Anyone else have a kid obsessed with graphic novels?
My oldest loves them! And my controversial opinion is: they get her reading. So we gladly invite graphic novels into our home. That being said, it means we also have been on the hunt for graphic novels that will strengthen her faith in this season.
The market of Christian graphic novels is steadily growing. From graphic novel Bibles to Christian biographies we have sampled quite a few.
Though, as with most Christian resources, not all are created equal. We might find something with rich content, but if my kid hates it…..well it’s not going to be a winner over here.
So here’s a small list of 5 Christian Graphic novels my 9 year-old actually loves. Some of them she has even read more than once.
God With Us: Bible Stories on the Road to Enmaus
I would consider this a storybook Bible for all intensive purposes. It splices Old Testament stories into narrative of people reflecting on the life of Jesus and the message that he is the Messiah. I think it’s a great fit for older kids who already are familiar with many Bible stories, and this gives them an opportunity to see the Word anew, and explore various themes in the scripture. The art is gorgeous, and unlike other graphic novel story book Bibles, the characters overwhelmingly are depicted with darker skin tones.
My 9 year-old loves the layout of the book. It is very much in a graphic novel style (which is not always the case in Christian books labeled as graphic novels).
Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom
This graphic novel biography guides young readers through the life of Harriet Tubman. Because Harriet Tubman’s faith was such a central part of her life, I’m not sure it’s possible to write a biography about her, without mentioning her faith. She viewed herself as an instrument of God to bring liberation to Black Americans…and indeed, she was!
The Good Guys Agency: Kind Like Fred Rogers
This one does not have and over-religious feel. However, I feel like we all can agree we could use more Christians like Fred Rogers. Fred Rogers wanted to be a minister and had a degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He realized the good he could do through television with his passion for child development. He became an role model of kindness and respect for children across North America.
The Otherside of Tomorrow
This one is probably one of my kid’s favorite books. She’s read it more than once, and it has prompted some amazing conversations. It’s a fictional story of two children escaping North Korea, journeying through China, and eventually to the United States. On the way they meet Christians who help them pray and encourage them that God loves them. Tina Cho, the author, is a Christian and her worldview shines through in the book. She is author of some of our other favorite books, including Rice From Heaven and God’s Little Astronomer.
The Hiding Place
This is a graphic novel version of Corrie Ten Boom’s memoir, ‘The Hiding Place.’ It’s also another one my kid has chosen to read more than once, and prompted her to look for more books about Corrie Ten Boom. For those unfamiliar with Corrie’s story, she hid her Jewish neighbors from the Nazi army during World War II. She eventually was caught and survived the concentration camps. After the war she traveled around the world, preaching the Gospel of love and forgiveness.
Baby Devotions 