If your child loves graphic novels, there are some brilliant new releases and new editions to look forward to between October and December 2026. From laugh-out-loud adventures with much-loved characters to fascinating history comics, creative drawing guides and magical stories, there’s plenty to keep young readers entertained as we head towards the end of the year.
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We’re HUGE graphic novel fans in our house. Some of our favourite authors and illustrators have new books arriving this quarter, including Jamie Smart, Neill Cameron, Dav Pilkey and Luke Pearson. It’s a particularly exciting few months for fans of Bunny vs Monkey!
This is the final instalment of our 2026 quarterly graphic novel roundups. If you’ve missed the earlier posts, you can explore our recommendations for January to March, April to June and July to September.
New Children’s Graphic Novels – October to December 2026
We’ve chosen eight books to feature this quarter, including two special companion books and a paperback release. As always, I’ll be adding more information, photographs of the inside pages and our thoughts as we read them.
I’ve also included activity ideas and some fabulous free resources from the authors, illustrators and publishers to help children explore the books beyond the pages.
Where to Buy Graphic Novels from?
Amazon – often have good savings on pre-orders. Currently, there have been some 50% off savings on some pre-order titles.
Scholastic – is always worth a look as there can be some big savings on bundles of books including bundles of the same series but also bundles on new release graphic novels.
Harper Collins – this publisher is worth checking out as they often have good discounts on. Sign up to their newsletter and I often see 50% off sales codes pop into my inbox. They often do very short lasting offers such as one day only or order by 12pm on a day.
Bunny vs Monkey: Day of the Heroes! by Jamie Smart
Publication date: 8 October 2026
I don’t think it will surprise anyone who regularly reads Busy Busy Learning to see another Jamie Smart book on our most anticipated list!
Bunny vs Monkey is one of our absolute favourite graphic novel series, and we’re always ridiculously excited when another instalment arrives.
We’ve actually pre-ordered two copies of Day of the Heroes! – one for Floss and one for her cousin – as well as receiving a copy from the publisher. That’s how much we love these books! The pre-orders were a Waterstones special – sprayed edges and sticker sheet inside – always a winner in our house!
Jamie Smart has such a wonderful ability to create completely bonkers characters and stories that have children (and adults!) laughing out loud. There’s always something unexpected happening in the woods, and the expressive illustrations make the humour even better.
If you’re new to the series, the books feature a collection of woodland animals whose lives are turned upside down by Monkey and his increasingly ridiculous plans. We’ve been following these characters for years, and I love how familiar they’ve become. Returning to a favourite series is one of the great joys of reading.
You can find more of our thoughts about Jamie Smart’s books in our 2024 graphic novel roundup, where we featured Bunny vs Monkey: The Impossible Pig! and The Great Big Glitch!.
Perfect for: Children who love silly humour, energetic illustrations and fast-paced comic adventures.
Recommended age: 6/7
Text: Generally written in capital letters with clearly defined speech bubbles.
Bunny vs Monkey Activity Ideas
- Invent a new woodland character and give them a wonderfully ridiculous name.
- Design an invention for Monkey and explain what it is supposed to do – and what might go wrong!
- Create a short comic strip featuring Bunny, Monkey or your own characters.
- Check out the How to Videos on The Phoenix website here.
How to Make Awesome Comics by Neill Cameron
Publication date: 8 October 2026
This might be one of the books I’m personally most excited about this quarter! We are enormous Neill Cameron fans in our house. His Donut Squad series has become a firm favourite, both in book form and in our weekly copy of The Phoenix comic.
Floss and I are firmly Team Donut, while Daddy is Team Bagel. There’s a particularly special place in our hearts for Anxiety Donut!
We’ve also loved joining Neill’s drawalongs through The Phoenix, so a book dedicated to helping children create their own comics feels like a natural addition to our collection. We’re very excited to be going to an in person event later in 2026.
How to Make Awesome Comics isn’t a traditional graphic novel with one continuing adventure. Instead, it’s a practical, creative guide to developing characters, coming up with ideas, drawing and telling stories through comic panels.
I love books that encourage children to become creators rather than simply consumers of stories. There’s so much learning involved in making a comic – from planning a story and sequencing events to using illustrations to convey emotion, movement and humour. My daughter Floss loves another book: Graphic Novel Builder. I’d say that the How to Make Awesome Comics is suitable from a little younger than the Graphic Novel Builder title that I’d sit at a more 9+ age range. Floss loves both. They are very different with Graphic Novel Builder being more of a reference guide whereas How to Make Awesome Comics is more a work along with type book.
If you’ve been following our graphic novel roundups, you’ll know how much we enjoy Neill’s Donut Squad. You can read about Donut Squad: Destiny of the Donuts in our July to September 2026 graphic novel roundup.
Perfect for: Budding comic creators, children who love drawing and fans of The Phoenix, Donut Squad and Mega Robo Bros.
Recommended age: Approximately 7+, depending on the child’s interest and confidence with drawing and writing.
Free How to Make Awesome Comics Resources
Neill Cameron has a brilliant collection of free downloadable activities on his website, including comic-making challenges, drawing activities and blank comic templates.
You can find them all here:
Free How to Make Awesome Comics printable activities – Neill Cameron
Some of my favourites include the blank comic grids and the activities that help children develop their own stories.
Activity Ideas
- Print a blank comic template and create a four-panel story.
- Design a new Donut Squad character.
- Make a comic about something funny that happened during the week.
- Experiment with different speech bubbles, sound effects and facial expressions.
Corpse Talk: Dead, Famous & Very Chatty by Adam and Lisa Murphy
Publication date: 8 October 2026
History has never been quite so chatty! If your children enjoy The Phoenix comic, they may already be familiar with Corpse Talk, which brings historical figures back from the dead for some wonderfully entertaining interviews. This one is one that my daughter has been less keen on over the last couple of years. However, she’s just started to get a bit more interested in history. I think this is one where age/ interest matter.
Adam and Lisa Murphy combine fascinating historical information with colourful comic illustrations and plenty of humour. This collection features an impressive range of people and historical periods, making it a brilliant way to introduce children to people and events they might not otherwise choose to read about.
We’ve had a look at some of the sample pages, which include the remarkable Mongolian princess Khutulun, Roman gladiators and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. I particularly like the way the comic format can make unfamiliar historical topics feel more approachable. Instead of presenting a long passage of information, readers discover facts through conversations, questions and illustrations.
It’s the sort of book that could easily spark an interest in researching a historical figure further.
Perfect for: Curious children, history fans and readers who enjoy funny nonfiction.
Recommended age: Approximately 8+; some historical subjects may be better suited to older or more confident readers.
Corpse Talk Activity Ideas
- Choose a historical figure and create your own imaginary interview.
- Make a fact file about one of the people featured in the book.
- Create a timeline showing when different historical figures lived.
- Research what life was like for children during one of the historical periods featured.
This would be a particularly fun book to use alongside history topics for home education.
Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time by Dav Pilkey
Publication date: 3 November 2026
Dog Man is back! YAY!!!
Dav Pilkey’s enormously popular series has been a firm favourite in our house for years. Floss has loved these books from a young age, and it’s wonderful to see how the characters and stories continue to appeal as children grow. A Sprinkle in Time is book 15 in the Dog Man series, and we’re very much looking forward to another adventure.
A Sprinkle in Time is book 15 in the Dog Man series, and we’re very much looking forward to another adventure.
One of the things I particularly appreciate about Dog Man is how accessible the books can be for children who are developing their reading confidence. The comic panels, short sections of text and expressive illustrations make the stories engaging without overwhelming readers with large blocks of writing.
Dav Pilkey also has a wonderful understanding of children’s humour. There are plenty of silly moments, but friendship, kindness and doing the right thing are often at the heart of the adventures.
If you’re new to the series, you might like our review of Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder, where we share inside photographs and discuss the text, illustrations and interactive Flip-O-Rama pages.
Perfect for: Fans of funny superhero stories, animal characters and accessible comic adventures.
Recommended age: 6/7+
Dog Man Activity Ideas
- Create your own superhero animal character.
- Make a mini Flip-O-Rama-style animation.
- Design a comic strip featuring a hero and a villain.
- Write a short story about a superhero whose special power doesn’t quite work as expected.
The World of Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smart
Publication date: 5 November 2026
Yes, another Jamie Smart book – and this one looks like a particularly exciting addition for existing fans! What an awesome cover – it literally makes you want to dive in.
The World of Bunny vs Monkey is a companion book that takes readers further into the wonderfully chaotic world of Bunny, Monkey and their woodland friends. Rather than being another standard instalment in the series, this book brings together character information, facts, games, inventions and additional comic-strip fun.
I think these sorts of books are particularly lovely for children who have developed a real attachment to a fictional world. They allow readers to spend more time with their favourite characters and discover extra details they might not have noticed before.
It’s also the kind of book that children can dip in and out of, rather than needing to read from beginning to end. For fans of Jamie Smart, this could make a fantastic Christmas gift alongside one of the main Bunny vs Monkey graphic novels.
If your child is a little younger or just beginning their graphic novel journey, you might also like Jamie Smart’s Max & Chaffy series. We’ve written about Max & Chaffy: Hunt for the Pirate’s Gold and how its reading format compares with Bunny vs Monkey.
Perfect for: Established Bunny vs Monkey fans and children who love character guides, comic extras and activities.
Recommended age: 6+
Bunny vs Monkey Activity Ideas
- Make your own woodland character guide.
- Invent a completely useless machine.
- Create a quiz about your favourite characters.
- Draw a map of the woodland and add your own imaginary locations.
Hilda and Twig: Find a Space Rock by Luke Pearson
Publication date: 12 November 2026
There’s something so special about the world Luke Pearson has created with Hilda. The combination of beautiful artwork, magical creatures, friendship and the natural world makes these books stand out from many other children’s graphic novels.
In Hilda and Twig: Find a Space Rock, Hilda and her adorable deer-fox companion Twig are enjoying an adventure beneath the night sky when a mysterious space rock arrives. The sample illustrations are gorgeous, with atmospheric purples and blues capturing the magic of being outdoors after dark.
I particularly enjoy the contrast between Hilda’s adventurous nature and Twig’s more cautious personality. Their friendship is such a lovely part of these stories. This looks like a wonderful graphic novel for younger readers, with plenty of opportunities to explore space, stars, meteorites and imaginative storytelling. We’ve very much loved others in the series.
Perfect for: Younger graphic novel readers, nature lovers and children who enjoy gentle fantasy adventures.
Recommended age: 5–7+
Explore the Hilda books at Flying Eye Books
Free Hilda and Twig Activities
Flying Eye Books has some lovely free comic-making activity sheets inspired by Hilda and Twig: Hide from the Rain.
Download the free Hilda and Twig comic activity sheets
Although created for an earlier book, they’re ideal for children who want to have a go at making their own Hilda-inspired adventures.
Activity Ideas
- Make a night-sky picture using watercolours or pastels.
- Research the difference between meteors, meteorites and asteroids.
- Design a friendly creature that might live inside a space rock.
- Create a short comic strip about a mysterious object falling from the sky.
Hilda and Twig: Wake the Ice Man by Luke Pearson – Paperback Edition
Paperback edition – 12th November 2026
Another Hilda and Twig title for our list! This is the paperback edition of Wake the Ice Man, rather than a completely new story, but I think it’s worth including because paperback editions can make these beautiful graphic novels more accessible.
In this adventure, Hilda and her giant friend Burku are enjoying themselves in the wilderness when Twig accidentally wakes the Ice Man. Unfortunately, bringing snow to the forest isn’t quite as simple as it sounds!
The illustrations we’ve seen are absolutely gorgeous, with a wonderfully wintry atmosphere and some fascinating magical creatures.
I love that the Hilda books draw so much inspiration from folklore, nature and the changing seasons. They’re perfect for children who enjoy imaginative stories with a little mystery.
This one could be a lovely choice for autumn and winter reading, particularly alongside seasonal nature activities.
Perfect for: Younger readers, Hilda fans and children who love magical creatures and seasonal adventures.
Recommended age: 5–7+
Free Hilda and Twig Colouring Sheet
Flying Eye Books has released a free colouring sheet inspired by Wake the Ice Man.
Download the free Hilda and Twig: Wake the Ice Man colouring activity
Activity Ideas
- Design your own Ice Man or winter creature.
- Create a winter woodland scene.
- Explore stories and folklore about winter.
- Make a comic about an unexpected snowstorm.
Yelp! Yeti! Everest Ever After by Sneha Pradhan and Promina Shrestha
Publication date: 12 November 2026
This is one I’m particularly intrigued by! Yelp! Yeti! Everest Ever After is a colourful, funny comic adventure set around Mount Everest, with an environmental message woven into the story.
When Dev gets into trouble because he’s bored, his parents send him to Everest Base Camp for the summer, where his dad is working on a research trip. Dev isn’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of freezing temperatures, endless maths worksheets and a distinct lack of ice cream! However, things become much more interesting when he reunites with his friend Hiu the Yeti. A mysterious and rather unpleasant smell has arrived in Yetiville, and Dev must help discover where it’s coming from.
I love the sound of this one. It’s wonderful to find books that combine humour and adventure with opportunities to learn about the world.
The book is created by Newari author Sneha Pradhan and illustrator Promina Shrestha, and includes footnotes and translations of Nepali words and local names. That’s a particularly lovely feature, offering children an opportunity to discover language and culture as part of their reading.
The environmental theme could also lead to some interesting conversations about pollution, waste and protecting fragile mountain environments.
Perfect for: Children who enjoy funny adventures, magical creatures, geography and environmental themes.
Recommended age: Approximately 7+, to review once we’ve explored the inside pages.
Find out more at Flying Eye Books
Yelp! Yeti! Activity Ideas
- Locate Mount Everest on a map and investigate the Himalayan mountain range.
- Find out which animals live in the Himalayas.
- Design a poster encouraging visitors to protect mountain environments.
- Create your own imaginary yeti character.
- Investigate what happens to rubbish left behind in remote places.
If your child is particularly interested in Everest, Flying Eye Books also has a wonderful Earth’s Incredible Places series that could make a great companion read as well as a Yoto card.
You can find free Everest teaching resources for KS2 from the publisher.
Which New Graphic Novels Are We Most Excited About?
What a fantastic way to finish the year!
There are some enormous favourites returning this quarter, particularly Bunny vs Monkey and Dog Man, but I’m also really looking forward to exploring the more creative and educational titles.
How to Make Awesome Comics could be a brilliant way to encourage children to create their own stories, while Corpse Talk offers a wonderfully entertaining approach to history.
And I can’t wait to see more of the gorgeous illustrations in the latest Hilda and Twig books.
One of the things I love most about graphic novels is just how varied they’ve become. There really is something for everyone, whether your child enjoys slapstick comedy, gentle fantasy, historical nonfiction or making their own comics.
I also think it’s important not to become too fixed on recommended reading ages. Children should be encouraged to read books that bring them joy, whether they’re stretching themselves with something more challenging or returning to familiar characters in an easier read.
Reading for pleasure matters.
Which graphic novel are you most looking forward to this autumn and winter? I’d love to hear what’s on your family’s reading list!
More Children’s Graphic Novel Recommendations
If you’re looking for even more graphic novel inspiration, you might enjoy these posts:
- Most Anticipated Kids’ Graphic Novels: July – September 2026
- Most Anticipated Kids’ Graphic Novels: April – June 2026
- Most Anticipated Kids’ Graphic Novels: January – March 2026
- Graphic Novels for Kids: 2024 Releases
- Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder Review
- Max & Chaffy: Hunt for the Pirate’s Gold
Happy reading!