As a bookseller, I meet so many kids looking for graphic novels. Some seek fun, best-selling titles like Dog Man and Captain Underpants, others are eager to explore the varied landscape of stories in this section.
Controversy
Naysayers don’t consider graphic novels as ‘real books.’ Luckily, this myth is beginning to be seen as just that. As Betsy Bird in her SLJ Review of Mexikid points out, “Comics for kids are considered ancillary. Secondary. Less important than novels. . . . A book with words and pictures can be as stirring and important as a book that’s just words alone.”The popularity of middle grade graphic novels is also indicated by the fact these titles top the sales charts.
Reading graphic novels offer young readers a sense of accomplishment, visual literacy, and practice with inferencing.
Diversity
Graphic novels, with their strong visuals, page turning plots and relatable characters provide kids with windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors into new experiences. These books allow young readers to see themselves, and consider different perspectives.
(Thank you, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop )
Check out this list of recently published diverse graphic novels that take readers on different journeys – from road trips across the U.S. to visit relatives in Mexico to school trips to Europe, to trips to a parent’s Hong Kong hometown, and more. The characters in these novels come from diverse backgrounds and their exposure to people who are different from themselves expose them to new ways of life.
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
Dan is anything but excited when he leaves his small town in LA for a school trip to Europe. He is accustomed to constantly being bullied and made fun of and believes nothing is going to change. As he tours France, Switzerland, Germany, and London, he makes new friends and learns about these countrys’ cultures. It is a trip of firsts; Dan meets his first girlfriend, and for the first time finds confidence in his drawing skills. With hijinks and humor, this heartwarming graphic memoir gives readers a glimpse of the 1980’s.
Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin
Pedro travels 2,000 miles in a Winnebago with 11 family members to meet his legendary grandfather in Mexico. He is not thrilled to be going to meet his Abuela, a tough, crime-fighting man who supposedly fought in the Mexican Revolution. Along the way, he meets cousins, has a brush with corrupt border officials, and helps his brother with his bout of diarrhea after drinking raw milk. The trials and hilarious tribulations of Pedro’s road trip result in revelations about his grandfather and his brothers and sisters, who are divided between those who were born in Mexico and those who were born in the U.S., like him. Young readers are sure to pick up some Spanish words and learn about Mexican culture along with Pedro.
Saving Sunshine by Saadia Fauqi, illustrated by Shazleen Khan
Zara and Zeeshan, twins who constantly fight, are thrown together on their family trip from New York to Key West. The Pakistani American brother and sister couldn’t be more different. Zara is grounded in the world of animals and nature, while Zeeshan prefers to explore outer space. When the twins stumble upon a sick loggerhead turtle named Sunshine, they find common ground and collaborate to help return the turtle to the sea. Through flashbacks, readers learn about the experiences of the parent’s experiences with immigration and Islamophobia as well as the incidents of racism that Zara and Zeeshan faced at school. Big issues of environmentalism and identity are addressed along with the challenges of being a twin.
Uprooted by Ruth Chan
Ruth is sad to leave her best friends behind in her beloved hometown of Toronto when she moves to her parent’s hometown, Hong Kong. Her new life isn’t easy, she doesn’t speak Cantonese, her father is often away from home for his new job, and her new schools is very difficult. Ruth’s father tells her stories of the hardships he encountered growing up in the 1940s. He relates how his family survived fleeing from the Sino-Japanese War. Ruth’s internal journey into her father’s past gives her strength to cope with the changes in her life.
School Trip by Jerry Craft
In this companion novel to award-winning New Kid and Class Act! Readers reconnect with African-American Jordan and his group of friends. As an 8th grader, accepted to the art school of his dreams, he has to make a big decision. Should he attend a new high school and leave his friends behind? These thoughts stick with him while traveling on an exciting school trip to Paris. Jordan’s journey exposes him to a new language, new foods, and a different culture, as well as new understandings of racism and classism. Craft’s signature black and white drawings (depicted as Jordan’s original artwork) show lessons learned..
The main characters in each of these novels are called (by their parents) to embark on a journey. While their backgrounds and personalities vary greatly, each of them finds their path in these often funny, and always fascinating stories. While kids turn the pages of these graphic novels, they will look through windows, mirrors, and sliding doors that depict our diverse world.
Fossils are like time capsules that preserve clues about life on Earth millions of years ago. They help us reconstruct the planet’s past, including ancient environments, climate conditions, and ecosystems. By studying fossils, we learn how the Earth has changed and how life has evolved in response to these changes. These books explore fossils and how they tell Earth’s story. They make a great starting point for fossil classroom discussions and activities! 
Carla Mooney loves to explore the world around us and discover the details about how it works. An award-winning author of numerous nonfiction science books for kids and teens, she hopes to spark a healthy curiosity and love of science in today’s young people. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and dog. Find her at 
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