See more Summer Reading 2020 selections

Sometimes emerging readers want to sink into a slightly longer book, and one that looks a little more challenging than many picture books. Graphic novels are cool—and they help strengthen both print and visual literacy skills. These titles offer food fights and tender moments.

Peter and Ernesto: The Lost Sloths by Graham Annable. illus. by author. First Second. ISBN 9781626725720.
When a hurricane destroys their tree, a group of sloths led by anxiety-ridden Peter and adventurous Ernesto journey through the jungle in search of a new home. Though this story is simple enough for the youngest graphic novel fans, Annable’s exaggerated, pop-eyed cartoons brim with emotion, heightening the stakes and making the happy ending all the more satisfying.

Chick and Brain: Egg or Eyeball? by Cece Bell. illus. by author. Candlewick. ISBN 9781536204391.
The humor revolves around comical misunderstandings, Brain’s intelligence (or lack thereof), Chick’s insistence on good manners, and the ridiculous debate that becomes more and more absurd.

Poppy and Sam and the Search for Sleep by Cathon. illus. by author. Owlkids. ISBN 9781771474184.
In this latest installment in the kid-friendly series, a tiny girl named Poppy and her panda friend Sam live in a garden and make plans to hibernate as fall turns to winter. But as hard as she tries, Poppy can’t fall asleep. She seeks advice from their garden neighbors. Unfortunately, their suggestions aren’t helpful.

InvestiGators by John Patrick Green. illus. by author. First Second. ISBN 9781250219954.
In the first installment of what promises to be a wildly successful graphic novel series, Green (Kitten Construction Company) once again shows off his knack for pun-filled animal tales.

Fuzzy Baseball: Vol. 3: R.B.I. Robots by John Steven Gurney. illus. by author. Papercutz. ISBN 9781545804766.
It’s baseball season, and the Fernwood Valley Fuzzies return to face a new group of rivals, the Geartown Clankees. While the Fuzzies include animals—rabbits, bears, possums—the Clankees are robots in disguise, and when their secret is revealed, the Fuzzies are upset!

Baloney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli . illus. by author. Disney-Hyperion. ISBN 9781368054546.
Like countless lovably naive children’s book characters before him, such as Ben Claton’s Narwhal and Sam Garton’s Otter, Baloney the pig may not always know what’s going on, but he approaches every adventure with enthusiasm.

Pizza and Taco: Who’s the Best? by Stephen Shaskan. illus. by author. Random. ISBN 9780593123317.
Pizza or Taco? That is the question. Pizza and Taco’s friendship is put to the test when they disagree over who is the best. Their competition soon turns political, and the two must find voters (Hot Dog and Hamburger), campaign, debate, and ultimately hold a fair and balanced election to determine the winner.