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TOON Books are high-quality comics for kids. Check NEW RELEASES here. |
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INTEREST LEVEL: Ages 4+
READING LEVEL: Grades K-1 |
INTEREST LEVEL: Ages 5+
READING LEVEL: Grades 1-2 |
INTEREST LEVEL: Ages 6+
READING LEVEL: Grades 2-3 |
INTEREST LEVEL: Ages 7+
READING LEVEL: Grades 3+ |
Find the right TOON Book for every young reader:
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TOON Books represent a whole new approach to books for beginning and reluctant readers—a rethinking as radical as the first time Theodor Geisel put a hat on a cat. Each book is just right for reading to the youngest child, but this is also the first and only collection ever designed to offer early and reluctant readers comics they can read themselves.
Each TOON book has been vetted by educators to nurture young minds.The comic format helps every child master core reading comprehension strategies like Visualization & Imagining, Making Connections, or Retelling. With TOON Books, parents, caregivers, homeschoolers, teachers, and librarians can help every child become a lifelong reader, one who knows how to read for pleasure and for information—a reader who loves to read. "Comics are a gateway drug to literacy." —Art Spiegelman, Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Maus, A Survivor's Tale |
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OUT NOW: PRETTY UGLY!
★★★ "Disgustingly hilarious….Adult readers will recognize hints of Maurice Sendak and William Steig and maybe even a smattering of Tim Burton in this remarkable outsider tale….Consider this little monstrosity a much-needed corrective to smarmy platitudes."— Kirkus STARRED REVIEW
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"Please believe me when I tell you that you have never, in all your life long days, experienced anything like this book before. [...] be grateful that we were all at the right place in the right time for a book like Pretty Ugly to exist." — School Library Journal
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David Sedaris and Ian Falconer make a spectacular splash with this tale of a monster turned ugly—stuck with a human face!
In this beautifully gross picture book, Anna Van Ogre’s lovely monster face turns into that of a sickeningly adorable, rosy-cheeked little girl—and it’s not switching back! Can she find a way to stop looking like an ugly human and regain her gorgeous monstrosity of a face? The dynamic duo of nationally acclaimed comedian David Sedaris and renowned children's book author Ian Falconer comes together to ponder the perpetually relevant question: is true beauty really on the inside?
In this beautifully gross picture book, Anna Van Ogre’s lovely monster face turns into that of a sickeningly adorable, rosy-cheeked little girl—and it’s not switching back! Can she find a way to stop looking like an ugly human and regain her gorgeous monstrosity of a face? The dynamic duo of nationally acclaimed comedian David Sedaris and renowned children's book author Ian Falconer comes together to ponder the perpetually relevant question: is true beauty really on the inside?
OUT NOW: READ ME, FEED ME, TAKE ME HOME!
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One of the Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024 — BookPage
"Spiegelman brings his charismatic illustration style to this wacky, metafictional picture book, which claims it’s not a book....Kids are sure to delight in how much Open Me . . . I’m a Dog commits to the bit: It even features fuzzy pages and a leash." — BookPagee |
What’s got a tail and just wants to go home with you, but will never make a mess on the carpet, or smell like, well, wet dog?
Have you ever seen a book that barks? How about a dog with pages? For all the kids who keep asking for a dog and don't seem to appreciate their books enough, we have the perfect solution. Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman, the author of Maus and Jack and the Box, has conjured up a winning mix of dog and hardcover picture book, complete with fuzzy, cuddly pages, a tail, a sturdy cotton leash, and so much more. Bring this lovable pooch into your family and he’s sure to become a kid's—or reader’s—best friend!
Have you ever seen a book that barks? How about a dog with pages? For all the kids who keep asking for a dog and don't seem to appreciate their books enough, we have the perfect solution. Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman, the author of Maus and Jack and the Box, has conjured up a winning mix of dog and hardcover picture book, complete with fuzzy, cuddly pages, a tail, a sturdy cotton leash, and so much more. Bring this lovable pooch into your family and he’s sure to become a kid's—or reader’s—best friend!
OUT NOW: HEARING THINGS!
“This story combines the apprehension of moving to a new town, the determination of one sibling to help another, the spine-tingling fear of a haunted house, and the cunning of a resolute cat—all in one brief, absorbing graphic novel… The cartooning is fast paced and easy to follow, with just enough text bubbles to establish context and communicate the hilarious and all-knowing motivations of Frankie (who steals the show).” –The Horn Book
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"Ghostly shenanigans take center stage in this graphic novel [...] which also offers an intriguing picture of a sibling relationship—low-key in its expression but deep in its connection. "— Publishers Weekly
"No macabre vibes here, just some supernatural fun.... A solid, spooky tale, with vintage-quality illustrations." — Kirkus |
Sometimes the spookiest thing of all isn’t a haunted house!
In this spine-tingling graphic novel, Tim and his big sister Martha are new to the neighborhood. Tim likes to record sounds on adventures with his cat, Frankie. Martha likes to make scary music. Nothing has been right for her since the move: Her music stinks! What if she never has friends again! Tim goes on a quest: if he can record something bone-chilling, then Martha can finish her song. But even the block’s haunted house is silent. Just when Tim is ready to give up, Frankie helps him find a way, with the help of some new, unexpected friends.
In this spine-tingling graphic novel, Tim and his big sister Martha are new to the neighborhood. Tim likes to record sounds on adventures with his cat, Frankie. Martha likes to make scary music. Nothing has been right for her since the move: Her music stinks! What if she never has friends again! Tim goes on a quest: if he can record something bone-chilling, then Martha can finish her song. But even the block’s haunted house is silent. Just when Tim is ready to give up, Frankie helps him find a way, with the help of some new, unexpected friends.
OUT NOW: NIGHT STORIES!
“An appealing dose of humor, accentuated by Liniers’ artwork, full of intricate linework and muted colors [...] spine-tingling, enlightening, and fun." — Kirkus Reviews
“Liniers’ comics are funny and fanciful and whimsical and philosophical in the best sense.” — Matt Groening, The Simpsons |
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“[...] Delicate ink and watercolor scenes accompany humorous dialogue and text (“The monkey had very little maritime experience”), showcasing the enduring power of folktales and whetting readers’ appetites for further tellings.” — Publishers Weekly
“He draws funny!” — Jeff Smith, Bone |
Thrilling tales, lighthearted twists!
Eisner Award winner LINIERS brings his exuberant cartooning style and irrepressible sense of fun to the spooky folktales of his childhood, telling three from across Latin America: the Iara, a mermaid who lures her love to her underwater domain; La Lechuza, an enormous owl who terrorizes a town after dark; and La Luz Mala, a spooky light that menaces gauchos on the pampas. Combined with back matter on the region’s fascinating ecology, culture, and history, these stories will send a delicious shiver down young spines, while encouraging children to appreciate a rich and dynamic heritage.
Eisner Award winner LINIERS brings his exuberant cartooning style and irrepressible sense of fun to the spooky folktales of his childhood, telling three from across Latin America: the Iara, a mermaid who lures her love to her underwater domain; La Lechuza, an enormous owl who terrorizes a town after dark; and La Luz Mala, a spooky light that menaces gauchos on the pampas. Combined with back matter on the region’s fascinating ecology, culture, and history, these stories will send a delicious shiver down young spines, while encouraging children to appreciate a rich and dynamic heritage.
OUT NOW IN SPANISH: A celebration of the magical bonds that unite children!
Flores salvajes by Liniers
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Liniers' WIldflowers is coming out soon in Spanish as Flores salvajes!
When her two big sisters embark on an adventure to explore a mysterious island, the youngest one doesn't want to be left behind. What shines through from this funny story's gut-wrenchingly scary beginning ("There was a terrible plane crash!") to its sweet and satisfying ending is Liniers's admiration for the imaginative powers of childhood. Flores salvajes is a stellar addition to any Spanish reader's bookshelf. |
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SHAPES AND SHAPES!
★★★ "If the Platonic ideal of the young children's comic both helps them interpret their world and introduces new ideas for them to explore and expand on, then Brunetti has brought that conceptual model into actual existence." – Booklist STARRED REVIEW
★ Winner of Excellence in Graphic Literature Children's Nonfiction Award ★ |
Circles, triangles, and squares: the game is on!
Respected art professor IVAN BRUNETTI still remembers the fun he had playing with shapes as a kid. In the hands of the author/artist of Wordplay, 3x4, and Comics: Easy as ABC, shapes explode, divide, and multiply, offering young readers a basic yet exciting art and math lesson. Kids will laugh as they learn—and will also see the world in a new way. Brunetti deftly highlights the nature and logic of shapes, laying a foundation for geometry and illustration for readers of all ages! |
"A strong introduction to graphic novels . . . . Will have readers eagerly pointing out the shapes around them." — Kirkus Reviews
"Captures the fun of a bunch of kids getting their creativity into tip-top shape."— Publishers Weekly ★ A Little Mavericks Graphic Novel Reading List Selection ★ |
NOW IN PAPERBACK: Two TOON Books by Ivan Brunetti!
3x4 by Ivan Brunetti
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Wordplay by Ivan Brunetti
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Two of Ivan Brunetti's previous TOON Books have been released in paperback for the first time, joining Shapes and Shapes in beautiful, affordable editions perfect for the classroom! Everyone give a big warm welcome to 3x4 and Wordplay!
GOTTA GO!
"Owen, are you ready? Do you have to pee before we go?"
️★★★ “Wry, cool and spot-on….Charming… A perfect suggestion for read-alouds or one-on-one reading….A kid-friendly early reader graphic novel that hits all the right notes. You Gotta Go purchase for early elementary shelves.” - School Library Journal, STARRED review
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"Viva’s crisply stylized graphics employ a palette of flat black, white, and gray, accented with a certain yellow in a watercolorlike texture [...] Funny—and comically instructive." – Kirkus Reviews
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Owen says, “No,” but, before long, it’s, “Um…Mom…I gotta go!” He really should have listened and gone when he had a chance. Now, he’s squirming. Even thinking of something else isn’t helping. Luckily for him, grampa knows exactly what to do; he’s had a lot of practice over the years. He teaches Owen the best way to hold the urge off for just long enough, with the help of some fun and funky dance moves: the Tinkle Twist, the Wee-wee walk, the Piddle Patter, and the Leaky shake. Before long, Owen’s jumping in with some moves of his own! Artist Frank Viva, the acclaimed author of A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse and Young Frank, Architect, doesn't mind getting his feet wet as he dives into what can be a harrowing topic for children—and grampas—turning it into a hilarious, liberating, and joyful romp.
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NOW IN PAPERBACK: Two Essential TOON Books by Frank Viva!
Sea Change by Frank Viva
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Frank Viva's TOON Graphic Sea Change and Level 1 A Trip to the Top of the Volcano with Mouse join the previously released A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse as affordable, but still beautifully produced softcovers. With A Trip to the Top of the Volcano with Mouse earning an Eisner nomination and Sea Change garnering praise from multiple starred reviews and authors like Lemony Snicket, both are sure to gain permanent placement on your shelf!
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A Trip to the Top of the Volcano with Mouse by Frank Viva
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PAUL BUNYAN: The Invention of an American Legend
“What do you do when you find out that a story you loved as a kid is a tall tale spun by an advertising man intent on justifying the clear-cutting of our ancestral lands by lumber companies?” |
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★ A California Reading Association Eureka! Honor Award Winner ★
★ A Little Mavericks Graphic Novel Reading List Selection ★ ★★★ "Readers will come away ready to question what other falsehoods they’ve been fed about the history of marginalized people [...] An accessible and important reminder of how easily the truth can be coopted. " -- Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW 
★★★ "Van Sciver is a master of subtle mockery." |
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★ A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection ★
"Enlightening. . . . [A] frank and accessible depiction of the environmental and economic impact of boom-bust industries . . . and how the Bunyan fiction perpetuated these systems."
--Publishers Weekly |
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In Paul Bunyan: The Invention of an American Legend, cartoonist Noah Van Sciver heads back to Minnesota in 1914 to uncover the creation of an American myth. The book takes place during a snowy train journey, when W. B. Laughead, a real-life advertising impresario employed by Minnesota’s Red River Timber Company, spins a yarn for his fellow travelers.In Laughead’s hands, a regional folk figure grows tall enough to touch the clouds, becoming the star of a colorful tale of frontier life that has obscured, for too long, the logging industry’s wholesale devastation of the region’s old-growth forests and its role in the systematic dispossession of Native peoples from their land and way of life.
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Is it a worm? Is it a snake? No! It’s a caterpillar…
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"An animated entry about a common backyard miracle…"
--Kirkus Reviews 
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Caterpillars: What Will I be When I Get to be Me? by Kevin McCloskey
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The caterpillar is on its way to one of the most magical transformations in the insect world, from a crawling digestive tube to a fluttering Glasswing, Luna moth, or Monarch. In Caterpillars: What Will I be When I Get to be Me?, the latest addition to KEVIN MCCLOSKEY’s beloved Giggle and Learn series, young readers will explore how caterpillars morph into the many different moths and butterflies that help pollinate our world.
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The essential best-selling, award-winning, teacher-approved sets:
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"Without a doubt, the best go-to option for parents looking for quality comics for early readers is the many graphic novels from Toon Books." — Mental Floss |
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A children's book about finally being seen!
A superb graphic storytelling of a classic Latin American folktale showcases the invisible labor of women and the contributions of Indigenous cultures.
Blancaflor, The Hero with Secret Powers
A Folktale from Latin America by Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio García Sánchez Introduction by F. Isabel Campoy Also available in Spanish! |
"A visual delight." –The Horn Book Magazine, STARRED review
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"An energetic, girl-power addition to the fairy- and folktales shelf.” --Kirkus Reviews
Black Heroes of the Wild West:
an essential graphic novel for every young reader!
“Black Heroes of the Wild West is a brilliant and entertaining offering. Through sharp and evocative storytelling in the exciting medium of comics, lesser-known African American historical figures will be introduced to new generations of readers.”
—From the introduction by KADIR NELSON, winner of the 2020 Caldecott Award |
"Comics That Dismantle the White Cowboy Myth"
Read the "Black Heroes" Review |
And the award goes to.... a must-have guide to comics for all kids
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EISNER AWARD WINNER FOR BEST EARLY READER
The Eisner Awards are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, and sometimes referred to in the industry as the comic industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. 
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"Am I dreaming? (Pinches arm.) No, I guess I’m awake. I was surprised to learn that I won the Eisner Award, especially considering the other folks nominated. Incredible! I’m deeply honored to receive this recognition, and I hope my book will continue to be a helpful guide for budding cartoonists everywhere. Inspiring others to pick up a pencil and start drawing their own comics is the truly most gratifying part of my life."
— Ivan Brunetti 
Comics: Easy as ABC
by Ivan Brunetti |
Praise all around for TOON Books
