“Classroom Connections” aligns Classroom Standards with comics, graphic novels, manga, and picture books that students will want to read. All titles are available in Comics Plus.
Summer is an excellent time for students to practice the skills they learned during the school year, but it shouldn’t feel like homework. What better way to do that than with stories that make them laugh out loud, ignite their imaginations, and inspire adventures? Light, humorous, and easy-to-read stories can not only keep learning going, but make it feel like fun.
Our Summer Reading Guide highlights two of our favorite curated lists, featuring books that will spark creativity and excite your readers — whether they’re enjoying quiet moments of independent reading at the beach, or delving deeper into summer coursework.
- Share our “Summer Reading Adventures” list with daring readers who enjoy action-packed titles and traveling to far-off places. These stories include brave characters standing against bullies; imaginative worlds that characters create and explore; and an anthology featuring a collective examination of the world around us.
- Or, use titles from our “Get Inspired, Be Creative” list with your “Color Our World” summer reading programs, to encourage readers to explore their own creativity and artistic interests. You’ll find a mix of “How-to-Draw” titles, along with stories celebrating colorful found objects that spark friendships; and highlight how embracing your true self can inspire others.
Retelling stories, describing characters, or analyzing an author’s craft with books students want to read helps reinforce the skills they’ve acquired throughout the year. The English Language Arts standards are broad and encompassing, so encourage your students to talk and write about their summer reading activities with our customizable Reading Challenge.
We’ve selected some of our favorite titles for your readers to enjoy over the summer, with related Classroom Standards included for each one. These recommendations are designed to help readers escape the summer doldrums with popular, engaging titles that will stimulate their creativity, invite them on exciting adventures, and bolster their reading confidence. They can practice the skills they’ve learned throughout the school year without even realizing it!
Young Readers
The Ocean Blue and You by Suzanne Slade and Stephanie Fizer Coleman (Cherry Lake)
ELA Nonfiction Standard: With prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
This beautiful picture book with rhyming text follows a young girl who drifts into a dream while nestled in her mother’s arms by the sea. She dreams of exploring the sea, visiting diverse habitats, and learning about the numerous animals in the ocean’s depths.
Each two-page spread is teeming with sea life; the text flowing through the page as if pushed by the silent ocean current. The color palette showcases the vibrant sea life while illustrating their habitats in calming blues and tans, guiding the reader on a journey from shore to sea and back again.
Students will quickly identify the main topic and confidently be able to retell details about the animals found in the sea, and the backmatter provides scientific facts about marine habitats. They will enjoy revisiting pages to identify and explore the six distinct habitats highlighted throughout the story, and the young girl’s dream will inspire readers to explore the world around them.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Children’s Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Written and Drawn by Henrietta by Liniers (TOON Books / Astra)
ELA Fiction Standard: Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
Henrietta receives a new box of colored pencils and uses her imagination to tell her own story. With her cat, Fellini, at her side, she writes and illustrates an adventurous tale about a girl named Emily and a three-headed monster.
The format is engaging as Liniers employs two distinct styles to distinguish between Henrietta’s real world and Emily’s story. This allows young readers to easily differentiate between Henrietta’s reality and her storytelling. Henrietta’s storytelling is vibrant and playful in a “Kid Art” style, with lively, bold, colorful strokes, while her and Fellini’s world is beautifully drawn with great detail, enclosed in traditional comic panels. The artwork will inspire young readers to explore their own artistic abilities and voice.
This is an excellent resource for young readers to engage in character analysis, too. Students can examine Henrietta’s personality by comparing the illustrations of her real world with Emily’s. They can also examine differences in the stories’ settings, like Henrietta’s actual room and the imagined setting of her story.
Additionally, this title is an outstanding mentor text for teaching narrative writing, encouraging children to explore their creativity through storytelling and art.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Children’s Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Game for Adventure: Chavo the Invisible by Lee Nordling and Flávio B. Silva (Lerner)
ELA Fiction Standard: Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
Chavo is one of the smallest and last players picked for a game of “Capture the Flag.” This wordless graphic novel creatively shares the game’s back-and-forth momentum, showcasing Chavo’s quick thinking and how he outwits both his opponents and teammates to win the game.
Using color to saturate the background and delineate the territories helps the reader follow the game’s action. To coordinate the visual effects, characters are energetically illustrated with bright colors and shown from various perspectives, including bird’s-eye view, close-ups, and inserts.
Students will laugh out loud at Chavo’s expressive reactions early in the story, especially as he loses enthusiasm when he is not quickly chosen for a team. As the story unfolds, readers will witness subtle changes in the characters’ facial expressions, capturing their response to the game’s progression. This attention to detail will provide an engaging discussion point as students describe each character and share their interpretations of their reactions along with the storyline.
Find more wordless graphic novels in this Game for Adventure series!
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Children’s Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Middle Grade
BroBots and the Kaiju Kerfuffle! Vol. 1 by J. Torres and Sean K. Dove (Oni Press)
ELA Fiction Standard: Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
A short graphic novel with superheroes, kaiju fighting, and robots — the “Brobots” combine their power and puns to rid the world of a colossus, city-wrecking, cosplaying giant monster. With quick thinking, the brotherly trio use their knowledge of the folktale “Jack and the Beanstalk” to save the city.
Using bright colors and multiple perspectives, Dove illustrates an action-packed story that’s perfect for middle grade manga fans. The nearly fluorescent kaiju stands out on each page, along with the contrasting, distinct colors of the mechs.
Torres ensures readers can easily tell the “Brobots” apart by their unique voices, distinctive senses of humor, and specialized mechanical abilities, which reflect their actions and move the story along. Each robot’s strengths are highlighted as the action builds and readers wonder if the “Brobots” will succeed.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Middle School, Children’s Public Library, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
The Makers Club by Reimena Yee and Tintin Pantoja (Andrews McMeel)
ELA Fiction Standard: Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes, as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
Set at Pangolin Secondary School, this collection includes two stories about students who blend art and science to create innovative projects, celebrating friendship, creativity, and problem-solving.
The first story, Game On!, follows Nadia and Priya as they team up for a science fair. Nadia loves art, and Priya loves coding. Together, they create a video game that combines both of their skills. However, they face challenges along the way, but through this experience, they learn the importance of teamwork and collaboration. The second story, Starting Up!, features Aquilah, who loves fashion design, and Yong Qiang, who is interested in engineering. Using the library’s Makerspace, they create an adaptive poncho and gloves for Yong Qiang, who uses a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy. They learn that they can enjoy the Makerspace while also creating something beneficial to others.
Both stories offer strong examples of plot and character development, helping readers see how the characters react and grow from their experiences. Patoja’s colorful and engaging artwork does a fantastic job of bringing their emotions and personalities to life, allowing readers to visualize the setting and understand the story’s cultural elements and diverse environments.
In Game On!, Nadia grows from being timid and unsure of her abilities to becoming a more confident student, while Pyiya learns the value of teamwork over individual skills. In Starting Up!, Aqilah strives to balance her passion for fashion with supporting others, while Yong Qiang navigates the challenges of muscular dystrophy.
The Makers Club is an engaging collection that celebrates creativity and collaboration, and is accessible for upper elementary and middle school students alike.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Middle School, Children’s Public Library, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Minecraft: Out of Order Volume 1 by Josh Hicks (Dark Horse)
ELA Fiction Standard: Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
Minecraft is one of the most popular games of all time, and the recent live action movie was a big success, and the ongoing series of graphic novels are a great way for fans to immerse themselves even deeper in their favorite setting!
The twins from the “Province of Perfect Sameness” are on a quest to make all things “beautiful” and symmetrical in the “Overworld,” declaring “The Hamlet” unsightly, and with their associate, Grimbald, they pilfer and destroy the village’s homes. Bright panels showcase Minecraft’s signature blocky design style, whether portraying animals, homes, or landscapes. Color fills every page, and the palette shifts as the characters venture underground or explore different regions of the “Overworld.”
Determining the theme of a story is supported by details of the text: creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. By summarizing the actions of individual characters, students can explore their motivations and understand how these choices influence the plot and outcome. They will also love being able to discuss Minecraft at school!
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Middle School, Children’s Public Library, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Teens & Young Adult
How to Draw Diverse Manga: Design & Create Anime & Manga Characters with Diverse Identities of Race, Ethnicity, & Gender by Frederick Jones, et al (Saturday AM)
ELA Nonfiction Standard: Analyze in detail how an author’s ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter).
This “how-to” manga drawing guide provides aspiring artists with tips and techniques for including diverse characters in their own manga. The introduction by Saturday AM‘s publisher, Frederick Jones, emphasizes the importance of drawing diverse characters with sensitivity and respect, while each chapter focuses on key aspects of character design, including facial features, hair, and clothing.
Various Saturday AM artists are highlighted throughout the book, presenting the development of their characters, and discussing the techniques they use to create them. Black-and-white examples are used in step-by-step instructions for drawing a variety of facial features, hair, and body types, with final drawings shown in full color.
In the first chapter, Jones presents a definition of traditional manga art and the importance of diverse visual representation. Students can analyze his reasoning to understand the importance of illustrating diverse groups of people. Carefully considering the artists’ choices throughout the book, readers will see how visual representation in art can reflect diverse identities and promote inclusivity, empathy, and a broader understanding of the world.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Middle School, High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Needle and Thread by David Pinckney and Ennun Ana Iurov (Mad Cave)
ELA Fiction Standard: Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
Noah and Azarie are from different backgrounds. Noah’s parents, a firefighter and a police officer, want him to attend UCLA and become a doctor, or pursue a more traditional career path, rather than his own dream of attending art school and becoming a costume designer. Azarie is the mayor’s daughter and receives pressure from her parents to join their high-society social circle. However, she loves video games and cosplay, and dreams of becoming an actress. When Azarie and Noah meet by chance, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Noah creates a cosplay outfit for Azarie, and together they enter a cosplay contest. As their friendship grows, they face various challenges and experiences leading to greater self-discovery and resilience. Through their journey, they become more confident and secure in their identities.
Iurov’s artwork is a unique blend of pen-and-ink and muted pastel colors, which gives her illustrations a soft yet lively feel. This artistic approach complements the fashion themes, often evoking a “fashion sketch” vibe that aligns with Noah’s passion for costume design. Interestingly, chapter introduction pages are designed as cell phone screens, adding an extra layer to the storytelling by providing contextual clues and foreshadowing of upcoming events.
This is an excellent choice for teaching students how an author’s text structure conveys Pinckney’s narrative as it relies heavily on visual storytelling, pacing, and sequential art. His focus on Noah and Azarie’s parallel journeys allows the reader to explore how their individual stories are woven together to develop the themes of self-discovery and friendship. Teens will enjoy this relatable, heartwarming story about finding one’s true path in life.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Middle School, High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Indiginerds: Tales of Modern Indigenous Life edited by Alina Pete (Iron Circus)
ELA Nonfiction Standard: Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.
An anthology of eleven short stories from various Indigenous authors blending traditional Indigenous heritage and modern pop culture, including role-playing games, social media content, and local music. The stories feature diverse characters spotlighting tribal culture, body type, skin color, hair texture/style, and clothing. As with any short story collection, the writing and art styles vary, and readers will find some stories that resonate with them more than others.
The vibrant, full-color artwork reflects the varied styles of multiple artists, enhancing each story’s visual appeal. The backgrounds are simple, focusing attention on the characters to ensure the art supports the narrative without overwhelming it. It is key in bringing these stories to life, offering a visually appealing and culturally rich representation of diverse Indigenous experiences.
Indiginerds serves as a valuable text for students to explore and compare multiple authors’ purposes in one book. The informal, accessible, and often humorous style makes its messages relatable to teen readers from any cultural background.
The stories balance traditional Indigenous ways with modern pop culture, explicitly celebrating contemporary Indigenous life, while challenging stereotypes and expanding representation. The creators convey themes of identity, resistance, and culture through visual and textual rhetoric, including recurring images, colors, and Indigenous symbols.
Combining pictures and words allows students to analyze how the creators use multiple methods to persuade, inform, and entertain, making the stories especially powerful. They can also analyze how the creators’ choices in language, panel layout, and visual storytelling shape the reader’s understanding and emotional response.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Vickie Blankenship and Stella Bromley are Engagement Specialists for LibraryPass, as well as school librarians and educators with extensive experience in librarianship at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Both bring expertise in professional development and educator training, working with school districts nationwide. They have presented locally, regionally, and nationally on best practices for collection development, library programming, and classroom pedagogy. Active members of their state library associations, they are dedicated to fostering a love of reading in students and educators alike. They share a passion for connecting readers with the “just-right” book and believe that reading takes many forms, whether it’s traditional print books, comics, graphic novels, or manga; as long as readers are engaged with a book, their love for reading will grow.
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