Hilo: The boy who crashed the earth by Judd Winick (Puffin) – December 2016
Hilo is a haphazard Superman for the next generation. Crashing down from space, he’s not sure where he came from or how he got here but he’s ready to learn all he can about Earth and help his new friends D.J. and Gina. This hilarious story will have kids laughing, gasping and wanting more.
Max Meow: Cat Crusader & Max Meow: Donuts and Danger by John Gallagher (Puffin) – 1st August 2024
The Max Meow graphic novel series is absolutely gorgeous – perfect for cat lovers and kids who love big adventures! When my daughter was small, she gave our cats superhero names (Meatball & Fuzz) and imagined all the crimes they could solve together. She would have been delighted with Max Meow and the fact that he gained his superpowers after eating a giant meatball from outer space! Aimed at age 7+, these are books kids won’t be able to put down.
Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson (Puffin) – 11th April 2024
Blood City Rollers is a vampire story with a difference. Ice-skater Mina is pulled into the paranormal world of vampire roller derby just when her skating career seems to be over. This is competition like she’s never known – there’s no mercy on this track! Readers age 9+ are going to love this spooky story of teamwork, jealousy and proving yourself.
The New Girl by Cassandra Calin (Scholastic) – 6th June 2024
Growing up is tough but it’s even tougher when you have to leave the only home you’ve ever known and move to a new country. Lia struggles with leaving Romania for Montreal while juggling puberty, language barriers and a whole new culture. Bit by bit things get better with new friendships, encouraging teachers, trying new things and some good advice. Change is hard but The New Girl shows readers it’s possible to use it to create something positive.
Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends by Nicole Andelfinger (Puffin) – 27th June 2024
Jessica and Elizabeth – the Sweet Valley twins – have been a part of teen reading for years. I’m thrilled to see them pop up again in a new graphic novel series. With a contemporary twist, these girls are ready to take on their new school and try new things. Sibling dynamics and a developing understanding of what it means to be twins show the girls that even if life doesn’t always run smoothly, they’re always there for each other.
Peng and Spanners: When Pigs Go Bad by Steve Webb (Faber) – 1st August 2024
Peng and Spanners is my favourite crime-fighting duo! Who doesn’t love a superhero penguin and gadgety cat with a toolbelt? Super funny and more than a little bit off-the-wall, the second graphic novel in this series is guaranteed to delight readers age 7+. In this adventure, the pair find evil in the form of wealthy architect Mr Big the pig. Tricks and lies land our fantastic pair in a lot of trouble!
Action Dude and the Massive Shark by Andy Riley (Welbeck) – 15th August 2024
Action Dude is absolutely delightful! Sure to be popular in every classroom, this graphic novel is full of thrills, danger and hilarious moments. Action Dude might seem like an unstopable hero but he still lives with his mum and dad. He sets out to defeat the huge sea creatures coming up through the city’s toilets and find out the truth about the City Science Lab.
Save Our Forest by Nora Dasnes (Farshore) – 29th August 2024
Save our Forest is a unique graphic novel addressing the environmental crisis and the power of children to really make a difference. 12-year-old Bao can’t believe the adults in her community have decided to replace half the forest with a car park. She must be able to do something to get them to change their minds. It turns out she’s going to need to take extreme action and real risks to make her voice heard.
Timid by Jonathon Todd (Scholastic) – 4th July 2024
Making friends isn’t always easy. When Cecil moves to a new school, he struggles to fit in. He’s not sure whether he should try to make friends with the other black kids or talk to the white kids he meets at lunch. What he really wants is to keep drawing his comics and find friends who love that too. Cecil realises he needs to speak up and be true to himself rather than following what others might expect of him. This is a tricky lesson for anyone and a great one for children to explore through a graphic novel.
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