Kids Graphic Novels

Posted on May 21, 2020 at 10:02 am by Gene Ambaum

Don’t Worry, Bee Happy by Ross Burach. Acorn (Scholastic), 2019. 9781338504927. 48pp.

Cute bees, a grumpy frog, and three short stories make this a great comic for early readers. My favorite is Best Friends Picture Day in which they try to convince Froggy to smile.

Dewdrop by Katie O’Neil. Oni Press, 2020. 9781620106891. 40pp.

O’Neil’s picture book is about a kind axolotl preparing a cheerleading routine while trying to help her friends. It’s a simple story in which she encourages them to see their strengths and embrace their creativity. The drawings are adorable.

Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles by Art Baltazar. KABOOM!, 2019. 9781684154302. Over 100 pages.

Baltazar (DC Super Pets, Tiny Titans) is one of my favorite kids comics artists. If you ever see him at a con, go check out his crayon drawings, they’re amazing. And so is this graphic novel about a young comics artist named Andrew. His new friend Foz draws comics, too. As they plan a crossover for their characters, Drew and the evil Doctor Danger, the characters jump books all on their own. Then Andrew’s sister starts drawing in his notebook, and things get really out of hand as her alter ego, Bombastic Fantastic, takes over.

It’s fun, Baltazar excels at drawing fun comics in the kids’ style, AND there’s a giant poop monster.