InvestiGators is a graphic novel series by John Patrick Green about two alligator detectives—Mango and Brash—who work for a secret agency called S.U.I.T. (Special Undercover Investigation Teams). They solve crimes, fight bad guys, and crack terrible puns while doing it. Think buddy cop movies meets anthropomorphic reptiles meets middle-grade humor that actually lands.
The series launched in 2020 and has become wildly popular with elementary readers, especially kids who are transitioning from early readers to chapter books but aren't quite ready for dense text. There are currently nine books in the series (with more coming), and they're consistently on the top of school book fair bestseller lists—right up there with Dog Man and The Bad Guys.
It's actually funny. The humor is silly without being obnoxious—lots of visual gags, wordplay, and self-aware jokes that work for kids without making adults want to throw the book across the room. Mango is the cautious, by-the-book detective while Brash is the impulsive action hero, and their dynamic is genuinely entertaining.
The format is perfect for reluctant readers. These are graphic novels with full-color illustrations on every page, speech bubbles, and short chunks of text. For kids who feel intimidated by traditional chapter books or who just prefer visual storytelling, InvestiGators hits the sweet spot. The pages turn fast, the action keeps moving, and there's always something to look at.
The stories are engaging without being scary. The "crimes" are appropriately silly—stolen inventions, evil plots involving giant vegetables, that kind of thing. There's action and suspense, but nothing that's going to give your 7-year-old nightmares. The villains are cartoonish (literally), and good always wins in satisfying ways.
The official recommendation is ages 7-10, and that's pretty spot-on for most kids.
Ages 6-7: Early readers can definitely enjoy these with some help. The vocabulary isn't too challenging, but there are some longer words and the plot can get a bit complex with multiple storylines happening at once. Great for reading together or for advanced first graders who are ready for something meatier than Elephant & Piggie.
Ages 8-9: This is the sweet spot. Third and fourth graders are right in the target demographic—they can read these independently, they get all the jokes, and the stories are engaging enough to hold their attention. These kids are often devouring the entire series in weeks.
Ages 10-12: Older elementary kids still enjoy InvestiGators, though some fifth and sixth graders might start finding it a bit young. That said, plenty of kids this age still love graphic novels and appreciate the humor. If your 11-year-old picks up InvestiGators at the book fair, that's totally fine—not everything needs to be an academic challenge.
The content is genuinely clean. No violence beyond cartoon action (think Saturday morning cartoons), no language issues, no scary or mature themes. The worst thing you'll encounter is bathroom humor and some truly groan-worthy puns. If you're looking for something that's appropriate for elementary school but still engaging, this is it.
They're not just fluff. Yes, these are funny books with talking alligators, but they actually have decent storytelling. There are mysteries to solve, character development, and plots that build across the series. Kids are practicing reading comprehension, following narrative arcs, and building reading stamina—all while thinking they're just having fun.
The reading level is flexible. The graphic novel format means kids can engage with the story even if they're not decoding every single word perfectly. They can use context clues from the illustrations, which builds confidence. For struggling readers, this is huge. For advanced readers, it's a fun break from denser books.
They're great for read-alouds. The dialogue is snappy and the stories move quickly, so these work well for family reading time with younger siblings in the mix. A 5-year-old can follow along with the pictures while a 9-year-old is reading the text.
The series has staying power. With nine books already published and more coming, kids who fall in love with Mango and Brash have plenty to read. This is the kind of series that keeps kids excited about reading because there's always another book to look forward to.
InvestiGators is exactly what it looks like: a fun, accessible, well-made graphic novel series for elementary readers. It's not trying to be profound literature, and that's okay. It's trying to get kids excited about reading, and it succeeds.
This is perfect for:
- Kids ages 7-10 who love graphic novels
- Reluctant readers who need something engaging and not intimidating
- Fans of Dog Man, The Bad Guys, or Narwhal and Jelly
- Kids who love silly humor and action stories
- Building a home library of books your kids will actually read
Skip it if:
- Your kid strongly prefers traditional chapter books with minimal illustrations
- They're looking for something more serious or emotionally complex
- They're already aging out of middle-grade humor (though honestly, some adults find these charming too)
If your kid brings home InvestiGators from the school library or begs for the next book at the bookstore, that's a win. These books are doing exactly what they should: making reading fun. And in a world where we're competing with Roblox and YouTube for our kids' attention, that's worth celebrating.