Every summer, Seattle Arts and Lectures publishes a kids / middle grade bingo card to help encourage kids to read over the summer. 2024 is no different and we’re excited to offer seven recommendations that fit multiple boxes for the kids bingo sheet, so if your family is looking for ideas for summer reading, check out this list! Every comic on this list is available at our shop, and many of them are available at the Seattle Public Library!
If you haven’t seen it yet, we also have a large list of recommendations for the 2024 SAL/SPL adult book bingo. And if you’re looking for young adult recommendations, stay tune because we’ll have one up soon!
PNW Author, Contains a Map
No One Returns From the Enchanted Forest by Robin Robinson
Robin Robinson, an Outsider favorite artist of crows, writes and illustrated her first solo graphic novel in a tale of sisterhood and adventure. With the powers of knitting, worrying, and being a responsible kid, Bix must save her little sister and stop a catastrophe from destroying her home!
Outside the US, Yellow Cover
Borders by King and Donovan
From two indigenous creators, Borders tells the story of a boy and his mother who were denied entry at the Canadian-US border because they are of the Blackfoot Nation: neither Canadian or American, yet more North American than almost every Canadian or American. This powerful tale of identity is a great introduction to the legacy of colonialism on First Nations peoples for both kids and adults alike.
Translated, Outside the US
Mañana: Latinx Comics From The 25th Century
Available in both Spanish and English, Mañana: Latinx Comics From The 25th Century is a collection of all ages science fiction comics set in Latin America. Explore many possible futures with stories by creators across the world. Remember: “El futuro es nuestro.”
About Love, Animal Characters
Princess Princess Ever After by K. O’Neill
An adorable story about a princess who saved a princess and, with friendship, bravery, and kindness, these two princesses set of to find their own Happily Ever After that is maybe unlike the ones they’ve heard of before. If you liked Tea Dragon Society or any other K. O’Neill comics you’re going to love this one.
Animal Characters, Yellow Cover
Kingdom Riders by Denton and To
Set in a fantasy world, this all ages graphic novel follows a massive cross-kingdom race atop magical beasts that will dictate the fate of the kingdom and two peasant girls who got tangled up in the chaos. If you like The Hunger Games or Amulet, give this book a shot!
Book You Want Adults to Read, Banned
Numb to This by Kindra Neely
Kindra Neely, a survivor of the Umpqua Community College mass shooting in 2015, resolved to tell her story through her art to help kids and young adults navigate through the school shooting filled hellscape that is the modern United States. Seven years later, Neely was finally able to publish Numb to This. It’s a must read for parents and any young person old enough to process this with their parents.
More Images Than Words, Animal Character
Korgi by Christian Sladi
While many books in our comic book store have more images than words some of them definitely stand out. One such book is Korgi, a completely wordless graphic novel about the prehistoric adventures of a girl and her dog!
While we put suggestions for which squares these books may belong in, so many squares in the kids bingo card are less about what’s in a book and more how a book is read! For example, and of these can be read to or with a younger child, and they are all perfect to read in the sun. We hope you enjoyed these recommendations and we’ll see you for young adult comic suggestions in the near future!
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