Great Graphic Novels of Fall 2011: Kids
Check out all our Fall 2011 picks in these other categories:
Tweens | Teens | Nonfiction | Adult Fiction
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September
Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking
by Philippe Coudray
Candlewick
On sale now
Benjamin Bear does everything in his own funny way, whether it's drying dishes on a rabbit’s back or throwing a ball at a friend to make him play. In this series of gags starring a very loopy bear, Philippe Coudray creates a zany world that makes kids think and solve puzzles, drawing all readers into the game.
Frankie Pickle and the Mathematical Menace
by Eric Wight
Simon & Schuster
On sale now
Frankie is struggling. This time it's not keeping his room clean, and it's not winning the Pine Run 3000. It is something much more serious: math! He doesn't get it and every time he tries to do it, it just seems impossible. So instead of tackling his quiz, the numbers become unconquerable monsters. When he finally shares his problem with his family (and his best friend Kenny) at the dinner table, they band together to create a math obstacle course to teach Frankie everything from subtraction to long division in the most fun way imaginable! Will Frankie and his imagination be able to overcome Mathematical Menace that haunts him?
Okie Dokie Donuts: Open for Business!
by Chris Eliopoulos
Top Shelf
On sale now
Welcome to the best little donut shop anywhere: Big Mama’s Okie Dokie Donuts! Everybody loves Big Mama's treats—but when a salesman comes to town claiming that his new machine will revolutionize her business, she may have bitten off more than she can chew....
Peanuts: Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown
by Charles Schulz and Stephan Pastis
Boom! Studios
On sale now
For the first time ever, Charles Schulz’s world-renowned comic strip Peanuts takes the stage as a graphic novel! Adapted from the brand new animated special Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, this 80-page retelling takes us back to the neighborhood and features Linus’ insecurities, Charlie Brown’s kite-flying woes, Lucy’s unrequited love for Schroeder, and everyone’s favorite beagle, Snoopy, in a lively and colorful spin through Charles Schulz’s imagination.
Pilot & Huxley: The Next Adventure
by Dan McGuiness
Graphix
On sale now
Pilot and Huxley just want to get home, but an unexpected glitch hurtles them into the holiday lands instead. Now they're stuck in a bizarre world where ghouls and zombies in Halloween Land are friendly, and Santa and his elves in Christmas Land are evil. Will the boys make it out alive? Can they find a way back to Earth? Is a bowl of noodles a deadly weapon? Find out inside!
Word Girl: Coalition of Malice
by Chris Karwowski
Boom! Studios
On sale now
Disguised as mild-mannered 5th grader Becky Botsford, WordGirl arrived on planet Earth when she and her monkey sidekick, Captain Huggy Face, crashed their spaceship. In classic superhero form, WordGirl possesses superhero strength with the added benefit of a colossal vocabulary. WordGirl has a family and friends who have no idea of her secret identity or that she battles and prevails over evil (albeit ridiculous and comical) villains. Each book introduces new vocabulary words and will reinforce their meaning in a variety of contexts.
Monster Christmas
by Lewis Trondheim
Papercutz
On sale September 13
By the artist of Dungeon and Little Nothings, a charming new series for kids! The almost normal adventures of an almost ordinary family…with a pet Monster. Peter and Jean, two mischievous kids, love to draw monsters. One day, when drawing a monster, it comes to life, jumping off the page! They name him Kriss, and he quickly becomes the family pet. For Christmas, Jean and Peter go on vacation to the mountains with their parents. Kriss is supposed to stay at home, but he manages to make the trip on the roof of the car. Suddenly an avalanche blocks the road, caused by a monster in hot pursuit of… Santa Claus! It’s up to the kids and their pet monster to Save Santa and Christmas!
Giant Size Little Lulu, Vol. 4
by John Stanley and Irving Tripp
Dark Horse
On sale September 20
Named one of the top 100 comics of all time by The Comics Journal, John Stanley's Little Lulu is one of the most enduring gems of the Golden Age. In a testament to Stanley's bottomless imagination, this behemoth volume sees mischievous Lulu Moppet's world continue to expand with new situations and characters, including the first appearance of fan-favorite villain Ol' Witch Hazel. In these sixteen hilarious issues, Stanley and artistic collaborator Irving Tripp fill every page with ingenious storytelling and hearty laughs.
Archie’s Joke Book, Vol. 1: A Celebration of Bob Montana
by various
IDW
On sale September 21
Archie’s Joke Book contains dozens of half-page and one-page stories, each featuring one or more of your favorite Riverdale characters: Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Moose, and many more. This is a veritable cornucopia of delectable Archie goodness, featuring over 300 stories!
Nina in That Makes Me Mad
by Hilary Knight (based on a text by Steven Kroll)
Candlewick
On sale September 27
What makes Nina mad? Lots of things-lots of little, everyday things (frustrations that all children will recognize). In a series of humorous vignettes, Hilary Knight, the artist behind Eloise, applies that same magic to a text by veteran children’s book writer Steven Kroll, and brings to life a spunky character who will show young readers how to articulate their feelings.
October
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Reloaded
by Poulomi Mukherjee and Amit Tayal
Campfire
On sale October 4
Ali Baba's life was far from fantastic. A small house in the poorest part of Mumbai, a loving son, and his own autorickshaw--that was his world... Till one day, he accidentally stumbles upon the secret stash of a gang of forty thieves. What follows is a storm that changes his life completely. One little dip into the pile, and Ali Baba brings on more trouble than he had bargained for, as he finds that the robbers aren't ones to take things lightly. They are dangerous, armed, and cunning. And while Ali Baba himself isn't a greedy man, the secret doesn't stay with him... This thrilling graphic novel re-creates the classic tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves from the Arabian Nights in contemporary times.
The Clockwork Girl (paperback)
by Sean O'Reilly and Kevin Hanna
HarperDesign
On sale October 4
Mad scientists, supernatural dangers, and a series of all-too-human challenges will confront two unlikely heroes in The Clockwork Girl, an unforgettable journey into the farthest reaches of the imagination. Tesla, a mechanical girl brought to life by her Victor Frankenstein-like creator, faces a wall of fear, intolerance, and superstition in her steam-shrouded castle—but when she discovers a friend in Huxley, a mutant boy from the circus sideshow, then the pair of outcasts will finally learn what it is to be human. The award-winning Clockwork Girl comic books, now in an enthralling graphic novel compendium perfect for fans of Scott Pilgrim, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Marvel Comics’ The Wizard of Oz, is a one-of-a-kind paranormal tale of steampunk science, breathless suspense, and riveting adventure.
The Invincible Iron Man: An Origin Story
Marvel Press
On sale October 10
Picture book retelling of the origin of Iron Man. Inventions are only as good as the men who make them. Billionaire inventor Tony Stark had always put himself first…until one fateful day when his inventions were used for evil. But when Tony tried to set things right, his devices were turned against him. In order to survive, Tony built himself a high-tech suit of armor and promised to use this technology to help those in need as the Invincible Iron Man!
Nursery Rhyme Comics
edited by Chris Duffy
First Second
On sale October 11
Featuring 50 classic nursery rhymes illustrated and interpreted in comics form by 50 of today’s preeminent cartoonists and illustrators, this is a groundbreaking new entry in the canon of nursery rhymes treasuries.From New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast’s “There Was a Crooked Man” to Bad Kitty author Nick Bruel’s “Three Little Kittens” to First Second’s own Gene Yang’s “Pat-a-Cake,” this is a collection that will put a grin on your face from page one and keep it there.Each rhyme is one to three pages long, and simply paneled and lettered to ensure that the experience is completely accessible for the youngest of readers.
Power Lunch, Book 1: First Course
by J. Torres and Dean Trippe
Oni Press
On sale October 12
Joey is a sickly looking kid who’s been raised to believe that he’s allergic to pretty much everything with a hue. His mother has him on a strict diet that avoids a huge list of food--anything that isn’t white is off the table--literally. Why the restrictive diet? Well, it turns out every food gives Joey a different superpower! Lunchtime just got a whole lot crazier!
Sketch Monsters, Book 1: Escape of the Scribbles
by Joshua Williamson and Vicente “Vinny” Navarrete
Oni Press
On sale October 12
Eight-year-old Mandy isn’t what you’d call an emotional child. Whether at her own surprise birthday party, scoring the winning goal, or being stung by a bee, Mandy doesn’t show her feelings. Instead she draws them as monsters in her sketchbook. But one day, emotions run wild and those monsters escape! Mandy’s only help catching them is an eccentric monster named Happster, who causes more problems than he solves. Can Mandy catch all the sketch monsters and return them to her sketchbook before they destroy her town?
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller, Vol. 1
by various
Archaia
On sale October 26
Archaia and The Jim Henson Company present all-new tales of fantastic wonder and extraordinary myth, as told from the tongue of The Storyteller and his loyal canine companion.
November
Ernest & Rebecca #1: My Best Friend Is a Germ
by Guillaume Bianco and Antonello Dalena
Papercutz
On sale November 8
Rebecca is a six-and-a-half-year-old girl who is out of luck–her parents are on the verge of divorce and she is always getting sick due to a weak immune system. One rainy day, Rebecca’s luck changes when she meets a magical microbe named Ernest, who becomes her best friend! Ernest is no regular germ—he’s about the same height as Rebecca and he can talk. Can Rebecca keep her parents together with the help of her new friend? And can anyone really have a friend who belongs in a Petri dish?
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Breakout!
by Michael Siglain
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Man in the Ant Hill
by Nachie Castro
Marvel Press
On sale November 15
Two 8x8 books based on Marvel Animation's Avengers TV show. Each book includes an Avengers trading card.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6: Cabin Fever
by Jeff Kinney
Abrams
On sale November 15
Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of. The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts, he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays?
The Incredible Hulk: An Origin Story
Marvel Press
On sale November 15
Picture book retelling of the origin of the Incredible Hulk. Dr. Bruce Banner was always a quiet, shy boy who lost himself in science books. When he got older, Bruce became a scientist and went to work for the Army. But when an experiment went wrong, Bruce found himself caught in a blast of dangerous gamma radiation. Now, in times of stress or anxiety, Bruce Banner transforms into the rampaging, green-skinned, misunderstood monster known as the Incredible Hulk.
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths, Vol. 1
by Brian Holguin, Brian Froud, Alex Sheikman, and Lizzy John
Archaia
On sale November 9
Part one of a three-part graphic novel prequel series delving into the origins of the Skeksis, Mystics, Gelflings, the world of Thra, and the Dark Crystal itself. Spanning a time period from thousands of years ago to right up to the start of the original film, this graphic novel epic will tell the definitive origin of Dark Crystal, under the supervision of The Jim Henson Company and The Dark Crystal concept designer Brian Froud.
Jim Henson’s A Tale of Sand
by Jim Henson, Jerry Juhl, and Ramón Pérez
Archaia
On sale November 16
Discovered in the Archives of The Jim Henson Company, A Tale of Sand is an original graphic novel adaptation of an unproduced, feature-length screenplay written by Jim Henson and his frequent writing partner, Jerry Juhl. A Tale of Sand follows scruffy everyman Mac, who wakes up in an unfamiliar town and is chased across the desert of the American Southwest by all manners of man and beast of unimaginable proportions. Produced with the complete blessing of Henson CEO Lisa Henson, A Tale of Sand will allow Henson fans to recognize some of the inspirations and set pieces that appeared in later Henson Company productions.
The Dare Detectives! Collected Edition: The Snow Pea Plot
by Ben Caldwell
Archaia
On sale November 23
Reformed crook Maria Dare has assembled a team of misfits to crack the world’s weirdest cases! They have brains…they have guts…but they don’t have a clue! And in their first adventure, the Dare Detectives are finished! Rent’s due and their license is suspended, but Dare’s going-out-of-business festivities are interrupted by Madame Bleu—whose abominable snowmen pets are on a chef-stealing, radio-robbing, snowpea-swiping crime wave! Dare races against the clock to hunt down Madame Bleu with the help of corrupt cops and Chinatown’s old crime boss. But can these bunglers really prevent the most audacious—and inexplicably convoluted—crime of the century?
