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| Bartleby by Matt PhelanBartleby the bear stands out among his classmates, not only because of his bright red bowler hat, but also because of his quiet response to most invitations: "I would prefer not to." Inspired by Herman Melville's classic short story, Bartleby offers a kid-friendly take on thoughtful participation and self-determination.
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| Here Come the Aunties! by Cynthia Leitich Smith; illustrated by AphelandraKinship extends beyond biology in this celebration of community. Readers follow a year in the life of River, a Muscogee child, and meet all the "aunties" who care for him through affection, shared skills, and everyday support. Richly colored mixed-media illustrations add to the story's warm, lived-in feel.
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Suuban's First Day: A First Day of Herding Story by Shugri SalhPatiently, Suuban waits, and waits...until she can't wait anymore! After some creative thinking and a head bump from a goat to help loosen her front tooth, Suuban is ready to prove she can herd the animals across the desert safely. This gorgeously illustrated picture book is a joyful celebration of the Somali desert and a nomadic lifestyle, in a relatable tale of self-reliance, courage, and the beauty of nature.
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| The Dream by Gideon StererDismayed by environmental damage, a young girl encounters a wolf and experiences a fantastical vision of how animals and humans might find solidarity. Intricately textured illustrations of surreal, oversized animals amplify the dreamlike nature of this wordless tale. For fans of: Shaun Tan and Guojing. |
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Two Artists, Grandad and Me by Charnelle Pinkney BarlowStep into the warm, jazz-filled world of a young girl and her artist grandad, as she learns about her grandad's paintings and discovers the joy of creating her own art. In this inspiring story, a very young painter learns there is no right way to be an artist, and that every brushstroke and every sketch is a unique expression of her imagination. By the granddaughter of legendary Caldecott Medal-winning children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney.
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Graphic Novels for Beginning Readers
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| A Pair of Parrots by David A. AdlerWhen Ava’s new pet parrot escapes, Ava and her mom pair up to find the missing bird, leading them to discover further dynamic duos (and trios). Starring a clever young wheelchair user, this comic book easy reader introduces simple math concepts while telling an upbeat story. |
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| Snap! Crunch! Munch? by Diana CastilloDinnertime becomes more fun for one little boy as he imagines his family members as different animals, based on their preferred foods. Brightly colored panels, brief text, and plenty of food-based onomatopoeia make this graphic novel a tasty treat for beginning readers.
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| Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends by Ame DyckmanMeet Snaps (an alligator) and Duckie (a duckling), two curious youngsters in a world that says they should be enemies. With repetitive text and crisp, minimalist artwork, this series opener will build confidence in kids ready to jump from easy readers to comics. Next in the series: We Cannot Be Brave, due out in August 2026.
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| One Smart Cookie by Mika SongPairing soft, sketchy illustrations and sweetly silly humor, this graphic novel follows squirrel pals Norma and Belly as they infiltrate a fortune cookie factory, hoping to reap delicious rewards. Kids who enjoy this 4th Norma and Belly caper may want to go back to the beginning with Donut Feed the Squirrels.
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| Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends by Kaz WindnessCaterpillar and Worm are BFFs who share a lot in common, but Caterpillar knows those similarities will disappear soon. Will Worm still want to be friends when Butterfly emerges? (Spoiler alert: of course!) Cartoon art brings even more joy to this easy-reading, friendship-focused comic. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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Forsyth County Public Library
660 W. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-703-2665forsythlibrary.org |
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