The 25+ Best Comic Books for 2nd and 3rd Graders
As a parent, you understand the importance of nurturing your child's love for reading. Reading boosts language skills and sparks imagination. If you want to excite your 2nd grader about reading, comic books are a great option!
With bright illustrations, fun stories, and relatable characters, comic books are perfect for young readers. In this list, we’ll highlight some of the best comic books and graphic novels for 2nd graders, featuring both classic favorites and new releases.
1. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
If your 2nd grader loves silly humor and action-packed adventures, they are sure to love "Dog Man," a series of graphic novels written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey, the creator of "Captain Underpants." In these books, young readers follow the adventures of a crime-biting canine named Dog Man, who is part dog and part man. With their wacky storylines and silly puns, "Dog Man" books are a hit with young readers and have even won a Newbery Medal.
Amazon Rating: 4.8
2. Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton
Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do they love waffles, parties and adventures. Join Narwhal and Jelly as they discover the whole wide ocean together. A wonderfully silly early graphic novel series featuring three stories — even though it doesn't have any words ... or pictures!
Amazon Rating: 4.8 (Teacher’s Pick)
3. Babymouse Queen of the World! by Jennifer L. Holm
NEW YORK TIMES bestselling, three-time Newbery Honor winning author Jennifer Holm teams up with Matthew Holm to bring you a fully illustrated graphic novel series packed with humor and kid appeal—BABYMOUSE!
Meet Babymouse—Her dreams are big! Her imagination is wild! Her whiskers are ALWAYS a mess! In her mind, she's Queen of the World! In real life…she's not even Queen of the lunch table.
With multiple Children's Choice Awards and over 1.8 million books sold, kids, parents, and teachers agree that Babymouse is perfect for fans of Junie B. Jones, Ivy and Bean, Bad Kitty, and Dork Diaries!
Amazon Rating: 4.7 (Teacher’s Pick)
4. Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spire
In the first book in the Binky Adventure series, graphic-novel readers will delight in watching where this lovable and quirky cat's imagination takes him.
Binky is a space cat - at least in his own mind. He's really a house cat who has never left the family “space station. But just as he's about to blast off with his co-pilot, Ted (stuffed mousie), Binky realizes that he's left something very important behind ... and it's not the zero-gravity kitty litter.
Amazon Rating: 4.7 (Teacher’s Pick)
5. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute #1
This tongue-in-cheek superheroine graphic novel will hit the spot for chapter-book readers. Lunch Lady and Betty, her assistant in both the cafeteria and her role of wrong-righting supersleuth, investigate the strange case of an absent teacher, his creepy substitute, and a plan to grab the Teacher of the Year Award by truly foul means.
Yellow-highlighted pen-and-ink cartoons are as energetic and smile-provoking as Lunch Lady’s epithets of “Cauliflower!” and Betty’s ultimate weapon, the hairnet.
Amazon Rating: 4.8 (Teacher’s Pick)
6. Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
"An action-packed page turner with heart!"—Dav Pilkey, author of DOG MAN
Take off on an action packed adventure with HILO Book 1! Dog Man meets Big Nate in this hilarious New York Times bestselling graphic novel series that kids love!
Amazon Rating: 4.8 (Teacher’s Pick)
7. Miles Morales: Shock Waves by Justin A. Reynolds
Bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds and illustrator Pablo Leon team up for a web-slinging graphic novel starring Brooklyn's Spider-Man, Miles Morales. A true middle grade graphic novel starring one of Marvel's most popular characters is a riveting story that will connect with new and well-versed comics readers alike.
Miles Morales is a normal kid who happens to juggle school at Brooklyn Visions Academy while swinging through the streets of Brooklyn as Spider-Man. But when a new student's father goes missing, Miles begins to make connections between the disappearance and a giant corporation sponsoring Miles' fundraiser. Who is behind the disappearance, and how does that relate to Spider-Man?
Amazon Rating: 4.9
8. Big Nate: From the Top (Volume 1)
Lincoln Peirce (pronounced "purse") is a New York Times bestselling author and cartoonist. His comic strip BIG NATE debuted in 1991 and appears daily in more than 400 newspapers worldwide. His award-winning books for young readers include a series of BIG NATE illustrated novel, an ongoing collection of BIG NATE compilations, and the MAX & THE MIDKNIGHTS trilogy.
Lincoln says, "I try to write the sorts of books I would have loved reading when I was a kid." In 2022, a BIG NATE animated series produced by Nickelodeon Studios premiered on the Paramount+ Network.
Amazon Rating: 4.7
9. Space Cat by Ruthven Todd
A little gray kitten with a taste for adventure stows away on an airplane, and the daring stunt turns out to be his first step toward becoming … Space Cat! Young readers will delight in taking a look at space exploration from Flyball's point of view and following his escapades across the solar system.
This new edition of a charmingly illustrated storybook from 1952 is the first of a four-book series starring the intrepid feline known as Space Cat.
Amazon Rating: 4.8
10. Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable
Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths" is a graphic novel that tells the heartwarming tale of two unlikely friends, a sloth named Peter and a hummingbird named Ernesto.
Written and illustrated by Graham Annable, this book is full of cute and colorful illustrations and a sweet story about friendship. Your 2nd grader is sure to love following the adventures of Peter and Ernesto as they explore the rainforest and learn about each other's differences.
11. The Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson
If your 2nd grader loves animals, they are sure to enjoy "The Great Pet Escape," a graphic novel about a group of class pets who band together to escape from their classroom.
Written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson, this book is full of fun and heartwarming stories about friendship and determination. With relatable characters and a great storyline, "The Great Pet Escape" is a great choice for young readers.
Amazon Rating: 4.8
12. Super Rabbit Boy Powers Up! by Thomas Flintham
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina.
In "Super Rabbit Boy Powers Up!," young readers follow the adventures of Super Rabbit Boy, a superhero who uses his video game skills to save the day. This graphic novel is full of colorful illustrations and a fun storyline that is sure to capture your child's attention. With a relatable main character and plenty of action, "Super Rabbit Boy Powers Up!" is a great choice for 2nd graders.
Amazon Rating: 4.7 (Teacher’s Pick)
13. Mr. Wolf’s Class by Aron Aron Nels Steinke
The Odd Squad" is a series of books based on the popular PBS Kids show of the same name. In these books, young readers follow a group of secret agents who use math skills to solve problems. With engaging storylines and relatable main characters, "The Odd Squad" is a great choice for 2nd graders who love action-packed adventures and learning about math. This is book 1 of 5!
Amazon Rating: 4.8
14. Fox & Rabbit Book #1
A new, full-color graphic novel series for emerging readers about the simple magic of true friendship.
Easygoing Fox and anxious Rabbit seem like total opposites. But, somehow, they make the perfect pair! On this first adventure, the pair will discover some new favorite things like sunsets, dandelions, and cotton candy. And they’ll face new fears like heights, swimming, and (poisonous!) frogs. Thankfully, there’s nothing Fox and Rabbit can’t do together!
Amazon Rating: 4.8
15. Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee
Fresh Off the Boat meets Junie B. Jones in this first novel in an adorable new chapter book series about Mindy Kim, a young Asian American girl who is starting a snack business! There are eight books in this series! yla Lee
Lyla Lee was Inspired by her English teacher and started writing her own stories in fourth grade. She finished her first novel at the age of fourteen.
Amazon Rating: 4.8
16. Baloney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli
Meet Baloney! He's the star of this book, along with his best buddies: empathetic Peanut the horse, sensible Bizz the bumblebee, and grumpy Krabbit—he'd rather not be here, but what can you do? In this graphic novel for newly independent readers, Baloney and friends step into the spotlight and embody all the charm of childhood in three short tales and three mini-comics that invite readers to join the fun!
"A sure bet for Elephant and Piggie fans who are ready for the next step up or want to make the move to comics." —Booklist
Amazon Rating: 4.8
17. The Aquanaut by Dan Santat
Dive in to this whimsically adventurous graphic novel from Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat!
Ever since her father was lost at sea, Sophia has been moping around Aqualand, the marine theme park her dad and uncle created. But Sophia's world is turned upside down when an "aquanaut" breaks into the park's research lab.
Amazon Rating: 4.8
18. Sidekicks: A Graphic Novel by Dan Santat
Suit up for this high-octane graphic novel debut by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat!
Captain Amazing, the hometown hero of Metro City, is so busy catching criminals that he rarely has time for his pets -- he hasn't even noticed they've been developing superpowers of their own!
Amazon Rating: 4.8
19. Drawn Together by Minh Le
This acclaimed picture book from two award-winning creators about connecting across generational and language differences shows that sometimes you don't need words to find common ground.
With spare text by Minh Lê and luminous illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, this stirring story about reaching across barriers will be cherished for years to come.
Amazon Rating: 4.5 (Teacher’s Pick)
20. It's Me. A Graphic Novel by Jim Benton
From New York Times bestselling author Jim Benton, meet Catwad! He's blue, he's a bit of a grouch, and his best friend is a dim-witted cat named Blurmp who can see the bright side of anything. From pizza and computers, to love and happiness, this crabby tabby has a funny take on just about everything, and he's not afraid to share it. This collection of short comic stories will make even the grumpiest of grouches crack up and is not to be missed!
Amazon Ratings: 4.7
21. The Stonekeeper: A Graphic Novel (Amulet #1)
The first book in Kazu Kibuishi's #1 New York Times bestselling series that features a beautiful but dangerous world of new friends, giant robots, and shadowy enemies!
After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather. The strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a tentacled creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into a fantastical world inhabited by robots, mysterious plants, and talking animals. It's up to Em and Navin to figure out how to set things right and save their mother's life!
Amazon Rating: 4.8 (Teacher’s Pick)
22. Super Detectives! (Simon and Chester Book #1)
A ghost and a kid team up to solve mysteries and do fun stuff! A hilarious new graphic novel series for fans of Bad Guys and Dog Man.
Join Simon and Chester in their first adventure, and fall in love with this hilarious odd couple by fan favorite author and illustrator Cale Atkinson.
Amazon Ratings: 4.6
23. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Raina Telgemeier is a well-known and beloved author and illustrator of graphic novels, and her books are a great choice for 2nd graders who love heartwarming stories about friendship and family. In books like Smile, Sisters, and Guts, Telgemeier tells stories about her own life and the challenges she has faced, making them relatable and engaging for young readers. Whether your child is dealing with braces, sibling rivalry, or nervousness about starting a new school, they are sure to find a story that speaks to them in Telgemeier's books.
Amazon Rating: 4.8 (Goodreads Choice)
24. The Baby-Sitters Club
The Baby-Sitters Club: Graphix is a series of graphic novels based on the beloved book series by Ann M. Martin. In these books, young readers follow the adventures of a group of young friends who start their own babysitting business. With relatable main characters and a heartwarming story about friendship and entrepreneurship, "The Baby-Sitters Club: Graphix" is a great choice for 2nd graders.
Amazon Rating: 4.8
25. The Bad Guys #1
This New York Times bestselling illustrated series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants. They sound like bad guys, they look like bad guys . . . and they even smell like bad guys. But Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark are about to change all of that ... Mr. Wolf has a daring plan for the Bad Guys' first good mission.
"I wish I'd had these books as a kid. Hilarious!" -- Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants and Dog Man
Amazon Rating: 4.8 (Teacher’s Pick)
26. The Awakening Storm: A Graphic Novel
When Grace moves to Hong Kong with her mom and new stepdad, her biggest concern is making friends at her fancy new boarding school. But when a mysterious old woman gifts her a dragon egg during a field trip, Grace discovers that the wonderful stories of dragons she heard when she was a young girl might actually be real--especially when the egg hatches overnight.
Amazon Ratings: 4.8
There are plenty of fantastic comic books and graphic novels for 2nd graders! Whether your child loves silly humor, heartwarming friendship stories, action-packed adventures, or educational themes, there's something for everyone.
Next time you're searching for a book, consider adding some comic books to the list. They just might become your child's new favorite!