Top graphic novels at our school (ages 5 - 11)

Our students eat up graphic novels, reading their favorite ones time and time again. They love the way these books use both pictures and words to tell their stories. Students really do read these books, absorbing their stories on so many levels. When I watch them reading them on our couch, they're completely absorbed in the stories, the humor, the adventure.

This week I'll be sharing our top circulating books in specific categories. It's a fascinating look at one small elementary school, to see what students check out, tell their friends about, wait for until they can get their hands on the books they love. These posts were inspired by Mr. Schu's lists over at Watch. Connect. Read. Come back later in the week to see what's hot in picture books, beginning readers, chapter books, fiction and nonfiction.

Here are the top 10 graphic novels for Emerson School Library in 2010-2011:

10. Babymouse: Our Hero
by Jennifer L. Holm
available on Amazon or at your local library

Our students adore Babymouse. We had the wonderful treat (better than cupcakes!) of having Jenni Holm visit our school. This series is popular with 2nd graders through 5th graders, girls and boys. I'm serious - you'd think only girls would like these books with their pink covers, but boys love the humor.

9. Bone #9: Crown of Horns
by Jeff Smith
available on Amazon or at your local library

Bone is a long-standing popular series at Emerson, and our 3rd through 5th graders love Jeff Smith's rich fantasy world. This is the last in the regular series, and is very popular with our readers.

8. Babymouse: Rock Star
by Jennifer L. Holm
available on Amazon or at your local library

Yes, Babymouse rules! She's a legend, a diva, a star ... at least in her own dreams. But kids love the way that Babymouse's rich fantasy life helps her cope with the real troubles that kids face at school: bullies, school buses, broken lockers, bad hair (or whisker) days. But at our school, Babymouse is a star.

7. The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook
by Eleanor Davis
available on Amazon or at your local library

This is a great story with adventure, mystery and suspense. I can't tell you how many times kids have asked if there's going to be a sequel out. Please, please, Eleanor Davis! This is like James Bond for kids, with high-tech gadgets, danger and the evil Dr. Stringer.

6. Babymouse: The Musical
by Jennifer L. Holm
available on Amazon or at your local library

Yes, I really never saw these Babymouse books sitting on our shelves for more than 30 minutes. As soon as they came in, they'd get snatched up by another student. In this installment, Babymouse tries out for the school musical, but of course the popular girl Felicia Furrypaws gets the lead role and Babymouse is her understudy.

5. Bone #8: Treasure Hunters
by Jeff Smith
available on Amazon or at your local library

Bone combines humor and fantasy that kids love with classic quest plots. In this volume, the Bone cousins, Gran'ma Ben, and Thorn finally reach the city of Atheia, where they reunite with old friends and plan to thwart The Lord of the Locusts. There is plenty of action, adventure and suspense, as the group of unlikely heroes get closer to reaching their goal.

4. The Baby-Sitter's Club: Kirsty's Great Idea
by Ann Martin
adapted by Raina Telgemeier
available on Amazon or at your local library

This graphic novel adaptation of the popular Baby-Sitter series is a huge hit with our students. This is the first in the series, and they are begging for more. Please, Raina, please bring more Baby-Sitter's Club to graphic format (there are 4)! In this book, readers meet the four friends and learn how their club was formed. Raina Telgemeier's illustrations convey the humor and heart of the story, and really resonate with our students.

3. Rapunzel's Revenge
by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and Nathan Hale
available on Amazon and at your local library

The Hale trio brings this terrific story to life, giving fresh spins and extra adventures to the classic Rapunzel story. They've set the fairy tale in the Wild West, where Rapunzel learns to use her long braids as lassos as she and Jack (of the Beanstalk fame) attempt to set her true mother free. Our students love reading this exciting, detailed story over and over again.

2. Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
available on Amazon and at your local library

The Lunch Lady is seriously fun, and perfect for 2nd and 3rd graders who love the humor and the crazy inventions. I love how this series is easy enough for readers transitioning to chapter books to read, but exciting enough to hook them and engage them. It's a tricky balance, and Krosoczka is a star at it.

1. Smile
by Raina Telgemeier
available on Amazon and at your local library

Smile is a truly wonderful story, with heart, humor and drama that kids - both boys and girls - can relate to. Telgemeier tells the real-life story of how she fell in 6th grade, tripping and smashing her two front teeth. Throughout her middle school years, she endured braces, dental surgeries, implants, retainers, head gear and false teeth, all the while going through normal adolescent friendship dramas.

Many libraries shelve the graphic novels in the nonfiction section. We've pulled them out and given them their own space next to fiction because they appeal to students much like fiction does, with creative, inventive stories. If you'd like to see a broad range of other nonfiction, head over Nonfiction Monday. Today it's hosted by Practically Paradise.

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Review ©2011 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books.