If your child loves graphic novels, here’s the Most Anticipated Kids’ Graphic Novels: July – September 2026. I’ll leave links at the bottom of this post to the other two post in the 2026 series of top new release graphic novels for children.
This website contains affiliate links. As an affiliate I may earn money from qualifying purchases. As an Amazon Influencer/ Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. Thank you if you do use one of my links – it helps keep my website going. Please see affiliate link and disclaimer page for more information.
Graphic novels continue to be one of the most popular ways to get children excited about reading, and the second half of summer 2026 is packed with exciting new releases. Whether your child loves laugh-out-loud comedy, magical adventures, mysteries or action-packed quests, there are plenty of fantastic graphic novels arriving between July and September.
From returning favourites such as Donut Squad and Happy Hills to brand-new adventures like Star Breakers and Wilomina, here are twelve graphic novels we’re looking forward to reading this quarter. We’ve pre-ordered all of these (if you love an author/ illustrator then this is a great way of supporting them) so once they arrive we’ll update with inside images and more in depth thoughts.
With each title I have added some activity ideas as well as any free resources that may be helpful to go with the particular book. These get added to as titles are released as you often find authors, illustrators and publishers add activity downloads closer to publication dates. Sign up to the newsletter below if you’d like to be kept up to date.
2026 Upcoming Graphic Novel Releases
Star Breakers: Zeke Zero Vs The Galaxy by Ed Caruana
Publication date: 2 July 2026
Kicking off the quarter is a brand-new sci-fi adventure packed with action, humour and treasure hunting. Zeke Zero and his crew of Star Breakers are always on the lookout for their next big score, but when a routine mission spirals into a galaxy-wide crisis, they find themselves caught up in an adventure far bigger than they expected. It’s got a very Blade Runner (for kids) feel to it – dystopian space venture!
With colourful artwork, memorable characters and plenty of laughs, this looks like a fantastic choice for readers who enjoy fast-paced comic adventures. Take a peep inside here.
- Perfect for: fans of space adventures, action and comedy.
- Recommended age: 9+
Activity ideas:
- Design a spaceship.
- Create an alien species fact file.
- Make a galaxy treasure hunt.
Froggy: Autumn Antics! by Paige Walshe
Publication date: 9 July 2026
Although autumn may still feel a little way off, Froggy’s latest adventure is the perfect way to start looking forward to cosy seasonal fun. Filled with charming illustrations, friendship and outdoor adventures, this graphic novel looks ideal for younger readers beginning their graphic novel journey. This is the second book in the Froggy series and we adored the first. You can find out more about this title here.
The bright artwork and gentle humour make this a lovely choice for children who enjoy animal characters and seasonal stories.
- Perfect for: younger readers and fans of cosy animal adventures.
- Recommended age: this has a guide of 7+ however, the first one we thought was perfect for 5+.
- Text: Generally lowercase text with large image to text ratio.
Activity ideas:
- Autumn nature scavenger hunt.
- Leaf identification.
- Create an autumn-themed comic strip.
Elfie’s Spellbook by Christophe Arleston
Publication date: 23 July 2026
Magic, mystery and beautiful artwork come together in this enchanting graphic novel series. Elfie loves books, adventures and discovering new magical secrets, and readers are invited along for the journey.
Already a popular series in Europe, Elfie’s Spellbook offers a delightful blend of everyday life and magical discoveries that will appeal to children who enjoy fantasy stories without anything too scary. There’s a second book due out on the 15th October 2026.
My daughter and I both love this book (you get two stories in the book). There is a very complex back story that I think will progress the more we venture into this series. However, each book is a very gentle story with positive messages of coming together to resolve issues.
The main protagonist is Elfie and she is a witch (she’s only just becoming aware of this, just like her mother before her). She can make origami creations come to life! Her Mum passed away in a house fire and now her and her two sisters can be found touring around France in their bookshop London bus. One of her sisters, Magda’s leg was severely burnt in the house fire and she uses a prosthetic leg. It’s so lovely to see disability woven into a story with sensitivity.
The books were originally published in French and translated to English by Anam Zafar. Some of the illustrative parts of the book such as newspaper articles are still in French which we enjoyed. The only part of the book that I wasn’t 100% sure of the wording was on page 125 where one of the characters says speech in French that is then translated (trollop, tramp, jezebel). The rest of the book is wonderful so we were happy to skip past this.
- Perfect for: readers who love magic, witches and gentle fantasy adventures.
- Recommended age: 9+ (it”s quite meaty)
- Text: mainly uppercase with some calligraphy style typeface. Comic and diary style writing.
- Themes: Fantasy; Spellbinding; Home Educated; Disability – Prosthesis
Activity ideas:
- Create a spellbook.
- Create your own origami.
- Collect stamps and find out more about them.
- Write potion recipes using natural materials.
- There’s a French activity pack – several of the resources can be used regardless of language.
- Find more Elfie’s Spellbook resources and information here.
Chicken Hill: Frozen Squirrel Rescue Mission by Beccy Blake
Publication date: 30 July 2026
Three hilarious stories are packed into this wonderfully quirky graphic novel collection. Life on Chicken Hill is never straightforward, and this latest instalment promises unusual situations, eccentric characters and plenty of visual comedy. This is the second Chicken Hill book. The first one was hilarious!
The bizarre title alone is likely to catch children’s attention, while the shorter stories make it an accessible choice for developing readers. My favourite story is actually Strike of the Snails!
- Perfect for: fans of silly humour and animal adventures – there’s a very parpy pug in the stories!
- Recommended age: 6/7+
- Text: there’s a high image to text ratio. The text is mainly lowercase with black writing in white speech bubbles
Activity ideas:
- Animal rescue challenge.
- Create a woodland creature comic.
- Design a rescue mission map.
Supa Nova: Robot Takeover by Chanté Timothy
Publication date: 13 August 2026
Nova is back for another action-packed adventure (this is book 2), and this time she’s facing a robotic threat. Combining superhero excitement with humour and relatable characters, the Supa Nova series continues to be a fantastic option for middle-grade readers.
Expect plenty of action, friendship and inventive gadgets as Nova tackles her latest challenge.
- Perfect for: superhero fans and readers who enjoy fast-moving adventures.
- Recommended age: 7+ (publisher guideline – will update when we read)
Activity ideas:
- Design a robot challenge.
- Build a robot using recycled materials.
- Write a superhero profile for a new hero or villain.
Wilomina: The Land of Dreams and Nightmares by John Chalmers
Publication date: 13 August 2026
One of the most intriguing releases of the quarter, Wilomina takes readers into a fantastical world where dreams and nightmares collide. Filled with imagination, adventure and striking full-colour artwork, this graphic novel promises an unforgettable journey.
The blend of fantasy and mystery makes this one particularly appealing for children ready to explore more complex graphic novel stories.
- Perfect for: fantasy fans and imaginative readers.
- Recommended age: 8+ (publisher guideline – will update when we read)
Activity ideas:
- Draw your dream world and nightmare world.
- Create a fantasy map.
- Invent a dream creature and write a character profile.
Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels by Serena Blasco
Publication date: 13 August 2026
Young detectives can enjoy three Enola Holmes adventures collected into one beautifully illustrated volume. Featuring The Case of the Black Barouche, The Case of the Elegant Escapade and The Case of the Mark of the Mongoose, this collection follows Sherlock Holmes’ clever younger sister as she solves mysteries across Victorian London.
A wonderful introduction to detective fiction in graphic novel form. This is book three in the Enola Holmes series. This is one of my daughter’s most anticipated titles of the quarter.
- Perfect for: mystery lovers and confident readers.
- Recommended age: 10+ – my daughter loved the previous two titles of this and read them when she was 9.
Enola Holmes Resources
- Enola Holmes book 1 teacher resources here.
Activity ideas:
- Create a detective notebook.
- Solve a homemade mystery.
- Research famous Victorian inventions or trailblazing women.
Tiny Hercules: Golden Cabbage Chaos by Jon Lock
Publication date: 27 August 2026
Tiny Hercules returns for another hilarious adventure inspired by Greek mythology. Although he may be small, Hercules always manages to find himself at the centre of enormous problems, and this latest escapade looks every bit as chaotic as the title suggests.
With lots of humour and colourful comic-book artwork, this series offers a fun introduction to mythology-inspired storytelling. This is book 2 and I was surprised how much Greek Mythology my daughter learnt from the first Tony Hercules book. You can find out more about Tiny Hercules book 1 here.
- Perfect for: fans of myths, legends and laugh-out-loud adventures.
- Recommended age: 7+ (publisher guideline – will update when we read)
Tiny Hercules Resources
- You’ll find inside images, lots of additional character information and a free resource pack for Tiny Hercules to download here.
Activity ideas:
- Design your own mythical creature.
- Create a Greek hero trading card.
- Map the Twelve Labours of Hercules.
Donut Squad: Destiny of the Donuts by Neill Cameron
Publication date: 10 September 2026
The bestselling Donut Squad series continues with another deliciously silly adventure. Neill Cameron’s pastry-powered heroes have quickly become favourites with graphic novel readers, thanks to their combination of absurd humour, friendship and action. This is one of my personal favourites. This is book 3 in the series. You can find out more about book 2 here.
This latest instalment looks set to deliver plenty more of the fast-paced fun that fans have come to expect.
- Perfect for: readers who love Bunny vs Monkey and InvestiGators.
- Recommended age: 6+
Donut Squad Resources
- Check out three how to draw donuts on The Phoenix website here.
Activity idea: Design your own donut character and create a comic strip adventure.
The Far-Out Five: Portal Loo Panic by Olaf Falafel
Publication date: 10 September 2026
If the title doesn’t make children laugh, the story probably will. Olaf Falafel’s latest graphic novel adventure combines his trademark humour with a wildly imaginative plot involving portals, toilets and all kinds of unexpected chaos. This is book 2.
This looks like another winner for children who enjoy stories that fully embrace the ridiculous.
- Perfect for: fans of silly humour and imaginative adventures.
- Recommended age: 6+
Activity ideas:
- Design a portal destination.
- Write a “What would happen if your toilet became a portal?” story prompt.
- Create a comic storyboard.
Ghost and Toast by Phil Corbett
Publication date: 10 September 2026
Ghost and Toast might just have one of the most memorable character pairings of the year. Packed with visual gags, energetic illustrations and plenty of absurd situations, this new series has all the ingredients needed to become a playground favourite.
Readers who enjoy Bunny vs Monkey and Donut Squad should definitely keep an eye on this one.
- Perfect for: children who love comic chaos and laugh-out-loud stories.
- Recommended age: 7+ (publisher guideline – will update when we read)
Activity ideas:
- Draw your own ghost sidekick.
- Create a comic strip featuring an unlikely friendship.
- Invent a spooky-but-funny adventure.
Zombie Gummy Bears Are Go! (Happy Hills Book 5) by Sophy Henn
Publication date: 24 September 2026
The quarter finishes with another wonderfully bonkers adventure from Happy Hills. Sophy Henn’s popular series has built a loyal following thanks to its colourful artwork, lovable characters and wonderfully ridiculous storylines.
Zombie gummy bears sound exactly as delightfully chaotic as children would hope, making this a fittingly funny finale to the summer’s graphic novel releases.
- Perfect for: fans of quirky humour and highly illustrated stories.
- Recommended age: 5+
Happy Hills Resources
- Find a Happy Hills activity pack here.
Activity idea: Invent your own ridiculous Happy Hills character and write a mini comic story.
Which Graphic Novel Are You Most Looking Forward To?
With magical adventures, mystery-solving detectives, superhero action and plenty of laugh-out-loud comedy, there’s something for every young reader in this quarter’s graphic novel releases.
Which title is heading straight onto your child’s wish list? Let us know in the comments!