MCLS Comics Booklist  

Wordless

Faller, Regis  Polo (series/easy) Tag along with Polo the dog as he travels on a boat or through the air from the little island he calls home to visit friends and have adventures.

Runton, Andy  Owly (series/easy)  These simple and fun stories of a kind-hearted little owl and his worm friend are great for early readers, but readers of all ages will find them delightful and full of wisdom.

Slade, Christian  Korgi (series/middle) Ivy, a young Mollie (fairy-like being), and her Korgi cub Sprout embark on adventures around their home of Korgi Hollow, where they encounter beastly creatures that threaten the simple woodland lives of the Mollies and their Korgi companions. 

Tan, Shaun  The Arrival (advanced) A man travels to an unfamiliar country to start a new life for his family.  The beautifully detailed illustrations express how strange and fantastical a new land can seem to a recent immigrant. 

Early Readers

Davis, Eleanor  Stinky (easy) Stinky the monster gets angry when he finds out that a nice smelling boy made a tree house in his woods! After trying very hard to get the boy to leave, he soon realizes that friends are great to have, no matter what they smell like.

Hayes, Geoffrey  Benny and Penny (series/easy) Benny and Penny fight and tease each other like any other mouse siblings would, but in the end they always find happiness in having each other. 

Kochalka, James  Johnny Boo (series/easy) These silly tales of a ghost named Johnny Boo and his pet Squiggle are sure to cause giggles as readers follow their hilarious adventures.
 

Humor

Azuma, Kiyohiko  Yotsuba (series/middle)

Yotsuba is a little girl with green hair who lives in Japan with her adoptive single father. She experiences the world in a unique way that is often puzzling but always amusing to her father and her friends. From learning to ride a bike to visiting a ranch to watching fireworks, Yotsuba is guaranteed to entertain.

Cammuso, Frank  Knights of the Lunch Table (series/middle) This modern middle school take on the legends of King Arthur puts a fresh spin on the new-kid-versus-school-bully theme. Fans of the old tales will have fun recognizing names and storylines in this clever contemporary adaptation, while even more will identify with the great characters and funny stories about school life.

Davis, Eleanor  Secret Science Alliance (advanced) Eleven-year-old Julian Calendar thought changing schools would mean leaving his "nerdy" persona behind; instead, he forms an alliance with fellow inventors Greta and Ben and works with them to prevent an adult from using one of their gadgets for nefarious purposes.

Gownley, Jimmy  Amelia Rules (series/middle) Nine year old Amelia thinks her life might be over when she has to move to the suburbs from New York City after her parents' divorce.  But change is always a little easier when you've got good friends to help you along the way - even if they're a little bit strange! 

Holm, Jennifer  Babymouse (series/middle) Babymouse doesn't always have the best of luck and isn't the most popular girl in her elementary class, but she has a wild imagination and some great friends that follow along.

Spires, Ashley  Binky the Space Cat (easy) In a world where bugs are aliens, the space station is a family's living room, and outerspace is the back yard, the life of an "official certified" space cat is a dangerous and exciting one.

Townsend, Michael  Kit Feeney (series/middle) Cheese-ball art and ninja fishing happen to be two of Kit Feeny's favorite activities. Who will do them with him, now that he has moved away from his best friend Arnold?  Follow Kit on his madcap adventures as he seeks to find his place and like-minded friends in his new home.

Trondheim, Lewis  Tiny Tyrant (series/advanced) Anything goes in the world of King Ethelbert.  This six-year-old spoiled rotten monarch gets everything he demands, no matter how crazy the demands are!

Fantasy

Kibuishi, Kazu  Amulet (series/advanced) After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother into the home of her deceased great-grandfather. When a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement, Em and Navin follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.

Hale, Shannon  Rapunzel's Revenge (advanced) In this twist on the classic tale, Rapunzel is nothing like the helpless girl you may remember.   Instead of waiting in a tower for a prince to rescue her, Rapunzel takes action and uses her amazing hair to save herself. Teaming up with Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk) they set off for a Wild West adventure to save others from the evil Mother Gothel. 

Petersen, David  Mouse Guard (series/advanced) In the world of Mouse Guard, mice struggle to live safely and prosper despite harsh conditions and a host of predators. Thus the Mouse Guard was formed. Saxon, Kenzie and Lieam, three such Guardsmice, are dispatched to find a missing mouse that never arrived at his destination. Their search  reveals much more than they expect, as they stumble across a traitor in the Guard's own ranks. 

Phelan, Matt  Storm in the Barn (middle/advanced) In Kansas in the year 1937, eleven-year-old Jack Clark faces his share of ordinary challenges: local bullies, his father’s failed expectations, and a little sister with an eye for trouble. But he also has to deal with the effects of the Dust Bowl, including rising tensions in his small town and the spread of a shadowy illness. Certainly a case of "dust dementia" would explain who (or what) Jack has glimpsed in an abandoned barn — a sinister figure with a face like rain.

Smith, Jeff  Bone (series/advanced) The BONE adventures tell the story of Fone Bone and his two cousins, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone, who are banned from their homeland of Boneville. When the cousins find themselves mysteriously trapped in a wonderful but often terrifying land filled with secrets and danger - and special new friendships - they are soon caught up in adventures beyond their wildest dreams. 

Soo, Kean  Jellaby (series/middle) Portia is bored with her new neighborhood and her new school until she meets an unusually large and sweet  purple monster.  This purple creature, Jellaby, was lost and lonely until Portia found him. With the help of her new friend Jason, Portia determines to find out exactly where Jellaby came from.

Thompson, Jill  Magic Trixie (series/middle) Magic Trixie, a young witch with a lot of sass, doesn't understand why no one will take her seriously.  What will she do next to impress her friends, who happen to be mummies, werewolves, and ghosts? 

Wood, Don  Into the Volcano (advanced) While their parents are away doing research, brothers Duffy and Sumo visit their Aunt Lulu and their cousin on Kokalaha Island, where they became trapped in an erupting volcano.

Science Fiction

Clone Wars Adventures (series/middle) Set in the time period in Star Wars continuity between Episodes 2 and 3, this ten-volume series of short stories is sure to delight Star Wars fans of all ages. Stylized art and consistent writing ensures a quality experience from beginning to end.

Guibert, Emmanuel  Sardine in Outer Space (series/middle) Sardine, her cousin Lou, and her uncle Captain Yellow Shoulders travel around the galaxy in search of adventure.  It all too often finds them in the form of Supermuscleman- chief executive dictator of the universe- whose dastardly plans Sardine and her friends thwart at every turn. 

Super Heroes

Giarrusso, Chris  G-Man (middle) Having a superhero for a dad is tough when you're trying to fill his shoes.  It's even tougher when you have a brother who's competing with you for the same legacy! Follow the humorous adventures of two ordinary brothers with some extraordinary powers - whose bickering gets them into some extraordinary situations.    

Parker, Jeff  X-Men First Class (series/middle) Professor X has his work cut out for him when he takes five young teenagers with mutant powers under his wing to teach them to use their powers to benefit humankind. Learning to work together is never easy, especially when you're fighting monsters, aliens, and villains who are trying to take over the world.  Will the X-Men survive until graduation?

Literary Adaptations

Lee, Young Shin  Manga Bible (series/middle) This series makes Bible stories accessible to new and old audiences alike by adding humor and humorous commentary, all the way from Genesis to the life of Jesus and beyond.

Mazan, Petit, Chicault  Tales of the Bros. Grimm (middle) This adaptation of fairytales include four classic stories illustrated by three different artists: "Hanzel and Gretel," "The Valiant Little Tailor," "The Boy Who Wanted the Learn What Fear Was," and "The Devil's Three Golden Hairs."   

Mucci, Tim  Tom Sawyer (series/middle) Tom Sawyer is a small-town boy with a life full of skipping school, fishing, and treasure hunting.  Tom is good at getting into trouble- especially when he meets up with his friend Huck Finn!  This adaptation of the classic story by Mark Twain is perfect for adventure-seeking kids.

O'Connor, George  Zeus: King of the Gods (advanced)  Terrified of being killed by one of his children, Kronos devours each of his offspring in turn. Only Zeus, the youngest, is saved. Though raised to enjoy a life of leisure, Zeus must fulfill his destiny and lead a new race of gods--and he must begin by destroying his own father. A perfect fusion of super-hero aesthetics and ancient Greek mythology.

Russell, P. Craig  Coraline (advanced?) A graphic novel adaptation of the Neil Gaiman story in which Coraline ventures through a mysterious door in her new house to find a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different, from her own. When a gruesome entity in that world reveals its true intentions, Coraline must challenge it to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others. 

Shanower, Eric  Wonderful Wizard of Oz (middle) After a tornado hits her small Kansas town, Dorothy finds herself in a strange land full of strange creatures.  With the assistance of her three new friends, Dorothy must travel to the Emerald City to find a wizard who will help her get home.  Skottie Young's dynamic illustrations bring a fresh perspective to this classic story. 

Historical/Biographical/Non-fiction

Debon, Nicolas  Four pictures by Emily Carr (advanced) A biography of Canadian artist Emily Carr focusing on her life during the times she created four of her best-known works. Each painting introduces a chapter of the book and a distinct period of her life and career.

Sturm, James  Adventures in Cartooning (easy) Go on quest with a brave knight, his horse, and a magical elf to save a princess from a dragon- and learn how to make your own comics along the way.  

Telgemeier, Raina  Smile (middle) An autobiographical account of how the author recovers not just her smile but her self-esteem after an accident in sixth grade that causes her to lose her front teeth. Gentle humor and important life lessons give this simple story plenty of substance.

Debon, Nicolas  Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr (middle/advanced) Set in Quebec at the turn of the 20th century, this biography features Louis Cyr, world-renowned strongman and circus owner.  In vivid detail he recounts his adventures traveling through Europe performing feats of strength that astounded audiences and remain unsurpassed today.  Vibrant illustrations and moving text bring the world of circuses and celebrities from long ago to life for young readers.

Siegel, Siena  To Dance (advanced) In this memoir, the author describes how she first decided she wanted to be a ballerina at the age of six, and how that dream carried her from her home in Puerto Rico to performing with the New York City Ballet.  Part family history, part backstage drama, To Dance is an original, firsthand account about a young dancer's beginning-- and beyond.

Ottaviani, Jim  T-Minus: The Race to the Moon (advanced)  

What happens when you take two global superpowers, thousands of engineers and scientists, and dozens of daring pilots and and point them at the night sky and say "Go!"? The whole world followed the countdown to sending the first men to the moon. This is the story of the fierce competion between the US and the Soviet Union to make that first giant leap for mankind.

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