Comics are one of the best ways into reading. The pictures carry the story, so a child who can only read a few words still follows every joke, and the short speech bubbles make each page feel like something they can finish on their own.
Since 2012 the Eisner Awards, the comics world's top prize, have had a category just for books for early readers. Every book on this list won it or was nominated for it.
Winner2017
Ben Clanton
Great for a brand-new reader
Narwhal is a happy, waffle-loving whale with a tusk, and Jelly is a slightly grumpy jellyfish who is not sure narwhals are real. Three short, silly stories about an unlikely friendship, with very few words on each page. The first book in a much-loved series.
2017 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers winner
Winner2023
Mo Willems
Great for Pigeon fans
Mo Willems's famous Pigeon, star of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, finally gets his day at the amusement park. Big, expressive drawings and short lines that children love to read out loud. Perfect for fans of the picture books.
2023 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers winner
Winner2025
Luke Pearson
Great for a child who loves the Hilda show
Hilda, the blue-haired adventurer from the Netflix series, and her deer-fox Twig spend a rainy day exploring. A gentle, beautifully drawn first comic from Luke Pearson.
2025 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers winner
Winner2016
Ben Hatke
Great for pre-readers
A girl finds a small robot in the woods and switches it on. The two become friends, until bigger robots come looking for it. Told almost without words, so even children who cannot read yet can follow the whole story.
2016 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers winner
Winner2018
Liniers
Great for bedtime reading
When a little girl falls asleep, her stuffed animal Planet comes to life and sets off on a night-time adventure. A sweet bedtime comic from the Argentine cartoonist Liniers.
2018 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers winner
Winner2013
Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Great for a funny kid
Babymouse is a daydreaming, cupcake-loving mouse with big plans. In this book she runs for class president. Funny, fast and full of imaginary adventures.
2013 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers winner
Winner2021
Jillian Tamaki
Great for little cooks
A busy group of neighbors cooks a big meal together in a community kitchen, with lots of chopping, stirring, singing and noise. A joyful book about food and sharing from Jillian Tamaki.
2021 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers winner
Nominee2021
Dav Pilkey
Great for a kid who loves to draw
From Dav Pilkey, creator of Dog Man. A group of baby frogs start a comics club and make their own comics, shown in all kinds of styles, from pencil to clay. A wonderful push for children to draw their own.
2021 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers nominee
Winner2020
Ivan Brunetti
Great for a budding cartoonist
A friendly how-to book from cartoonist Ivan Brunetti that shows young children how to make their own comics, step by step: faces, feelings, panels and stories.
2020 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers winner
Nominee2019
Graham Annable
Great for animal lovers
Peter and Ernesto are two sloths who live in the same tree. Ernesto wants to see the whole sky, so he sets off on a journey, while Peter worries at home. A warm, gentle story about friendship.
2019 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers nominee
Yes. The pictures give children clues to the words, so they can read more than they could from text alone, and the short bubbles build confidence.
The Eisner Awards are the best-known prizes in American comics. Since 2012 they have had a category for the best publication for early readers, for children of about 4 to 7.
Most children enjoy it from about 5 to 8. It works as a read-aloud for younger children and as a first book to read alone.
See every award-winning book for early readers