Graphic Novels for Libraries:
Recommended Titles for Children and Teens

Compiled by Hollis Margaret Rudiger
© 2005 Cooperative Children's Book Center

This bibliography recommends titles for public and school libraries just starting to develop a graphic novel collection.

Among the challenges in building such a collection is the sheer number of titles available, the fact that many individual graphic novels are part of much longer stories told over multiple volumes (think comic books), and that the age-appropriateness of volumes within a single series may shift as the storyline progresses (think Harry Potter, or Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s Alice books). Child and teen readers are often much savvier than librarians when it comes to knowing what titles are out there, and may already be keen to have volume 12, or even volume 24, in a series that you’ve only just become aware of, let alone gotten around to figuring out what you can afford to purchase. (Consider collaborating with other public libraries or school libraries in your system to create a solid regional collection)

The focus of this bibliography is to recommend titles for a starter collection. Many of these are series, and in most cases, just the first title of the series is listed. The age recommendation provided is for the specific title listed.

The bibliography is divided into three main categories. Books in the Elementary School-Age and Older category have a lower age recommendation of 10 or under. Books in the Middle-School-Age and Older category have a lower age recommendation of 11 to 13. Book in the High School-Age and Older category have a lower age recommendation of 14 or older.

There are many more graphic novel bibliographies and resources available both in print and on-line. See the CCBC's Graphic Novels Resources page for more information.

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Click on underlined book titles to see the CCBC review of the book, and/or the cover image.

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Elementary School-Age and Older

Bendis, Brian Michael. Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 1: Power and Responsibility. Marvel Comics, Ages 10 and up

Bendis, Brian Michael. Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 7: Irresponsible. Marvel Comics, 2003. Ages 10 and up

Busiek, Kurt. Marvels. Marvel Comics, 2001. 216 pages pages. Ages 9 and up

Chiba, Tomohiro. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Astray. Stone Bridge Press, 2004. 480 pages. Ages 10 and up

Cibos, Lindsay. Peach Fuzz: Volume 1. TokyoPop, 2005. 160 pages. Ages 7 and up

CLAMP, . Angelic Layer: Volume 1. TokyoPop, 2002. 174 pages. Ages 7 and up

CLAMP, . Card Captor Sakura: Volume 1. TokyoPop, 184 pages. Ages 7 and up

CLAMP, . Clamp School Detectives: Book 1. TokyoPop, 2003. 192 pages. Ages 9 and up

CLAMP, . Magic Knight: Rayearth I, Book 1. TokyoPop, 2003. 192 pages. Ages 10 and up

Crilley, Mark. Akiko: Volume 1. Sirius Entertainment, 2001. 160 pages. Ages 7 and up

Czekaj, Jef. Gramp & Julie: Shark Hunters. Top Shelf Productions, 2004. 128 pages. Ages 5 and up

DeFilippis, Nunzio and Christina Weir . New Mutants: Back to School. Marvel Comics, 2005. Ages 10 and up

DeFilippis, Nunzio and Christina Weir . Once in a Blue Moon (Volume 1). Illustrated by Jennifer Quick. Oni Press, 2004. 154 pages. Ages 10-15

Delgado, Ricardo. Age of Reptiles. Dark Horse, 1997. 128 pages. Ages 10 and up

Dezago, Todd. Tellos: Volume 1. Image Comics, 2001. 152 pages. Ages 9 and up

Dini, Paul. Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth. DC Comics, 2001. 64 pages. Ages 9 and up

Dini, Paul. Batman: War on Crime. DC Comics, 1999. 64 pages. Ages 9 and up

Dini, Paul. Superman: Peace on Earth. DC Comics, 1998. 64 pages. Ages 9 and up

Eisner, Will. Sundiata: A Legend of Africa. Nantier Beall Minoustchine, 2002. Ages 8 and up

Eisner, Will. The Last Knight. Nantier Beall Minoustchine, 2000. Ages 8 and up

Espinosa, Rod. The Courageous Princess. Antarctic Press, 2004. 240 pages. Ages 5 and up

Fisher, Jane Smith. WJHC: On the Air. Wilson, 2003. 96 pages. Ages 9 and up

Gaff, Jackie. Aquaman's Guide to the Oceans. DK Publishing, 2004. 48 pages pages. Ages 5 and up

Gaiman, Neil and Adapted and Illustrated by P. Craig Russell . Coraline. HarperCollins, 2008. 185 pages. Ages 10-14

Gownley, Jimmy. Amelia Rules! : The Whole World's Crazy. I Books, 2003. 176 pages. Ages 7 and up

Gownley, Jimmy. Amelia Rules! : What Makes You Happy. I Books, 2004. 168 pages. Ages 7 and up

Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale . Rapunzel's Revenge. Illustrated by Nathan Hale. Bloomsbury, 2008. 144 pages. Ages 10-15

Hampton, Bo. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Image Comics, 2004. 64 pages. Ages 10 and up

Hosler, Jay. Clan Apis. Active Synapse, 2000. 158 pages. Ages 10 and up

Hotta, Yumi. Hikaru No Go: Volume 1. VIZ LLC, 2004. Ages 7 and up

Ikumi, Mia. Tokyo Mew Mew: Book 1. TokyoPop, 2003. Ages 10 and up

Irwin, Jane. Vogelein: Clockwork Faerie. Fiery Studios, 2005. 168 pages. Ages 10 and up

Kesel, Barbara. Meridian: Flying Solo, Volume 1. CrossGeneration Comics, 2003. 192 pages. Ages 9 and up

Kirkman, Robert. Invincible, Volume 1: Family Matters. Image Comics, 2003. Ages 9 and up

Kobayashi, Makoto. What's Michael? A Hard Day's Life. Translated by Dana Lewis & Lea Hernandez. Dark Horse Comics, 2002. Ages 5 and up

Kochalka, James. Peanutbutter & Jeremy's Best Book Ever!. Alternative Comics, 2003. 280 pages. Ages 6 to 12

Kunkel, Mike. Herobear and the Kid, Volume 1: The Inheritance. Astonish Factory, 2003. 230 pages. Ages 10 and up

McKeever, Sean. Sentinel, Volume 1: Salvage. Marvel Comics, 2004. Ages 10 and up

Medley, Linda. Castle Waiting, Volume One: Lucky Road. Olio Press, 2002. 184 pages. Ages 7 and up

Miyazaki, Hayao. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Volume 1. VIZ LLC, 2004. 136 pages. Ages 9 and up

Morse, Scott. Magic Pickle. Oni Press, 2002. 112 pages. Ages 7 and up

Naifeh, Ted. Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things (Volume 1). Oni Press, 2001. 128 pages. Ages 9 and up

Nishiyama, Yuriko. Harlem Beat: Volume 1. TokyoPop, 1999. 162 pages. Ages 10 and up

Obana, Miho. Kodocha: Sana's Stage, Volume 1. TokyoPop, 2002. 200 pages. Ages 10 and up

Pini, Wendy. Elfquest: The Grand Quest, Volume 1. DC Comics, 2004. Ages 11 and up

Renier, Aaron. Spiral-Bound: Top Secret Summer. Top Shelf , 2005. 178 pages. Ages 8-15

Robbins, Trina. Go Girl! (Volume 1). Dark Horse, 2002. 88 pages. Ages 10 and up

Roberts, Scott. Patty Cake: Sugar and Spice...Mostly Spice. SLG Publishing, 2001. Ages 7 and up

Robinson, James. Leave It To Chance, Volume 1: Shaman's Rain. Image Comics, 2002. 112 pages. Ages 8 and up

Runton, Andy. Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer. Top Shelf Productions, 2004. 160 pages. Ages 6 and up

Russell, P. Craig. The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde. Nantier Beall Minoustchine, 2004. 32 pages. Ages 10 and up

Sakai, Stan. Grasscutter (Usagi Yojimbo, Book 12). Dark Horse Comics, 1999. 256 pages. Ages 10 and up

Schmidt, J. Marc. Egg Story. SLG Publishing, 2004. 64 pages. Ages 8 and up

Smith, Ian and Tyson Smith . Emily and the Intergalactic Lemonade Stand. SLG Publishing, 2004. 104 pages. Ages 7 and up

Smith, Jeff. Bone, Volume 1: Out of Boneville. Cartoon Books, 1996. 142 pages. Ages 7 and up

Spiegelman, editor, Art. Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night.... Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, 2003. 48 pages. Ages 5 and up

Spiegelman, editor, Art. Little Lit: Folklore and Fairy Tales. Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, 2000. 64 pages. Ages 5 and up

Spiegelman, editor, Art. Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids. Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, 2001. 64 pages. Ages 5 and up

Stamaty, Mark Alan. Alia's Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq. Knopf, 2004. Ages 5 and up

Takahashi, Kazuki. Yu-Gi-Oh! Volume 1. VIZ LLC, 2003. 200 pages. Ages 8 and up

TenNapel, Doug. Tommysaurus Rex. Image Comics, 2004. 112 pages. Ages 9 and up

Tezuka, Osamu. Astro Boy: Volume 1. Dark Horse Comics, 2002. 224 pages. Ages 10 and up

Thompson, Jill. Scary Godmother: Wild About Harry. Sirius Entertainment, 2005. 48 pages. Ages 5 and up

Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Hobbit or There and Back Again. Illustrated by Chuck Dixon. Eclipse Books, 1989. Ages 9 and up

Toriyama, Akira. Dragonball Z. Photographed by . VIZ LLC, 2003. 146 pages. Ages 10 and up

Torres, J.. Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures. Oni Press, 2002. 104 pages. Ages 9 and up

Walker, Landry. Little Gloomy: Volume 1. SLG Publishing, 2002. 128 pages. Ages 10 and up

Yang, Gene. Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks. SLG Publishing, 2004. 100 pages. Ages 10 and up

Yang, Gene. Loyola Chin and the San Peligran Order. SLG Publishing, 2004. 104 pages. Ages 10 and up

Middle School-Age and Older

Aragones, Sergio. Groo and Rufferto. Dark Horse Comics, 2000. 112 pages. Ages 12 and up

Avery, Fiona. Arana: The Heart of a Spider. Marvel Comics, 2005. 144 pages. Ages 12 and up

Brennan, Michael. Electric Girl (Volume 1). AiT/PlanetLar, 2002. 160 pages. Ages 11 and up

Busiek, Kurt. Astro City: Life in the Big City. DC Comics, 1999. 192 pages. Ages 13 and up

Chadwick, Paul. The Complete Concrete: Think Like a Mountain. Dark Horse Comics, 1994. 320 pages. Ages 12 and up

Dixon, Chuck. Birds of Prey. DC Comics, 1999. 208 pages. Ages 13 and up

Eisner, Will. To the Heart of the Storm. DC Comics, 2000. Ages 13 and up

Fajardo, Alexis E.. Kid Beowulf. Ambition Studios West, 2004. Ages 12 and up

Fujishima, Kosuke. Oh My Goddess! 1-555-GODDESS. Dark Horse Comics, 1996. 152 pages. Ages 11 and up

Gaiman, Neil. The Books of Magic. DC Comics/Vertigo, 1993. 196 pages. Age 13 and up

Gonick, Larry and Art Huffman . The Cartoon Guide to Physics. HarperCollins, 1990. 212 pages. Ages 12 and up

Gonick, Larry and Mark Wheels . The Cartoon Guide to Genetics. HarperCollins, 1991. 216 pages. Ages 12 and up

Gonick, Larry. The Cartoon History of the Universe II, Volumes 8 - 13: From the Springtime of China to the Fall of Rome. Broadway Books/Random House, 2001. 308 pages. Ages 12 and up

Gonick, Larry. The Cartoon History of the Universe III: From the Rise of Arabia to the Renaissance. W.W. Norton, 2002. 312 pages. Ages 12 and up

Gonick, Larry. The Cartoon History of the Universe, Volumes 1 - 7: From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great. Broadway Books/Random House, 2001. 360 pages. Ages 12 and up

Hosler, Jay. The Sandwalk Adventures: An Adventure in Evolution Told in Five Chapters. Active Synapse, 2003. Ages 12 and up

Kibuishi, Kazu. Daisy Kutter: The Last Train. Viper Comics, 2005. 192 pages. Ages 12-17

Kiyama, Henry (Yoshitaka). The Four Immigrants Manga: A Japanese Experience in San Franscisco. Translated by Frederik L. Schodt. Stone Bridge Press, 1999. 152 pages. Ages 12 and up

Land, editor, Dave. Star Wars Tales, Volume 1. Dark Horse Comics, 2002. 220 pages. Ages 11 and up

McKeever, Sean. Mary Jane. Marvel Comics, 2004. 2004 pages. Ages 12 and up

Miller, Frank. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. DC Comics, 1997. 224 pages. Ages 12 and up

Mizayaki, Hayao. Spirited Away, Vol. 1. Viz Comics, 2002. Ages 11 and up

Morice, Dave. Poetry Comics: An Animated Anthology. T & W Books, 2002. 117 pages. Ages 12 and up

Ottaviani, Jim. Dignifying Science: Stories About Women Scientists. G.T. Labs, 2003. Ages 12 and up

Ottaviani, Jim. Two-Fisted Science. G.T. Labs, 2001. Ages 12 and up

Priest, Christopher. Black Panther, Volume 1. Marvel Comics, 2001. 128 pages. Ages 13 and up

Saijyo, Shinji. Iron Wok Jan!. ComicsOne, 2004. 200 pages. Ages 12 and up

Saito, Chito. Revolutionary Girl Utena: To Plant. VIZ LLC, 2002. 200 pages. Ages 12 and up

Shigeno, Shuichi. Initial D: Book 1. TokyoPop, 2002. 224 pages. Ages 13 and up

Takaya, Natsuki. Fruits Basket, Volume 1. TokyoPop, 2004. 200 pages. Ages 12 and up

Tezuka, Osamu. Phoenix: A Tale of the Future. Vis Communications, 2002. 298 pages. Ages 12 and up

Thompson, Craig. Goodbye, Chunky Rice. Top Shelf Productions, 2003. 128 pages. Age 11 and up

Thoreau, Henry David. Thoreau at Walden. Illustrated by John Porcellino. Hyperion, 2008. 112 pages. Ages 10-15

Torres, J.. Sidekicks, Volume 1: Transfer Student. Oni Press, 2002. Ages 11 and up

Tsuda, Masami. Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances, Volume 1. TokyoPop, 2003. 192 pages. Ages 12 and up

Ueda, Miwa. Peach Girl, Volume 1: Change of Heart. TokyoPop, 2003. 166 pages. Ages 12 and up

Valentino, Serena. Nightmares and Fairy Tales: Once Upon a Time. SLG, 2004. 160 pages. Ages 13 and up

Vaughan, Brian K.. Runaways: Pride & Joy. Marvel Comics, 2003. Ages 11 and up

Watase, Yu. Fushigi Yugi, Volume 1: Priestess. VIZ LLC, 2003. 200 pages. Ages 12 and up

Whedon, Joss. Astonishing X-Men, Volume One: Gifted. Marvel Comics, 2004. 152 pages. Ages 12 and up

Winick, Judd. Green Arrow: Straight Shooter. DC Comics, 2004. 144 pages. Ages 13 and up

Yoshizumi, Wataru. Marmalade Boy #1. TokyoPop, 2002. Ages 12 and up

High School-Age and Older

Akamatsu, Ken. Love Hina: Book 1. TokyoPop, 2002. 198 pages. Ages 15 and up

Anderson, Ho Che. King: A Comics Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.. Fantagraphics Books, 2005. 80 pages. Ages 14 and up

Eisner, Will. A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories. DC Comics, 2000. Ages 14 and up

Eisner, Will. Fagin the Jew. Doubleday, 2003. Ages 14 and up

Eisner, Will. Last Day in Vietnam. Dark Horse Comics, 2000. Ages 14 and up

Koike, Kazuo. Lone Wolf and Cub, Book 1: The Assassin's Road. Dark Horse Comics, 2000. Ages 16 and up

Kubert, Joe. Fax from Sarajevo. Dark Horse Comics, 1998. 224 pages. Ages 14 and up

Kubert, Joe. Yossel: April 19, 1943. I Books, 2003. 128 pages. Ages 14 and up

Mairowitz, David Zane and Robert Crumb . Introducing Kafka. Totem Books, 2000. 176 pages. Ages 14 and up

Moore, Alan. The League of Extraordinary Gentleman: Volume 1. DC Comics, 2002. 192 pages. Ages 15 and up

Morales, Robert. Truth: Red, White & Black. Marvel Comics, 2004. Ages 15 and up

Nakazawa, Keiji. Barefoot Gen, Volume 1: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima. Last Gasp, 2004. 288 pages. Ages 15 and up

Otomo, Katsuhiro. Akira. Dark Horse Comics, 2000. 359 pages. Ages 14 and up

Ottaviani, Jim and Leland Purvis . Suspended in Language: Niels Bohr's Life, Discoveries, and the Century He Shaped. G.T. Labs, 2004. 318 pages. Ages 14 and up

Ottaviani, Jim. Fallout. G.T. Labs, 2001. 240 pages. Ages 14 and up

Rall, Ted. To Afghanistan and Back. Nantier Beall Minoustchine, 2002. 127 pages. Ages 16 and up

Sacco, Joe. The Fixer: A Story from Sarajevo. Drawn & Quarterly Publishers, 2003. 140 pages. Ages 15 and up

Sacco, Joe. Palestine. Fantagraphics Books, 2002. 288 pages. Ages 15 and up

Sacco, Joe. Safe Area Gorazde. Fantagraphics Books, 2000. 240 pages. Ages 15 and up

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. U.S. edition: Pantheon, 2003. Age 15 and older

Shanower, Eric. Age of Bronze, Volume 1: A Thousand Ships. Image Comics, 2001. 208 pages. Ages 14 and up

Shanower, Eric. Sacrifice: Age of Bronze, Volume 2. Image Comics, 2004. 224 pages. Ages 13-18

Sinclair, Upton and Adapted by Peter Kuper . The Jungle. Nantier Beall Minoustchine, 1991. 48 pages. Ages 14 and up

Spiegelman, Art. Maus, A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History. Pantheon, 1986. 160 pages. Ages 14 and up

Spiegelman, Art. Maus II, A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began. Pantheon, 1992. 144 pages. Ages 14 and up

Spiegelman, Art. In the Shadow of No Towers. Pantheon, 2004. 42 pages. Ages 14 and up

Sturm, James. The Golem's Mighty Swing. Drawn & Quarterly Publishers, 2002. 100 pages. Ages 15 and up

Takahashi, Rumiko. Inu-Yasha (Volume 1). VIZ LLC, 2003. 192 pages. Ages 14 and up

Takahashi, Rumiko. Ranma 1/2 (Volume 1). VIZ LLC, 2003. 304 pages. Ages 15 and older

Talbot, Bryan. The Tale of One Bad Rat. Dark Horse Comics, 1995. 136 pages. Ages 15 and up

Tezuka, Osamu. Adolf: A Tale of the Twentieth Century. VIZ LLC, 1996. 264 pages. Ages 15 and up

Tezuka, Osamu. Buddha, Volume 1: Kapilavastu. Vertical, 2003. 400 pages. Ages 16 and up

Thompson, Craig. Blankets. Top Shelf Productions, 2003. 592 pages. Ages 15 and up

Various Authors, . 9-11: Artists Respond, Volume 1. Dark Horse Comics, 2002. 191 pages. Ages 14 and up

Yasuhiko, Yoshikazu. Joan. ComicsOne, 2001. 180 pages. Ages 14 and up

This list may be reproduced and distributed by educational and/or nonprofit organizations so long as credit is given to the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison.