Get ready to meet brave heroes, clever inventors, and mischievous creatures! Winter 2026 is stacked with graphic novels that will delight, inspire, and entertain young readers. Our list of 30 anticipated kids graphic novels for winter 2026 span everything from laugh-out-loud humor and wacky adventures to magical quests, thrilling mysteries, and STEM-powered experiments. Fans of heartfelt historical stories can dive into Victoria Chang’s Eureka or sleuth along in a Nigerian town with Àlàbá Ònájìn’s Korobá. Humor and hijinks abound in Brian Gordon’s Dante N. Ferno Is Not a Loser, Brandon Reese’s Fantastic Frog and the Amazing Tad Lad, and Mo Willems and Kate Micucci’s The Monster and Puppet Show. Young scientists and inventors will love tinkering along with Matthew K. Manning and Matthew Loux’s The Spark Experiment while tweens explore friendship and community in Emma Mills’ The Greenies. Dan Santat and Max Brallier return with new adventures and exciting conclusions to beloved series. Finally, fans of fantasy and magical worlds can escape into Morr Meroz’s and Collin Fogel’s A Blood Moon, Matthew Dow Smith’s Amelia Shadows and the New Head Ghost, or Huw Aaron’s charming Unfairies. With something for every interest—from sports and folklore to friendship, courage, and discovery—these graphic novels promise to keep kids reading, laughing, and imagining all winter long.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
Eureka
Writer: Victoria Chang
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Release Date: Jan. 27
List Price: $18.99 Hardcover
Recommended for Ages: 10-14
For fans of Inside Out and Back Again, Other Words for Home, and A Place to Hang the Moon — Eureka is a gorgeous and emotionally resonant novel-in-verse by multiple-award-winning poet Victoria Chang that sensitively and lyrically renders the tragic events surrounding the 1885 expulsion of Chinese Americans from Eureka, California.
Love illuminates the dark.
The year is 1885. San Francisco is dangerous for Chinese immigrants like twelve-year-old Mei Mei. She must venture on her own, without her family or friends, to Eureka, California, where it is supposedly safe.
But 300 miles from home, Mei Mei misses her Ma Ma’s kindness, helping out in her Ba Ba’s store, and playing hide-and-seek with her best friend, Hua Hua. Despite her fear and the increasing violence against her community, she finds hope in an unexpected friend, the giant Redwood trees, and a new dream: learning how to read in English. As the world around her grows more scary, Mei Mei discovers her own power, as well as the joy of found family, the importance of courage, and the nature of freedom.
Token City Wondercade
Writer: D. Bradford Gambles
Artist: Spencer Holt
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Release Date: Jan. 27
List Price: $14.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 9-12
New Game Start! Izzy’s great with hardware…but when her dad’s arcade gets invaded by creepy spirits, it’s gonna take more than a screwdriver to fix this mess.
The Token City Wondercade has seen better days…but for 15-year-old Izzy, it’s both work and home. Her dad is already struggling to keep the business afloat when the arrival of a mysterious arcade cabinet, bearing only the name “Hex,” throws their world into chaos. As digital/supernatural phenomena begin haunting the Wondercade, this stubborn loner must learn to cooperate with new allies…or it’s Game Over!
Unfairies
Author: Huw Aaron
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Jan. 27
List Price: $24.99 Hardcover / $13.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
Artemis Fowl meets Dogman in the first book of this madcap graphic novel series following factions of sneaky, double-crossing fairies who will do anything for control of their world, The Garden.
Some stories will tell you that fairies are sweet, beautiful, and kind creatures who fly around with sparkly wands. But they are WRONG! Fairies are horrible, rude back stabbers who are constantly at war with each other. (They’re not even magical, for crying out loud!)
And then there’s Pip, a clueless tree fairy who couldn’t give two hoots about power and would rather just have a party. But after being tasked with delivering an important message from the root stores all the way to the top of the tree, Pip is thrown into a whirlwind adventure involving a dubious ancient prophecy, epic acorn-based warfare, and sinister plots that could shatter the delicate peace among the fairies for good. The Garden may be in desperate need of a hero . . . Too bad it’ll have to settle for Pip.
A Kid Like Me: A Graphic Novel
Author: Norm Feuti
Publisher: HarperAlley
Release Date: Feb. 3
List Price: $20 Hardcover / $15.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
Perfect for fans of Jeff Kinney and Terri Libensen, A Kid Like Me is a timely exploration about finding your place in the ever-evolving social landscape that is middle school, written and illustrated by award-winning graphic novelist Norm Feuti.
Ethan doesn’t want to stand out, he just wants to fit in. But fitting in is tough when your peers call out your ancient cell phone, busted backpack, and discount clothing. To make matters worse, his best friend, Ricky, insists on hanging out with a group of guys who just don’t get him . . . they’re more interested in playing pranks than playing his favorite card game Bio Battle. Things start looking up, though, when Ethan befriends Aiden, a new kid in school, but it’s only matter of time before even that goes sideways.
Can Ethan figure out where he belongs without forgetting who he is and who he wants to be?
Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser
Author: Brian Gordon
Publisher: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux
Release Date: Feb. 3
List Price: $14.99 Hardcover
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
Dante N. Ferno is winning . . . at being a LOSER.
Meet Dante, (who is definitely NOT a loser) in this hilarious, highly illustrated book for children aged 7+, by author/illustrator Brian Gordon. Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Loki.
Ever since his trousers fell down in front of the whole school, Dante has struggled to shake off his seriously uncool reputation. Luckily, he has a foolproof plan to become the most popular kid at his new school:
- Completely reinvent himself.
- Make a ton of friends and accept his nomination as their leader.
- Become good at sports stuff and win all the game things.
- Rub his newfound popularity in the face of all the haters he grew up with.
Sounds easy, right? Well think again – Purg School is attended by infamous creatures from myths and legends and they’re not going to let him shake off his loser status overnight! Dante is going to have his work cut out to beat the bullies and show the world that he is NOT a loser.
Fantastic Frog and the Amazing Tad Lad
Author: Brandon Reese
Publisher: Tundra Books
Release Date: Feb. 3
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $13.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
The explosive first book in a new middle-grade graphic novel series featuring two heroic but dim-witted frog superheroes, for fans of InvestiGators and Dog Man!
No one ever said it was easy being green! The contaminated swamp where Dr. Kim conducts experiments is overrun with mutants and evil machines like the Hater Gator and the Robot Trash Dolls. That’s why she tinkered with amphibian genes to create superheroes Fantastic Frog and sidekick Tad Lad.
In their first adventure, the frogs leap forth to battle the scaly swamp thing terrorizing Sector 1. Will the Hater Gator’s tail flails flatten this duo before they discover the truth behind what’s gone rotten in their swamp?
And in their second adventure, the duo stumble upon a landfill of disgusting, off-brand toys in Sector 2 . . . which come alive! Outnumbered and totally grossed out, can our heroes defeat these Robot Trash Dolls?
Camp Monster
Writer: Kate Messner
Artist: Falynn Koch
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books
Release Date: Feb. 3
List Price: $12.99 Hardcover
Recommended for Ages: 8-11
New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner invites you to Camp Monster in this fun-filled young middle-grade graphic novel series perfect for fans of InvestiGators.
Tasha’s family has run Camp Yeti for generations, but these days there just aren’t enough Yetis to fill the bunks. This summer they are rebranding as CAMP MONSTER–a superfun summer camp experience for ALL of monster-kind. Tasha can’t wait to show off all the camp traditions she loves!
But things get off to a rocky start–the goblins are causing a ruckus, the ogre is a total diva, and the werewolf keeps disappearing. This is not the perfect summer Tasha had hoped for. Then a series of mysterious mishaps occurs . . . someone is trying to sabotage Camp Monster! Can these monsters set aside their differences to find out who is behind the hijinks?
Along Came a Spider: In Spring (Book 1)
Author: Raymond McGrath
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Release Date: Feb. 3
List Price: $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 4-8
Spring is here! The leaves are green. The sky is blue. The flowers are in bloom. And there’s a new bird in town . . .
Bird is finally out on his own, but he’s having a hard time. Finding the perfect tree is anything but easy. Building a perfect nest isn’t going well. As for making friends? That’s proving to be the biggest test of all. That’s when Spider swings by, catching Bird’s eye. But they can’t possibly be best friends . . . or can they?
Korobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo
Author: Àlàbá Ònájìn
Publisher: Holiday House
Release Date: Feb. 24
List Price: $20.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 7-11
A charismatic young sleuth takes on a case close to home in this new graphic novel series set in a vibrant African community.
Ten-year-old Korobá knows everyone in Makoko, the Nigerian fishing village where she lives.
She knows her way up and down the bright, colorful waterways, knows where to sell fried shrimp, and knows what to look for at the crowded daily market. Makoko is her playground, and she roams free with her best friends, Saidat and Joba, and her adorable dog, Popi.
The last thing Korobá would expect in Makoko is a thief. Yet Saidat’s wooden piggy bank—her Kolo—has been stolen. The children of Makoko save coins in their Kolo all year long, waiting to spend their money at the annual harvest festival. Saidat saved and saved, but now she will have nothing. It’s not fair!
Korobá knows what good detectives do…(sort of?). Should the primary suspect be Saidat’s grumpy cousin, visiting on vacation? Or could it be the village carpenter, who has been doing some work on Saidat’s house? It’s up to Detective Korobá to catch the thief and find the missing Kolo before Breaking Day!
Buckle up, budding mystery fans… It’s time to join Korobá and friends on their thrilling chase for the culprit. With rich, detailed illustrations—featuring some very important clues—that bring Makoko to life, this one-of-a-kind graphic novel series is a modern day Tintin meets Encyclopedia Brown.
The Monster and Puppet Show
Authors: Mo Willems, Kate Micucci
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Release Date: Feb. 24
List Price: $10.99 Hardcover
Recommended for Ages: 4-8
Award-winning actor, comedian, musician, and artist Kate Micucci teams up with #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems as part of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award–winning early reader series Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!
When Monster meets Puppet, they decide to put on a show. Puppet knows what Monster should do! Monster should tell a joke! Monster should dance! Monster should sing! But the more Monster does, the more Puppet wants MORE. What should Monster do whenThe Monster and Puppet Show! is not fun any … MORE!?!
Kate Micucci’s vibrant pop art and humorous storytelling cleverly explore themes of friendship, peer pressure, boundaries, and self-preservation. This funny beginning reader, for kids ages 4 to 8, supports early reading skill-building and is an ideal read-aloud book.
MARCH
The Lionharts: A Graphic Novel
Author: Mike Lawrence
Publisher: Abrams Fanfare
Release Date: Mar. 3
List Price: $24.99 Hardcover / $17.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
In this high-octane Dungeons & Dragons–inspired middle-grade graphic novel, the Lionhart brothers must save their parents and uncover the truth behind their legendary adventuring family!
Adventuring isn’t just in the Lionhart family’s blood—it’s the family business. Grammy and Baba Lionhart were once a famous questing duo—slaying dragons and fighting monsters, they were legends throughout the land.
Now, their daughter, Lenna, has taken over the business, questing under the famous Lionhart name with her husband, Gerard, and their young sons, Alder and Flynt, are desperate to be included!
When their parents go missing after accepting an unusually high–paying job from a mysterious woman, the boys set out to find them, eager to prove they’re ready to carry on the family legacy. Nothing can shake a Lionhart, right? But Grammy and Baba know better and swiftly catch up with the boys, who have already gotten themselves in heap of trouble.
Along the journey, Alder and Flynt tackle big challenges and discover new skills, but as they get closer to finding their parents, they also unearth a secret that could tear their family apart and, even worse, bring the Lionhart name to ruin. From Mike Lawrence, creator of the Star Scouts series, comes book 1 in a fast-paced and adventurous middle-grade graphic novel duology sure to appeal to fans of Lightfall, 5 Worlds, and Dungeon Critters.
The Greenies
Author: Emma Mills
Artist: Sarah Nicole Kennedy
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Release Date: Mar. 3
List Price: $22.99 Hardcover / $14.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
The Baby-Sitters Club meets The Breakfast Club in this fun and fresh graphic novel about a girl who reluctantly joins the Environmental Club at her new school―and finds friendship and community where she least expects it.
After her parents’ divorce, seventh grader Violet is forced to start all over.
Now the new kid, at a new school, in a new town, she must navigate unfamiliar territory. Luckily, Violet falls in with a new group of (maybe?) friends. But when they wind up in detention, they’re forced to join the under-attended Environmental Club―and mischief ensues. What will become of this rag-tag group?
Fans of Raina Telgemeier will love this hilarious and heartfelt story about making friends, making mistakes, and making it up as you go along―until you end up just where you were meant to be.
Lionel Messi’s World Cup Triumph: (History’s Greatest Games #1)
Writer: Chris Barish
Artist: Nate Sweitzer
Publisher: Abrams Fanfare
Release Date: Mar. 17
List Price: $24.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
It’s the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, and Lionel Messi―one of the greatest players to ever take the field―is one match away from victory. Despite his many awards and accolades, Messi has never been able to add a World Cup trophy to his collection.
If Argentina wins, this would be a historic moment not just for the country, but for the entire legacy of soccer on the international stage.
Travel back in time to learn how the World Cup began and see the incredible players―from Maradona to Mbappé―who built it into the global phenomenon we know today.
This exciting new graphic novel series offers a portal to the past, putting young readers in the middle of the most epic moments in sports history.
Along with action-packed games and nail-biting victories, this series zooms out to explore the incredible backstories, social and political issues, and larger historical context that truly make these games the greatest in history.
Legends in the Heights
Author: Marguerite Dabaie
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Release Date: Mar. 17
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 10-12
Middle school is hard enough without a legendary creature suddenly appearing in your neighborhood and asking you for skateboarding lessons. Twelve-year-old Raia lives in Jackson Heights, Queens, loves video games, and is doing her best to keep her grades up. But when Bazzu the Buraq (a magical horse-bird-lion) appears, her life will never be the same.
Raia, a middle school student in New York City, has often felt like the odd one out at school. So when she meets Bazzu the buraq, a legendary creature, who offers to show her a world of folklore and magic in return for skateboarding lessons, she’s eager to accept. Together, Raia and Bazzu get up to misadventures and explore the world of legends, a fascinating and harmonious community of mythical creatures from all cultures. But as she grows more distant from her real-world friends and family, Raia will have to learn how to balance magic and reality.
Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach
Writer: Scott Rothman
Artist: Linzie Hunter
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Release Date: Mar. 24
List Price: $18.99 Hardcover
Recommended for Ages: 4-8
From the bestselling author of Attack of the Underwear Dragon comes the hilarious picture book introduction to Judgy Bunny, who thinks every new experience is THE WORST. Especially if she wasn’t invited. Or if she might not be good at it. Or if it just looks awesome… er, terrible, that is.
For this judgy bunny, nothing’s worse than a day at the beach. The sun? Too bright. That view of the blue sky and gleaming sand? Awful. Sand castles? Ugh. Ice cream? Yucky.
Yep. Everything is TERRIBLE. It has to be, right? There’s no way she could EVER have a good time. Not with the inexplicably friendly bunny who’s offered to fly kites with her, or the ice cream cone that possibly isn’t a flavor she detests, or boogie boarding, which she actually… isn’t bad at??! Okay. MAYBE it’s fun. But she’ll be the judge of that.
Sloomoo: Making Friends
Created By: Melissa de la Cruz
Authors: Melissa del la Cruz, Mike Johnston
Publisher: Encantos
Release Date: Mar. 24
List Price: $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 6-10
SLIME, STEM & JOY MEET in New Graphic Novel by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Disney’s Descendants, Melissa de la Cruz and Mike Johnston
Get ready to mix, squish, and slime your way into a whole new world of friendship, dripping with joy, fun, and charm.
Meet Daisy Sterling-Chan, an eleven-year-old with a serious slime obsession and a love of STEM. Daisy idolizes the brilliant slime scientist Miss Joon, who mysteriously disappeared ten years ago.
But Daisy thinks Miss Joon is still out there, along with Sloomoo, the playful slime-based lifeform. Can Daisy bring back the magic?
With cute, cool, quick-thinking Ren Tanaka, Daisy discovers that making slime is easy, but making friends can get messy.
Inbetweens
Author: Faith Erin Hicks
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: Mar. 31
List Price: $22.99 Hardcover / $14.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 10-14
Twin sisters Ash and Sloane are headed to animation camp―where their courage, drive, and sisterly bond will be put to the test!
Twin sisters Sloane and Ash are two peas in a pod, and they do everything together: watch movies, attend classes, and most importantly, draw! So when the summer animation classes of their dreams are about to start, they can barely contain their excitement!
Well…Ash is excited but Sloane is surprised to find she isn’t as jubilant about it, which makes no sense, since she loves art. Meanwhile, Ash discovers that just because you love something, doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be good at it, and she struggles under the weight of her own expectations and those of her teacher’s. Soon, the trials of challenging classwork and new friendships drive a wedge between the twins. Can their bond survive the summer?
APRIL
Amelia Shadows and the New Head Ghost
Author: Matthew Dow Smith
Publisher: Papercutz
Release Date: Apr. 7
List Price: $17.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 7-12
Amelia Shadows has never had what you might call a “normal” childhood. For one thing, her dad’s the most powerful dark magician in the world. And for another, she’s spent her entire life in a house filled with ghosts and monsters and incredibly dangerous magical objects! As far as Amelia’s concerned, her life’s actually pretty cool.
When Amelia and her cat, Clara, aren’t having adventures or dealing with dimensional portals in the pantry, she’s learning to be a dark magician, just like her dad, with the help of a ghost tutor named Gustave. You’d think a ghost tutor named Gustave would be pretty fun, but he’s actually pretty boring.
And if a boring ghost tutor wasn’t bad enough, now Amelia’s dad has hired another ghost to oversee things, Hans. Which wouldn’t be that bad, except Hans has very strong opinions about how things should be around the house. This new head ghost has got to go, and Amelia may have a surprising ally…
A Blood Moon (Snowlands #1)
Author: Morr Meroz
Artist: Collin Fogel
Publisher: Graphix
Release Date: Apr. 7
List Price: $25.99 Hardcover / $14.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 9-12
In the heart of the Snowlands, prey and predator alike mysteriously disappear as three outcasts join forces for the adventure of a lifetime in the first book of the heart-stopping Snowlands series — perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and Warriors!
Feba, an orphaned wolf cub, is believed to be cursed. Her rare white fur is said to be a bad omen. When a mysterious creature starts killing members of Feba’s pack one by one, all eyes fall on her. She has no choice but to run away, forced to roam the perilous Snowlands all on her own …
Until she meets Usha, a fiercely independent leopard, and Batu, a bumbling wildcat, each with their own secrets and reasons for wandering the Snowlands. Together, they form an unlikely trio, bound by fate. As these uneasy allies cross the frosty wilderness, they’ll uncover a widespread danger in the mountains that threatens to destroy everything.
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime in A Blood Moon, the epic first book in the Snowlands series!
Soccer Kicks: Over 60 laugh-out-loud comic strip football jokes!
Author: Emiliano Migliardo
Publisher: Happy Yak
Release Date: Apr. 7
List Price: $10.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 7-10
Soccer Kicks is a hilarious collection of comic-strip soccer jokes, filled with over 60 laugh-out-loud silly scenarios!
Emiliano Migliardo’s outrageously funny full-color comics are perfect for avid soccer fans and reluctant readers, as the jokes are mostly wordless. This awesome compilation of one-page comics is a winning combination of silly yet clever gags and pranks, filled with the joy—and frustration—of soccer!
Full of soccer japes about mischievous tactics, doing whatever it takes to get the ball in the back of the net, and even the perils of being nutmegged, this is the perfect gift for any young soccer fan. These short, sporty jokes will be the talk of the playground… or soccer field!
The Definitive Yokai Field Guide
Author: Shigeru Mizuki
Translator: Zack Davisson
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Release Date: Apr. 13
List Price: $20.00 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 9-12
Welcome to the wonderful and scary and silly world of Yokai!
The Definitive Yokai Field Guide introduces young readers to the fantastically fascinating world of Japanese folklore. Universally beloved cartoonist and Eisner Hall of Fame inductee Shigeru Mizuki’s passion for researching and writing about Japan’s yokai knows no bounds. In this perfect companion to Mizuki’s Kitaro comics and art books, kids and kids at heart can now discover this magical world and its many peculiar creatures all on their own.
The book that captivated Japan for decades as a perennial bestseller can now inspire readers the world over. Bursting with frightfully fun content―including 80 yokai profiles―The Definitive Yokai Field Guide also boasts a map of where to find different yokai around the world, and the exciting comic “The Yokai of Obobe Swamp.” Mizuki’s whimsical and mischievous approach to cataloging these one-of-a-kind creatures found nowhere else is sure to enlighten and amaze fans of both the natural―and supernatural―world. In fact, it might just be the perfect gift for current and future folklorists, ghost hunters and myth busters to boot!
Translated by Mizuki scholar and yokai aficionado Zack Davisson, the most famous all-ages guide to yokai becomes available in English for the very first time.
Leo da Vinci: Renaissance Kid (0)
Writer: Richard Ashley Hamilton
Artist: Marco Matrone
Publisher: Papercutz
Release Date: Apr. 14
List Price: $17.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 7-12
Most people think of Leonardo Da Vinci as some old guy painting stuff hundreds of years ago…yet even Da Vinci was once a bold, troublemaking kid who craved adventure—this is his story! Young Leo has spent his childhood exploring art and engineering (and creepy caves) in the freedom of his hometown. But when his long-lost dad drags Leo to an apprenticeship far away, our boy genius soon finds himself out of his depth…and in a city on the brink of war! Fortunately, Leo also finds two new friends who change his life forever: Tano, a charmingly clumsy chum from Africa, and Filomena, a pre-teen patron who funds Leo’s latest inventions and always wears a mysterious smile—the smile which will inspire Da Vinci’s most famous portrait. Together, Leo, Filomena, and Tano uncover a deadly conspiracy that threatens the entire world…only nobody believes them, since they’re “just kids.” So Leo and his pals must grab everyone’s attention the only way they know how—with elaborate pranks that harness the true power of Art to open eyes and change minds. Equal parts Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones, Leo Da Vinci leaps out of history and into our hearts in an epic tale full of action, comedy, and full-color fun!
Sashimi
Created By: Dan Santat
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Release Date: Apr. 14
List Price: $17.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 6-10
A new graphic novel series from bestseller and Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat.
In the town of Barnacle Bay, a creature lurks. He’s come from the ocean, in search of others like him.
To fit in with humans, Sashimi sneaks into an elementary school and pretends to be a student. But he’s clearly a fish out of water!
When Sashimi finds out the whole town is on the hunt for the Beast of Barnacle Bay―a creature who sounds a lot like Sashimi―hijinks ensue! Fortunately, with the help of a new friend and the class goldfish, Sashimi figures out a way to stay afloat.
Perfect for fans of Bad Guys, Sharkdog, and The Investigator series!
Penny and the Yeti
Writer: Jimmy Gaspero
Artist: Amber Akin
Publisher: Papercutz
Release Date: Apr. 21
List Price: $17.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 6-9
Penny has a super normal life. She lives with her parents and big sister Peri. Her favorite thing is when she and her sister draw and color together, especially when Peri draws monsters she calls “cryptids,” amazing creatures Penny couldn’t even imagine! Penny thinks life is pretty great.
The only real problem is Penny’s parents argue…a LOT. Penny wishes her parents would stop, but what can she do? That’s when Yeti shows up, right out of one of Peri’s drawings and smack into Penny’s life! With Yeti’s help, Penny comes up with a plan to get her parents to stop fighting. Penny, however, soon finds out that her parents may need more help than even a magical Yeti can provide…
Science Comics: Prehistoric Mammals: From the Jurassic to the Ice Age
Author: Joe Flood
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: Apr. 21
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $13.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 9-14
Learn how mammals survived the test of time in this volume of Science Comics, the smash-hit STEM graphic novel series that has sold over a million copies!
Mammals are survivors―when dinosaurs went extinct, they survived. From lush jungles to deep oceans to sweltering deserts, mammals now dominate nearly every environment on Earth. But how did they do it? Take a trip back in time and discover how extreme changes in climate have pushed mammals to evolve new traits, including hooves, claws, tusks, big brains, and even blow holes. Join us as we explore our mammalian history, and maybe the past will hold the key to surviving in the future.
Clock Hands
Writer: Marieke Nijkamp
Artist: Sylvia Bi
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: Apr. 21
List Price: $24.99 Hardcover / $15.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
One small voice has the power to change everything in this dazzling middle grade graphic novel from New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and artist Sylvia Bi. The stand-alone companion to the acclaimed Ink Girls is a perfect fit for fans of Wendy Xu and Molly Knox Ostertag.
Vale has always dreamed of being a metalworker’s apprentice. But in Siannerra, the guilds rule with an iron fist, and their apprenticeship fees are impossibly high. So Vale and their guildless family must make do with the pennies and scraps they’re able to cobble together with work on the docks or in the market.
Until Maestro Giuseppe arrives from abroad, determined to build the city’s first astronomical clock. He doesn’t care for fees or exclusionary practices—and he sees Vale’s talent. He invites Vale into his workshop, and for a while Vale believes all their dreams are coming true. But everything in Siannerra belongs to the guilds, and if anyone tries to break free, there are consequences. Sometimes the gravest of consequences. Still, Vale refuses to stop dreaming. Or fighting. With the help of their friends, they plan to take on the might of the guilds. And together, they may just be strong enough to bend iron to their will.
With nuanced and instantly loveable characters and a fully realized, vibrantly illustrated setting, bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and illustrator Sylvie Bi show once again how anyone—no matter their age—can change their world. An excellent choice for fans of the Lightfall and Wingbearer series.
Once Upon a Tail: A Horse and Dragon Graphic Novel
Writer: Audrey Perrott
Artist: Charlene Chua
Publisher: Abrams Fanfare
Release Date: Apr. 21List Price: $14.99 Hardcover
Recommended for Ages: 6-9
Full of heart and humor, this early reader graphic novel series stars two best friends in a fantastical medieval setting, perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Peter & Ernesto
Wallace is a knightly horse who loves rules. Poppy is a free-spirit dragon who loves adventure.
These two unlikely pals disagree on most everything—but still manage to have a lot of fun-filled shenanigans together in the Land of La-Dee-Dah.
Told in three short and silly stories with subtle social-emotional themes, this young graphic novel follows the everyday adventures of two best buds as they step out of their comfort zones, discover hidden powers, and eat a LOT of banana pudding. With a high-interest fantasy setting, accessible reading level, and kid-perfect humor, this series is designed for emerging and reluctant readers alike.
Speed Racer Adventures!
Writer: Franco
Artist: Derek Charm
Publisher: Papercutz
Release Date: Apr. 28
List Price: $17.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 7-12
In the tradition of Flash Gordon Adventures and Tiny Titans, Speed Racer Adventures is a brand-new story aimed at young readers, introducing them to young versions of the famous classic characters.
The best race car driver in the world has been invited to drive the most advanced artificial intelligent car in the world. Speed Racer is not that driver, and the Mach Five is not that car, but that’s not going to stop him from entering that race and winning! When the world’s richest man uses unlimited funds to build the most technologically advanced car in the world and hires Racer X to run a race he created, the deck is stacked against Speed Racer! Its not going to be an easy race, but with his secret weapons, his friends and family, Speed has a pretty good chance of getting in the race and winning, but he’s going to hedge his bet by using a whole lot of candy! Come for the laughs, the hijinx and the amazing speeds the cars reach. Go Speed racer, GO!
The Last Comics on Earth: Across the Doodleverse
Writers: Max Brallier, Joshua Pruett
Artist: Jay Cooper
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Apr. 28
List Price: $14.99 Hardcover
Recommended for Ages: 8-12
The fourth and final installment of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series based on the worldwide phenomenon The Last Kids on Earth!
In this final LAST COMICS adventure, our superheroes must face a mysterious new threat: Someone is stealing kids’ schoolwork-margin doodles and turning them into an army of ANIMATED sketches! WHAT CAN OUR heroes do against the manic, illogical brilliance of LIVING doodles?! While they fight, Boy Lightning’s drawing arm is kidnapped by a new villain and taken into the wastelands beyond the borders of Apocalyptia. Now our team must brave AS YET unseen worlds in order to save Jack from the machinations of DOODLEHEAD! Can our heroes save the world from a doodle-pocalypse?
The Spark Experiment
Writer: Matthew K. Manning
Artist: Matthew Loux
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Release Date: Apr. 28
List Price: $21.99 Hardcover / $12.99 Paperback
Recommended for Ages: 8-10
When a science experiment goes wrong, kid neighbors David Patel and Marta Martinez find themselves in the Micro Universe—a whole new world where the laws of physics don’t apply! This full-color graphic novel is perfect for fans of science fiction and adventure.
When fifth grader David Patel and his second-grade sidekick Marta Martinez uncover a science experiment gone wrong, they find themselves transported to the Micro Universe, a weird world inside our own that doesn’t obey the laws of conventional physics. While they’re able to return home thanks to the help of a strange little creature named Spark, the pair doesn’t realize that they’ve led a group of nefarious beings called Negatrons back to our world in the process.
Using 18 real do-it-yourself science experiments that readers can try at home, David, Marta, and Spark must save their small town from an invasion of these energy-leeching Negatrons, all the while learning how to “spark” their own imaginations. This is a new graphic novel is perfect for kids interested in hands-on activities and science fiction adventures!
If you enjoyed this list of 30 anticipated kids graphic novels for winter 2026, check out The Beat’s list of anticipated YA and adult graphic novels for winter 2026!
