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BOOK LIST

40+ Graphix Books to Build Your Students' Vocabulary

Use graphic novels to build the vocabularies of even the most reluctant readers!

By Scholastic Editors
October 3, 2024

Graphic novels are enormously popular with readers of all ages and skill levels. Striving readers, English language learners, readers with special needs, and even advanced readers are drawn to — and can benefit from — the exciting stories that unfold in graphic form. 

The graphic novel format is compelling to readers who avoid traditional texts, and the visuals provide context clues that can help struggling readers decipher the text. Plus, graphic novels use more advanced vocabulary which, when paired with eye-catching illustrations, helps kids sharpen their reading comprehension skills. 

The complex plots and rich storytelling of graphic novels will keep readers of all levels engaged, and readers who struggle with language acquisition will increase their proficiency and acquire new vocabulary as they progress more quickly through graphic novels, with the sense of accomplishment that comes with each mastered page.

Graphix is a Scholastic imprint that has published bestselling graphic novels since 2005, including the Dog Man, Amulet, and The Baby-Sitters Club series.

Teach Graphix Week is back! From October 14 to 18, join us to celebrate the power of graphic novels with free educational resources, events, and more.

Whether you are pairing graphic novels with traditional texts, integrating them into your creative writing, ELA, and other curriculums, or using them as a tool to transform striving readers into bookworms, this Graphix book list is the one for you! Plus, check out the newest Graphix titles to add to your classroom library. 

Shop the best Graphix books for your classroom below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store

Boo-hoo! Mimi is not having a good day. She can't get her pigtails to sit right, she's not in the mood for her favorite breakfast, and she's far from feeling like her usual self... Mimi has a case of the Blahs, where nothing feels quite right. So with the help of Penelope, her magical toy dog and best friend, she sets out to find a way to get rid of this icky feeling. Will Mimi reclaim her spark, or will the Blahs get the best of her?

The Bailey School Kids take a field trip to a science museum, where they meet Dr. Victor and his hulking assistant, Frank. Secrets lurk behind every door in the spooky old museum. What's Dr. Victor doing in his hidden lab? And could Frank be Frankenstein's monster -- even though he loves to plant flowers?

Piggy has returned, and his newest plot is his most diabolical yet. WHAT other new villains are on the horizon? WHERE are they all coming from? And WHO will step forward to save the city when scoundrels sabotage our Supa Buddies?

Paperback Book

Bug Scouts: Camp Out!

Grades 2 - 4
$5.99$7.99
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With laugh-out-loud humor, puns galore, kid-friendly artwork, and endless heart, Bug Scouts is the perfect early graphic novel series for enthusiasts of Dog ManNarwhal and Jelly, and CatStronauts. So get on your hiking boots, put on your binoculars, and head into wacky adventures with THE BUG SCOUTS.

$9.74$12.99
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Karen feels like an ugly duckling. Her baby teeth are all falling out, and she has to wear new glasses, too! Karen needs a new haircut to make her look glamorous. But the beauty parlor lady cuts Karen's hair all wrong. Now she's uglier than ever! What will all the kids at school say?

Hardcover Book

Cat Kid Comic Club #4: Collaborations

Grades 2 - 5
$9.74$12.99
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In this innovative graphic novel series, award-winning author and illustrator Dav Pilkey employs a variety of techniques -- including origami, acrylic paints, colored pencils, photography, collage, gouache, watercolors, and more -- to capture the creative and joyful spirit of collaboration. The variety of art styles, paired with Pilkey's trademark storytelling and humor, inspires imagination and innovation for readers of all ages.

Paperback Book

Bird & Squirrel #7: All Together

Grades 2 - 5
$8.24$10.99
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When best friends Bird and Squirrel find a treasure map, adventure calls once again. Squirrel is worried about the dangers ahead, but this time, Red and Birdie aren't going to miss out on the fun.

Clementine is supposed to be on her way to school... but why not head out for a day of adventure and exploration instead? She recruits her friends Nubbins Squirrel and Penelope Rabbit and goes to the beach, where Jesse Otter is preparing to take a giant Turtle to the mysterious local island. Clementine's great-aunt Marnie lives there -- away from any math tutors or tests -- so Clementine and her friends hitch a ride to the island as stowaways. What could go wrong?

Paperback Book

Mr. Wolf's Class: #5: Snow Day

Grades 2 - 5
$7.49$9.99
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It's snowing, and there's excitement in the air because the school day might end early. Students and teachers alike are looking forward to seeing what happens! Meanwhile, Abdi is distracted and worried because his brother is having surgery. He's supposed to go home with Henry, but they miss the bus and end up having an unexpected adventure with Mr. Wolf!

Paperback Book

Spider-Ham #2: Hollywood May-Ham

Grades 2 - 5
$6.74$8.99
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Legendary director Alfred Peacock has acquired the rights to bring Spider-Ham's spectacular story to the silver screen. There's only one, itsy-bitsy problem: Spider-Ham didn't sell those rights, and Peacock is getting the origin all wrong―making our hero out to be a monstrous menace! Once he catches wind of the perilous production, Peter Porker uses his Daily Beagle connections to secure on-set credentials, where he not so subtly tries to improve the film's depiction of his alter ego and fix all the "continuity errors" in the movie.

$9.74$12.99
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Sixth grader Leon discovers what it takes to become a hero in this action-packed graphic novel. Cheer him on as he learns responsibility and to believe in himself!

Paperback Book

Mabuhay!: A Graphic Novel

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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First-generation Filipino siblings JJ and Althea struggle to belong at school. JJ wants to fit in with the crowd, while Althea wants to be accepted as she is. But that hope seems like a long shot, for both of them. To make matters worse, they have to help their parents run the family food truck by dressing up as a dancing pig and passing out samples. Ugh! And their mom is always pointing out lessons from Filipino folklore -- annoying tales they've heard again and again. But when witches, ogres, and other creatures from those same stories threaten their family, JJ and Althea realize that the folklore may be more real that they'd suspected. Can they embrace who they really are and save their family?

Paperback Book

Four Eyes

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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In this true coming-of-age story, Rex has his sights set on surviving sixth grade, but now he's got to find a way to do it with glasses, no friends, and a family that just doesn't get it!

Paperback Book

Making Friends

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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Now that Danny's in seventh grade, she's in a new middle school, her friends are in different classes and forming new cliques, and she is totally, completely lost.

The Graphic Novel series continues! When Winter and his friends embark on a dangerous adventure to find his sister, he's faced with the greatest threat of all: his own family.

Paperback Book

Squished: A Graphic Novel

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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Eleven-year-old Avery Lee loves living in Hickory Valley, Maryland. She loves her neighborhood, school, and the end-of-summer fair she always goes to with her two best friends. But she's tired of feeling squished by her six siblings! They're noisy and chaotic and the younger kids love her a little too much. All Avery wants is her own room-her own space to be alone and make art. So she's furious when Theo, her grumpy older brother, gets his own room instead, and her wild baby brother, Max, moves into the room she already shares with her clinging sister Pearl! Avery hatches a plan to finally get her own room, all while trying to get Max to sleep at night, navigating changes in her friendships, and working on an art entry for the fair. And when Avery finds out that her family might move across the country, things get even more complicated.

Paperback Book

The Predator (Animorphs Graphix #5)

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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A graphic novel adaptation of the original Animorphs series brings this classic sci-fi adventure to a new generation of fans.

Paperback Book

Shuri & T'Challa: Into the Heartlands

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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When an argument between T'Challa and Shuri leads to one of Shuri's inventions accidentally destroying the sacred ceremony site, chaos reigns instead of prosperity. Suddenly the people of Wakanda, including her mother the queen, are becoming sick! Could this be a curse from the ancestors? Desperate to save her mother, Shuri dives into research and finds an answer hidden deep in an ancient children's myth. It may be nothing more than a fantasy, but with the sickness spreading each day, the young princess must trust her instincts and travel deep into the mysterious Heartlands to save her family and her kingdom.

The magic of the New York Times and PW bestselling Whatever After series comes to life in this brand-new graphic novel adaptation that will appeal to fans of the BSC and Wings of Fire alike! Fractured fairy tales have never been this fun.

$9.74$12.99
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When Rayla discovers a young Skywing elf in danger just hours before the Harvest Moon will rise, the scary stories become real. Can she stop the Huntress before the moon reaches its zenith?

Paperback Book

Miss Quinces

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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ue just wants to spend the summer reading and making comics at sleepaway camp with her friends, but instead she gets stuck going to Honduras to visit relatives with her parents and two sisters. They live way out in the country, which means no texting, no cable, and no Internet! The trip takes a turn for the worse when Sue's mother announces that they'll be having a surprise quinceañera for Sue, which is the last thing she wants. She can't imagine wearing a big, floofy, colorful dress! What is Sue going to do? And how will she survive all this "quality" time with her rambunctious family?

$9.74$12.99
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UNICO tells the incredible story of a young unicorn who, after enraging the evil goddess Venus, is banished from the heavens and forgets all he once was. Saved from oblivion by the kindhearted West Wind, Unico continues to help others, before having to escape Venus again and begin a new adventure.

Paperback Book

Smile

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.

Paperback Book

Nat for Nothing

Grades 3 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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Natalie is having a rough start to the school year. Each student has been asked to join an extracurricular activity, and Nat's two best friends have no trouble finding activities that interest them. Flo tries her hand at puppetry, and Zoe makes the volleyball team... with Nat's ex-BFF, Lily! So now Zoe and Lily are always together, and Nat's over it! Nat's feeling betrayed, and she still hasn't found a club to join. But when Nat meets a new student who's having the same difficulty choosing a club, they decide to create one together. Could this be the solution to her problems?

Nathaniel Fox never imagined he'd find himself in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield, fighting for his life. He was only eleven years old! He'd barely paid attention to the troubles between America and England. How could he, while being worked to the bone by his cruel uncle, Uriah Storch?

But when his uncle's rage forces him to flee the only home he knows, Nate is suddenly propelled toward a thrilling and dangerous journey into the heart of the Revolutionary War. He finds himself in New York City on the brink of what will be the biggest battle yet.

$9.74$12.99
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The beloved Goosebumps series is now a full length graphic novel! When Carly Beth puts on her Halloween mask, she's in for the scare of her life when the mask won't budge at the end of the night!

Paperback Book

City of Dragons: Rise of the Shadowfire

Grades 4 - 7
$9.74$12.99
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Featuring quick wit, a diverse cast, and powerful magic, readers will devour this graphic novel series rooted in Chinese mythology.

$9.74$12.99
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In this new graphic adventure, Brooklyn"s Spider-Man deftly navigates a tangled web of problems after he"s asked to launch a video game.

Paperback Book

Invisible

Grades 5 - 8
$9.74$12.99
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This Breakfast Club inspired graphic novel in Spanish and English text pairs together with an engaging storyline centered on middle school friendships and identity.

Paperback Book

Supernova: A Graphic Novel (Amulet #8)

Grades 6 - 8
$9.74$12.99
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Emily has lost control of her Amulet and is imprisoned in the Void, where she must find a way to escape the influence of the Voice.

Paperback Book

The Tryout

Grades 6 - 8
$9.74$12.99
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This touching graphic novel memoir delves into the Thai-American author"s personal experiences as she navigated the challenging middle school experience as an outsider longing to fit in.

Paperback Book

Freestyle

Grades 6 - 9
$9.74$12.99
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Middle schoolers everywhere will sympathize with eighth grader Cory as he struggles to balance the expectations of his parents, school, dance crew, and friends in this fast-paced graphic novel.

Paperback Book

Sunny Side Up

Grades 6 - 8
$9.74$12.99
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Following the lives of kids whose older brother's delinquent behavior has thrown their family into chaos, Sunny Side Up is at once a compelling "problem" story and a love letter to the comic books that help the protagonist make sense of her world.

Paperback Book

Space Dumplins

Grades 6 - 8
$14.24$18.99
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Highly acclaimed graphic novelist Craig Thompson's debut book for young readers about a plucky heroine on a mission to save her dad.

Paperback Book

Bad Island

Grades 6 - 8
$8.24$10.99
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When Reese is forced to go on a boating trip with his family, the last thing he expects is to be shipwrecked on an island, especially one teeming with weird plants and animals.

Paperback Book

Bone: Out from Boneville

Grades 6 - 9
$9.74$12.99
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The three Bone cousins are separated and lost in a vast, uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures.

Paperback Book

Captain America: The Ghost Army

Grades 6 - 10
$11.24$14.99
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The worlds of historical fiction and super hero comics collide in this original graphic novel destined to be a hit with fans of all ages.

$18.74$24.99
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National Book Award winner Neal Shusterman and acclaimed illustrator Andrés Vera Martínez present a graphic novel exploring the Holocaust through surreal visions and a textured canvas of heroism and hope.

Paperback Book

Stars in Their Eyes: A Graphic Novel

Grades 7 and up
$11.99$15.99
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Maisie is on her way to Fancon! She's looking forward to meeting her idol, Kara Bufano, the action hero from her favorite TV show, who has a lower-leg amputation, just like Maisie. But when Maisie and her mom arrive at the convention center, she is stopped in her tracks by Ollie, a cute volunteer working the show. They are kind, charming, and geek out about nerd culture just as much as Maisie does. And as the day wears on, Maisie notices feelings for Ollie that she's never had before. Is this what it feels like to fall in love?

Paperback Book

Hey, Kiddo

Grades 12
$11.24$14.99
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The author of this graphic memoir recalls the impact of addiction on his family and how art resolved his pain.

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