At Peck, we strongly believe in the power of reading and intentionally foster opportunities to develop a passion and love for reading in our students. One genre that is a fan-favorite with students of all ages right now is graphic novels. Our Librarian and Literary Specialist Melissa Sorge compiled the top 5 graphic novels our students are reading:
Narwhal and Jelly (series) by Ben Clanton (Gr. K+)
- Undersea adventures have never been so cute! Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal, and Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do both love waffles, parties, and adventures.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series) by Jeff Kinney (Gr. 3+)
- This series follows Greg Heffley as he records the daily trials and triumphs of friendship, family life, and middle school where undersized weaklings have to share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving! On top of all that, Greg must be careful to avoid the dreaded CHEESE TOUCH!
The Babysitters Club (series) by Ann Martin (Gr. 3+)
- You may remember The Babysitters Club novels, well, here are some graphic novels adapted by Raina Telgemeier and Gale Galligan! Join Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, Dawn, and Mallory on their babysitting adventures! No matter what comes up – cranky toddlers, huge dogs, scary neighbors, prank calls – you can count on the BSC to save the day.
White Bird by RJ Palacio (Gr. 5+)
- Sara's harrowing experience movingly demonstrates the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges, and even save lives. As Grandmère tells Julian, "It always takes courage to be kind, but in those days, such kindness could cost you everything." With poignant symbolism and gorgeous artwork that brings Sara's story out of the past and cements it firmly in this moment in history, White Bird is sure to captivate anyone who was moved by the book Wonder or the blockbuster movie adaptation and its message.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (series) by Robert Venditti (Gr. 5+)
- Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of 12-year-old Percy Jackson's textbooks and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.
To learn more about Peck's English and language arts curriculum and how we intentionally craft our schedule to allow dedicated time for students to read, like our Reading Zone program in Upper School, please visit www.peckschool.org