The Girvin Social Club

Guy Mills

Marble Press

2024 Best Graphic Novels for Children by ALA - Top Ten 
Can a sports klutz reach her dream and dance? A charming and hilarious, slice-of-life, middle-grade graphic novel about ten-year-old Electra who refuses to give up her dream of doing ballet. On Texas Library Association’s LITTLE MAVERICK’S, Recommended Graphic Novels for Grade 3-5 list. 
After moving, Ellie feels lonely in her new class. Mom has a solution, the girl needs to join the school’s sports team to make friends. There is only one problem, no matter what sport she tries Electra makes an utter fool of herself. In the middle of her misery, enchanted by her cousin’s ballet performance, Ellie suddenly knows what she wants more than anything, dancing. If only Mom could agree. 
A page-turner, full of relatable conflicts, Ellie in First Position is a humorous, positive, and heartwarming story about resilience, self-love, new experiences, and friendship. By the end of the book, Ellie doesn’t only learn to accept herself and her family, makes new friends, and even has her first crush, but manages to deal with her bullies too.\nFans of The Babysitters Club, Fancy Nancy, or the Stepping Stones series will love Ellie in First Position.

Ellie in First Position: A Graphic Novel

Children's Books

Freschi, Brian

Arts, Music & Photography

My Big Embarrassing Elephant is a clever and funny picture book about how one girl goes about hiding a very literal elephant in the room, only to discover she may not need to disguise it at all.\nMaya and her family have a problem. They try ignoring it, dancing around it, even sweeping it under the rug. Yet the elephant in the room remains. And Maya is at her wit's end figuring out how to hide it from everyone. Then a new friend moves in next door, and Maya begins wondering if there might be a better way to deal with the whole situation? 
Angie Lucas's clever story about friendship in the face of overwhelming problems is given hilarious life by Pierre Collet-Derby. A fun read-aloud for story time, bedtime, and anytime.\nThis empathetic and kid-friendly story is perfect for teaching lessons about how to deal with embarrassment. 
Readers who like other compassionate books about social emotional learning, like The Rabbit Listened, by Cori Doerrfeld, The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig or Who Wet My Pants by Bob Shea will love My Big Embarrassing Elephant.

My Big Embarrassing Elephant

Lucas, Angie

Humor & Entertainment

2024 Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List - Easy Readers 
In the tradition of Narwhal and Jelly, here is a playful and humorous graphic novel series about two besties who could not be more different from each other. 
Penguin and Panda should not be friends. The very idea is absurd. Penguin likes to build things and Panda likes to nap. Panda munches bamboo and Penguin gobbles cheese puffs and jam-banana sandwiches. Penguin never powers down and Panda has a hard time powering up. There is no way their friendship would ever work. Except somehow, it does. 
Penguin and Panda demonstrate kindness, understanding, and support for each other, showcasing the positive aspects of companionship. The books are infused with humor, often through Penguin’s whimsical outlook on life and Panda's more pragmatic responses. 
Each book is composed form multiple short stories and STEM-related fun facts. The graphic novel format makes the series accessible to a wide range of readers, including those who may be transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

The Adventures of Penguin and Panda: Surprise!: Graphic Novel (1) (Volume 1)

Maier, Brenda

Animals

In the tradition of Narwhal and Jelly, here is a playful and humorous graphic novel series about two besties who could not be more different from each other. We know what you're thinking: Penguin and Panda should not be friends! The very idea is absurd! Penguin feels all the feels able to be felt, while Panda is low-key cool. Penguin loves surprises and being scared while Panda prefers a good nap. Penguin always follows directions; Panda plays things by ear. Yet these two yin and yang besties love experiencing the world through each other's eyes with abundant humor and a generosity of spirit. The stories often convey positive messages about imagination, creativity, friendship, acceptance, and the value of being true to oneself. Each book contains four short stories, and some STEM-related fun facts. This format allows young readers to easily digest the content and provides natural stopping points for reading sessions. Fanni Mezes' charming illustrations, filled with expressive characters immediately draw the readers to dive into Penguin and Panda's playful world. The language used in the series is accessible and appropriate for early readers, making it a great choice for children who are developing their reading skills.

The Adventures of Penguin and Panda: Fun and Games!: Graphic Novel (2) (Volume 1)

A gift-worthy ode to parents, children, and the bonds of love that bind them together, from one generation to the next. "When you were born, I held you in my arms and tied a magical thread around your finger." That thread stretches and snags along the way, through the touchstone moments of a child's life. Through first steps and first stumbles, first love and first broken heart. Through classrooms and graduations, a lifetime of heartache and joy, of wonder and accomplishment. Yet the thread never breaks. And it never will. Written in spare, powerful, read-aloud verse and illustrated with warm, evocative watercolors, Our Unbreakable Thread is the book about all of our lives, from parent to child, generation to generation. It's a perfect gift for any new parent or grandparent, and for saying thank you on Father's Day.

Our Unbreakable Thread: A Family's Love Through Generations

Collins-Black, Jon

Growing Up & Facts of Life

With its positive message and community-centered story, this tale of a tree and the community that loves it will resonate with readers of all ages.\nSome trees grow up wanting to be tall lighthouses or big red barns full of horses. Not Linden. He is grateful just being a tree. Through snowy winters full of caroling to summertime picnics beneath his shady boughs, Linden watches over the people who love and care for him. 
Colleen Muske’s heartfelt, gorgeously illustrated ode to the simple joys of loving one’s community is full of childlike wonder and comfort in the many ways nature supports and surprises us.

Linden: The Story of a Tree

Muske, Colleen

Literature & Fiction

The summer before middle school is a time of anxiety and change. A pitch-perfect novel in verse about one girl’s wish to simultaneously break free and to belong. 
In the summer before her first year of middle school, word-chanting, rope-skipping Phee skips her way to imagined fame, writes down her innermost secret thoughts from the safety of a treehouse, and imagines in horror that her new classmates will eat her alive. Suddenly, her well-worn alley world feels too small. So when Mercy Jones moves next door, along with Mercy’s skateboard and her don’t-mess-with-me attitude, Phee sees the chance for her universe to expand. Even if it means leaving some things behind . . . It is a time of dares, of a legendary dog named Bull, of stretching comfort zones, and of old friendships made over in new ways. And it all takes place over the course of one alley summer.\nOne Alley Summer is and easily accessible novel in verse for middle grade readers. Phee, as a deeply relatable character and narrator, perfectly captures the universally fraught time of the summer between elementary and middle school, tapping into the anxiety we all know so well.\nIn the end, it’s a positive, feel-good story about friendship and growing up that will evoke both joy and nostalgia in older readers, as they recall the summers of their own youth.

One Alley Summer: A Novel of Friendship and Growing Up

Ylvisaker, Anne

Sophie: Jurassic Bark: A graphic novel , Vol.1

"Harkens back to those heady days of Calvin and Hobbes." - School Library Journal "Sophie is the perfect mix of heart, humor, and hilarity!" - Lincoln Peirce, creator of Big Nate A Junior Library Guild Selection From the creator the much-loved webcomic, "Dog Eat Doug," Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series, a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything--without ever having to share. Life is good when you're a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world? Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein's Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.

Anderson, Brian

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Four all-new stories – each with a winter or holiday slant and featuring the comically sweet yin-and-yang besties, Penguin and Panda. .\nWhether earning money for the perfect Christmas tree; shopping for a cozy new holiday sweater; sledding down a terrifyingly snowy hill; or trying to squeeze in everything on Penguin’s over-the-top Christmas list, these two yin and yang besties meet every challenge with an abundance of humor and generosity of spirit. Full of clever dialogue, giggle-inducing artwork, and even a few fun facts. .\nFor fans of Narwhal & Jelly; Beak & Ally; and Pizza & Taco..\nThe language used in the series is accessible and appropriate for early readers, making it a great choice for children who are developing their reading skills.

The Adventures of Penguin and Panda: Winterfest: Graphic Novel (3) (Volume 1)

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