo & Pips, with Kirkus praising book 1 as "a perfect match for newly independent readers"!  Arlo is lonely and is looking for more friends in the city. This second book in the quirky graphic chapter book series from acclaimed author...
Baloney and friends
Pizzoli, Greg
Paper Book
Meet Baloney! He's the star of this book, along with his best buddies: empathetic Peanut the horse, sensible Bizz the bumblebee, and grumpy Krabbit -- he'd rather not be here, but what can you do? In this graphic novel for newly independent readers, Baloney and friends step into the...
Cranky Chicken
Battersby, Katherine
Paper Book
Narwhal and Jelly meet The Bad Guys in this brightly illustrated, downright hilarious chapter book graphic novel full of "sweet, wholesome fun" (BCCB) about what happens when a very cranky chicken is befriended by a very cheerful worm. Cranky Chicken is, well,...
We love bubbles!
Madan, Vikram
Paper Book
A hilarious book about best friends Bobo and Pup-Pup--a monkey and a dog with very different personalities. Perfect for fans of Elephant & Piggie! Did you ever have a friend who likes doing something that you find completely annoying? Well, Bobo and Pup-Pup both LOVE...
Sir Ladybug
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
From Caldecott Honoree and two-time Geisel Award-winning author-illustrator Corey R. Tabor, this is a fresh and funny young graphic novel series sure to delight readers. Perfect for fans of Catwad, Bird & Squirrel, and Narwhal & Jelly. Ladies and gentlebugs, presenting the...
Bobo and Pup-Pup. 3 The funny book
Madan, Vikram
Paper Book
Bobo and Pup-Pup both love books! This FUNNY book is by Geisel Honor winner, Vikram Madan. Perfect for fans of Elephant & Piggie who are ready to graduate to two new buddies! A super funny book has Pup-Pup laughing out loud!! Bobo wants to read it so he can laugh...
Hatch an egg
Madan, Vikram
Paper Book
What will hatch from the hairy brown egg Bobo and Pup-Pup find? This hilarious book is perfect for fans of Elephant & Piggie who are ready for two new buddies. By Geisel Honor winner, Vikram Madan. It's a bird. It's a plane. It's an egg falling from the sky? Best friends Bobo and...
Owly : the way home & the bittersweet summer
Runton, Andy
Paper Book
Owly is a kind, yet lonely, little owl who's always on the lookout for new friends and adventure. The first graphic novel in the series contains two enchanting novellas, "The Way Home" & "The Bittersweet Summer," wherein Owly discovers the meaning of friendship, and that saying goodbye doesn't...
Party animals
Battersby, Katherine
Paper Book
Cranky Chicken and Speedy the worm are back in another laugh-out-loud, brightly illustrated, and heartwarming chapter book as Speedy tries to plan a party for a hungry Chicken--sure to delight fans of Narwhal and Jelly and The Bad Guys! Cranky Chicken is super high on the...
Kitty Sweet Tooth. 1
Denson, Abby
Paper Book
In this adorable and silly graphic novel written for young readers, Kitty Sweet Tooth runs a movie theater that serves up magical (and unpredictable) desserts. Featuring delicious text from author Abby Denson, and bright, colorful illustrations by Utomaru. There's just one...
Let's make cake!
Madan, Vikram
Paper Book
A hilarious new series about best friends Bobo and Pup-Pup--a monkey and a dog with very different personalities. Perfect for fans of Elephant & Piggie! Bobo and Pup-Pup are making a cake! Pup-Pup reads the ingredients and Bobo gathers them. Sugar and butter, no problem!...
Kitty Sweet Tooth Makes a Movie
Denson, Abby.
Paper Book
In this sequel to an adorable and silly graphic novel for young readers, Kitty Sweet Tooth gets behind the camera and makes her own movie! There's just one thing Kitty Sweet Tooth loves more than going to the movies, and that's eating delicious desserts. She's combined her two...
Lemon Bird : can help!
Ganucheau, Paulina
Paper Book
When a small lemon shaped bird and her pumpkin dog friend are lost on their journey home, it doesn't stop them from reaching out and helping all the new friends they meet on their way! A chapter book middle grade novel about friendship and the unlimited power of kindess for fans of Narwhal and...
The sunken ship
Lukoff, Kyle
Paper Book
Dive under the sea with Mermaid Days, a series perfect for beginning readers! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor,...
The sea monster
Lukoff, Kyle
Paper Book
Vera and Beaker explore the ocean, in this series perfect for beginning readers! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and...
A new friend
Lukoff, Kyle
Paper Book
Vera and Beaker make a new friend when they meet a mantis shrimp, in this series perfect for beginning readers! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story...
Donut feed the squirrels
Song, Mika
Paper Book
Two squirrel best friends meet their match: a donut food truck! This Eisner-nominated hilarious young graphic novel is perfect for fans of Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea and anyone who would do ANYTHING for a donut. Norma and Belly would really really really really really...
Apple of my pie
Song, Mika
Paper Book
Join troublemaking squirrels Norma and Belly on more delicious adventures in the sequel to the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Donut Feed the Squirrels, the perfect next-read for fans of Narwhal & Jelly! When local park fixture (and spy-master) Pops gets squirrel-napped, it...
Pizza my heart
Song, Mika
Paper Book
Join two troublemaking squirrels on their delicious adventures in this next graphic novel adventure that is perfect for fans of Narwhal & Jelly! Norma and Belly want pizza.   Hot, cheesy, tastey pizza.    Too bad no one will deliver....
All ketchup, no mustard!
Tharp, Jason
Paper Book
Join a hot dog named Dog and a chicken nugget named Nugget in this Level 2 Ready-to-Read Graphics book about kindness, the first in a new series by Jason Tharp! Nugget is a chicken nugget. Dog is a hot dog. They are friends, and they like ketchup. Their town of Gastropolis is a...
Yum Fest is the best!
Tharp, Jason
Paper Book
Join a hot dog named Dog and a chicken nugget named Nugget as they save Yum Fest in this second book in the Level 2 Ready-to-Read Graphics series by Jason Tharp! Nugget and Dog and everyone in Gastropolis are excited about Yum Fest. It's the coolest fair around, with fun food and...
I really want to fly to the Moon!
Ziefert, Harriet
Paper Book
Take off with Really Bird and friends as they set their sights on a trip to outer space in this latest hilarious adventure.  Meet Really Bird, a small bird who lives in a large city park with his friends Cat, Pup, Mouse, and Rabbit. In each story, Really Bird finds himself...
S'more than meets the eye!
Tharp, Jason
Paper Book
Join a hot dog named Dog and a chicken nugget named Nugget as they go to summer camp in this hilarious third book in the Level 2 Ready-to-Read Graphics series by Jason Tharp! Nugget and Dog are going to summer camp with their friends. Everyone is excited for ghost stories, hiking...
Just a little blue
Runton, Andy
Paper Book
Owly and Wormy just want to help...Best friends Owly and Wormy have days filled with adventure and hearts filled with kindness. And when they discover a bluebird family living in a damaged tree, they want to help out the best way they can: by building the birds a new home! But when Owly and...
Owly. Flying lessons
Runton, Andy.
Paper Book
In Flying Lessons, Owly figures out why he can't fly, and helps another forest creature with his own flying problems. Relying on a mixture of symbols, icons, and expressions to tell his silent stories, Runton's clean, animated, and heartwarming style makes it a perfect read for anyone who's a fan of...
A time to be brave
Runton, Andy
Paper Book
Owly, the little owl with a heart of gold, returns for another forest adventure in this Eisner-winning series about friendship! For Owly and Wormy, nothing beats the power of friendship! But fear can be a powerful force, too. There's a new visitor to the forest, an opossum who's misunderstood...
Puppy problems
Braddock, Paige
Paper Book
A goofy new puppy rocks the world of a high-strung dog and a snarky cat in this hilarious graphic novel for early readers. Crackers is a rescue dog who's a bit on the nervous side, but pretty comfy at home with Butter, a very plump cat who--like all cats--is all about himself....
Fetch!
Braddock, Paige
Paper Book
Peanut, Butter, and Crackers are back in this hilarious follow-up to Puppy Problems, continuing a graphic novel series for early readers. Floppy-eared Peanut is off to doggy school to learn how to be a good dog! Sure, he's excited, but when he gets separated from Crackers,...
On the trail
Braddock, Paige
Paper Book
Peanut, Butter, and Crackers return in the third graphic novel in the series. This time, they're off camping. Getting lost just wasn't part of the plan. Peanut, Butter, and Crackers set off on a camping trip. But when Butter and Peanut leave the safety of the camper to explore...
I really want to be first!
Ziefert, Harriet
Paper Book
Meet Really Bird, a small bird who lives in a large city park with his friends Cat, Pup, Mouse, and Rabbit. In each story, Really Bird finds himself really wanting something - to be bigger, to have his fair share, or to be the leader - to be really silly, funny, strong, cool, happy, or...
I really want a bigger piece!
Ziefert, Harriet
Paper Book
Meet Really Bird, a small bird who lives in a large city park with his friends Cat, Pup, Mouse, and Rabbit. In each story, Really Bird finds himself really wanting something - to be bigger, to have his fair share, or to be the leader - to be really silly, funny, strong, cool, happy, or...
Tide pool troubles
Anstee, Ashlyn
Paper Book
There isn't a mystery that Shelby & Watts can't solve! They're saving the environment, one case at a time. Meet Shelby & Watts! Shelby loves a good mystery. And her best friend, Watts, is never without his encyclopedia. When Shelby gets a letter from Fred the hermit...
Sir Ladybug and the Queen Bee
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
The second adventure in the fresh and funny Sir Ladybug young graphic novel series, from Caldecott Honor and two-time Geisel Award-winning author-illustrator Corey Tabor. Perfect for fans of Catwad, Bird & Squirrel, and Narwhal & Jelly. Sir Ladybug--the duke of the dandelion...
Sir Ladybug and the bookworms
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
The third adventure in the fresh and funny Sir Ladybug young graphic novel series, from Caldecott Honoree and two-time Geisel Award winner Corey Tabor. Perfect for fans of Catwad, Bird & Squirrel, and Narwhal & Jelly. Sir Ladybug--the duke of the dandelion patch, champion of...
Star the elephant
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
Planet Earth meets Narwhal and Jelly in this funny and suspenseful young reader graphic novel adventure series featuring heroic animals! Inspired by true events, the book includes facts about climate change, elephants, and how kids can help protect the environment. "A heartening...
Rainbow the koala
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
Planet Earth meets Narwhal and Jelly in this funny and suspenseful early reader graphic novel series featuring heroic animals surviving in the perilous wilderness! Inspired by true events, the book includes facts about climate change, koalas, and how kids can help protect the...
The greatest in the world
Clanton, Ben 1988-
Paper Book
Two spud siblings face off in a series of epic challenges in this first "delightful laugh-on-every-page" (Booklist) installment of a hilariously silly graphic novel chapter book series from the bestselling creator of the Narwhal and Jelly books. Rot is a mutant potato who...

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