The below list is not gender specific! Males and females, young and old, should get great enjoyment from comics and graphic novels! Our entire TR family reads selections from the below each and every day.
- The Courageous Princess: We have discussed the awesomeness of this story, and it remains one of the best we’ve found. Our comic dealer recommended it to Plum, and we can’t reinforce his suggestion enough. Featuring dragons, trolls and people from far-off lands, this graphic novel allows for many character voices and accents when read aloud. Author and Artist, Rod Espinosa, is working on an Alice in Wonderland adaptation, which should be equally tremendous. Watch for it at your local comic shop.
- Calvin & Hobbes: We have read Calvin every day for years. Our children love it. We love it. Calvin is a real kid- sometimes he’s unkind and sometimes he does the wrong thing. But Calvin is always full of love and curiosity. Occasionally, his parents want to sell him to the monkey-house. We can relate to that urge.
- Archie: Call him retro, but our Bluey loves Archie. The hijinks and whatnot work for Bluey. Apart from Moose threatening to demolish Reggie, there is little violence and no foul language. Although Archie, Betty, and Veronica go on a million dates, all they ever have is a kiss.
- Garfield, The Comic Book: We find the new comic books of Garfield to be more readable and enjoyable than the newspaper strip. Garfield is friendlier. He
doesn’t spend as much time hitting his friend Odie. And Garfield still loves lasagna and pizza. - Pogo: Pogo is another smart, witty comic. Created by Walt Kelly in 1948, you may not remember Pogo very well. It mostly stopped publication in the mid 70’s upon Kelly’s death. You may know Pogo’s most famous quote, in reference to pollution and the environment: “We have met the enemy, and he is Us.” Pogo specializes in fast word play and vaudevillian mistaken identity jokes. Our children, born thirty-plus years after it ceased publication, love it. Bluey laughs out loud at the jokes! The various accents and language play can make it a bit of a challenge to read out loud for some. It is currently available in reprint form from Fantagraphic Studios.
What are your favorite read out loud comics and graphic novels? We’d love to explore your recommendations!