Comics for Emerging and early readers, and for parents and caregivers to read aloud, focus on big-feeling topics this season, such as finding friends in a new school year and venturing away from home (including to outer space!).
Ami Moon and the Galactic Peacekeepers
Frances Lee. Levine Querido, Jan. 2026 ($22.99, ISBN 978-1-64614-578-2)
A girl longing to see her family on Earth joins an interstellar peace mission and navigates her emotions while trying to unite the universe. Ages 6–10.
Aquamanatee
Ben Clanton and Cassandra Federman. DC Books for Young Readers, Sept. 2 ($12.99, ISBN 978-1-7995-0402-3)
Narwal and Jelly series creator Clanton dives into the DC universe in this series launch about a manatee fan of Aquaman who gets paired up as the hero’s sidekick in the sea. Ages 5–7.
Cinderella (The Fairy Tale Fixers #1)
Deborah Underwood and Jorge Lacera. Clarion, Aug. 12 ($12.99, ISBN 978-0-06-324242-5)
The fairy in “Cinderella” needs an assist, and mouse steps up to help—taking the tale in unexpected directions, in this opener to a series of reimagined classics. Ages 6–10.
Dragon vs. Unicorn: Friends or Frenemies?
P.J. Hoover and Lisa Wiley. Kids Can, Oct. 7 ($16.99, ISBN 978-1-5253-1083-6)
As friends who sometimes bicker at their clubhouse or at sleepovers, a conscientious dragon and a wily unicorn must learn to compromise in this comic where readers get to choose how the characters react to conflicts. Ages 6–8.
The Fire-Breathing Duckling
Frank Cammuso. Toon, Aug. 5 ($13.99, ISBN 978-1-6626-6533-2)
A dragon is an accidental adoptee in a nest of ducklings. “Blending the feel of classic Disney comics, a venerable fairy tale, and Are You My Mother? plotting, Cammuso transforms an identity quest into a funny but pointed reminder that family is about connection,” per PW’s review. Ages 5–7.
Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure!
Jeff Brown, Corey Egbert, and SB Wilson. HarperAlley, Sept. 2 ($8.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-06-309509-0)
The classic novel about a boy who gets smooshed to the width of half an inch and lives a no-longer-ordinary existence gets adapted with art by Egbert. Ages 6–10.
Froggy: A Pond Full of Pals!
Paige Walshe. Flying Eye, Aug. 5 ($13.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-83874-219-5)
A little frog hops through adventures and challenges as “fluid and vibrantly colorful jewel-toned illustrations enhance the plucky, positive spirit of this series-starting adventure that feels like a splash of refreshing water on a hot summer’s day,” per PW’s review.
Grow, Strawberries, Grow! (Box Tales #1)
James Burks. First Second, Sept. 16 ($12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-34193-8)
Berry-craving friends learn the value of patience and persistence in this how-to about growing a strawberry patch, the first in a trilogy of explainers for early readers featuring buddies Beatrice and Box. Ages 5–9.
The Harvest Party (Welcome to the Forest #1)
Katie Risor. Andrews McMeel, Aug. 5 ($11.99, ISBN 978-1-5248-9428-3)
Among the forest creatures, monsters like Grumpkin, Mossman, and Shadow join in seasonal fun and rituals in this series opener. Ages 6–9.
Mabel Makes (Up) a Friend (The Elephant In the Room #1)
Cyndi Marko. Penguin Workshop, Aug. 26 ($8.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-217-04951-6)
Mabel enters second grade without any of her usual buddies in her class, but a large imaginary friend called Mr. E swings his trunk and helps her through. Ages 5–8.
Max, a Little Axolotl
Joey Spiotto. Graphix, Sept. 2 ($12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5461-6945-1)
Marine creature Max is new to school and the only axolotl at Coral Elementary, where all the shellfish, dolphins, and octopuses
pepper him with questions that make him hiccup. Ages 7–10.
Monsters Among Us (Bat Pat #1)
Trevor Mueller and Bill Walko. Papercutz, Oct. 14 ($14.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-2050-6)
Silver-hued siblings and their friend, a chatty bat, strive to protect the supernatural denizens of Fogville. Ages 5–10.
Nafu Wants Food
Subi Bosa. Graphic Universe, Aug. 5 ($16.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-7656-2996-3)
A monster named Nafu eats up all the chow that the residents of Mongo Village can offer, before stomping off to the desert where he fares less well at foraging. Ages 5–8.
Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness!
Mika Song. Random House Graphic, Oct. 28 ($12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-30314-6)
A raccoon scurries inside a fancy restaurant’s walls, where she learns to cook by example. But when a baby crow emerges from an egg she cracks to make an omelet, she must venture out to help him find his home. Ages 6–9.
On the Air with Dr. Doodlebug
Susan E. Goodman and Merrill Rainey. Hippo Park, Oct. 21 ($18.99, ISBN 978-1-6626-4002-5)
Bug facts are fodder for a radio call-in show with insect expert Dr. Doodlebug in this comic for kids who keep asking how and why about all things critters. Ages 4–8.
Rise of the G.E.M.S.
Marian Dealy and Pablo Ballesteros. Roaring Brook, Sept. 23 ($22.99, ISBN 978-1-250-79811-4)
Mice raised in a lab gain genetically engineered superpowers and then jet off into outer space in this series opener. Ages 7–10.
Supersquads! Animal Heroes
Heather Lang and Jamie Harper. Candlewick Press, Nov. 18 ($18.99, ISBN 978-1-5362-1798-8)
The follow-up to Supermoms! and Superdads! is a comics explainer on how animals, including fish, insects, and beavers, take on challenges communally. Ages 3–7.
Tate Tuber, Space Spud
Michael Slack. Holiday House, Oct. 28 ($14.99, ISBN 978-0-8234-5847-9)
Tate’s stoked to be the first ever space potato, until he finds out he’s joining the astronaut crew just to be planted. Then his electrical conductivity comes to the rescue. Ages 4–8.
Wally’s Route (The Faraway Forest #1)
Debbie Fong. Chronicle, Sept. 9 ($12.99, ISBN 978-1-7972-3041-2)
According to PW’s review, “messages of diligence, empathy, patience, and self-care are signed, sealed, and delivered with a light touch across this sweetly communal, well-paced work,” in which a raccoon runs his postal route. Ages 5–8.
