Most of us grew up with "Level 1" or "Level 2" readers that were... well, boring. They were repetitive, the art was static, and the plots were non-existent. For a kid who is used to the chaos of YouTube Kids, "The cat sat on the mat" isn't going to cut it.

Reluctant readers usually struggle with one of three things:

The following series solve these problems by using "hybrid" formats—mixing prose with comic panels, speech bubbles, and high-action illustrations.

If your kid is obsessed with Super Mario Odyssey or Roblox, this is your "silver bullet" book. The entire series is formatted to look like a video game. The pages are full-color, the font is "pixelated," and the story follows a boy playing a game where the main character, Super Rabbit Boy, has to level up to defeat a boss. It uses gaming terminology (lives, levels, power-ups) that makes kids feel like they’re "playing" the book. Ages: 5-8

Think of this as "My First Zombie Apocalypse." It’s a bit higher level than Super Rabbit Boy, but for a 2nd or 3rd grader who thinks books are "for babies," this is the cure. It’s heavy on the illustrations and feels like an action movie. It’s also a Netflix show, which can actually be a great "carrot"—read the first book, then we can watch the first season. Ages: 8-12

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We have to talk about the 800-pound gorilla in the room. Some parents look at Dog Man and see "brain rot"—toilet humor, intentional misspellings, and chaotic art. But here’s the no-BS truth: Dav Pilkey has taught more reluctant kids to love reading than almost any author in history. The "Flip-O-Rama" sections and the absurd humor lower the stakes. It’s okay if it’s "silly." The goal is to get them to turn the page. Ages: 6-10

This series is brilliant for kids who like the "anti-hero" vibe. It’s about a wolf, a shark, a snake, and a piranha who are trying to be "good guys" despite their scary reputations. The text is very sparse—maybe 20-30 words per page—but the visual storytelling is top-tier. It feels like a heist movie for the elementary set. Ages: 7-10

If your child has graduated from Dog Man but isn't ready for a 300-page novel, InvestiGators is the perfect next step. It’s full of puns (so many puns), gadgetry, and mystery. It’s high-energy and visually dense, which keeps "wandering eyes" focused on the story. Ages: 7-11

For the kids who want fantasy but find Harry Potter too intimidating, Dragon Masters is a godsend. These are part of the Scholastic "Branches" line, which is specifically designed for newly independent readers. The chapters are short, there’s art on every page, and the "collect-them-all" nature of the different dragons appeals to the same part of the brain that loves Pokémon. Ages: 6-9

Another "Branches" winner. It’s about a kid who finds a notebook full of info on monsters. It’s slightly spooky but mostly funny. It’s great for kids who like "lore"—the kind of kids who spend their time reading the Minecraft Wiki. Ages: 6-9

I get this question at school pickup at least once a week. "My kid only reads Cat Kid Comic Club. Is that okay?"

Yes. Full stop.

Research shows that graphic novels require more complex cognitive processing than text-only books because the brain has to decode the text while simultaneously interpreting visual cues, facial expressions, and spatial relationships between panels.

If your kid is reading a graphic novel, they are:

Don't push them into "real books" (prose) too early. If you make reading a chore, they will associate books with "work" and screens with "fun." Let them stay in the graphic novel world as long as they want. Eventually, the stories they want to consume will only be available in prose, and they’ll make the jump on their own.

Check out our guide on why graphic novels are great for the brain

If you're struggling to get them to pick up any of these, try these three "no-BS" tactics:

Reluctant readers aren't broken; they’re just waiting for a story that moves as fast as their world does. Start with Super Rabbit Boy for the gamers or Dog Man for the jokers.

The goal isn't to get them to read War and Peace by 4th grade. The goal is to get them to a place where they don't groan when you say, "It's time to turn off the TV and read."