Sister's Book Recommendations

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Last updated: January 24, 2026

Upper Elementary

Sister is more of a graphic-novel kind of girl—and she can be a little picky about which ones she truly loves. She’ll occasionally dip her toe into a “real” chapter book, but honestly, as long as she’s reading something, I’m happy.

Graphic novels help her visualize the scene (perfect for her), and since she’s our artsy child—always drawing or creating—it makes sense that many of her current favorites are more illustrated and artistic.

The best part? These aren’t “one and done” books for her. Once she loves a series, she’ll reread it again and again.

Disclosure: All links on this page are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to make a purchase. We only share books we genuinely recommend.

Top 3 Favorites

1. Warriors (Graphic Novels)

2. Summer Vamp (Vamp Camp)

3. How Not to Be a Vampire Slayer

   
   

Unico (Graphic Novel Series) — Samuel Sattin

“I like Unico because it has a unicorn and a cat that has a nice voice.” — Sister

Series Overview: A beautifully illustrated fantasy graphic novel about Unico, a gentle unicorn, and the friends he meets along the way—including a cat with a very memorable personality. It’s whimsical, emotional, and packed with imaginative visuals.

Books Sister Has Read:

✔ Books 1–2 (all currently released)

📌 Book 3 is already on preorder.

🔗 Book 1: https://amzn.to/4r3fjaY

🔗 Book 2: https://amzn.to/4pSIpZL

🔗 Book 3 (Preorder): https://amzn.to/4jXDBkx

Mama Note: I loved Unico when I was little (it’s also available to watch—check Amazon Prime Video), so when I saw the graphic novels coming out, I immediately ordered Book 1 for Sister. She loved it too. We’ve watched the movie together several times since.

You can bet The Fantastic Adventures of Unico will be downloaded on her tablet for our summer flight to Vancouver—and these books will absolutely be in her bag, too.

The Baby-Sitters Little Sister (Graphic Novels) — Katy Farina

“I like Baby-Sitters Little Sister because it has a lot of books and they are different and fun.” — Sister

Series Overview: A graphic novel adaptation series featuring fun, everyday adventures, friendships, and kid-life moments. These are light, silly, and easy for graphic-novel lovers to binge.

Books Sister Has Read:✔ Books 1–7

🔗 Start the series: https://amzn.to/4bnkqOZ

Sweet Valley Twins (Graphic Novels) — Francine Pascal

“I like Sweet Valley Twins because it is fun to read and every book is fun.” — Sister

Series Overview: Classic twin-life stories turned into colorful graphic novels—friend drama, school life, and relatable situations with a fun, easy-to-follow style.

Books Sister Has Read:✔ Books 1–4

🔗 Start the series: https://amzn.to/3NEdqTV

Mama Note: I remember reading Sweet Valley Twins when I was younger and always checking them out from the library—so when I saw the graphic novels, I knew this was one Sister should try in the format she loves most.

Babymouse (Graphic Novel Series) — Jennifer L. Holm

“Every book that is Babymouse is fun and the main character is filled with fun.” — Sister

Series Overview: A funny, relatable graphic novel series with lots of personality. Babymouse is imaginative, dramatic, and adorable—perfect for kids who love humor and expressive illustrations.

Books Sister Has Read:✔ 1-20 (All Available)

🔗 Start the series: https://amzn.to/49SOPCl

Mama Note: This is a series Sister discovered at the library, and she’s always grabbing new copies. She loves it… and apparently the dog loved it too—because one of the library copies got eaten. 😭

Warriors Graphic Novels: The Prophecies Begin — Erin Hunter

“This book is full of cats and there [are] 5 clans.” — Sister

Series Overview: A graphic novel adaptation of the Warriors world—full of cat clans, loyalty, conflict, and adventure. These are great for readers who love animals and big story arcs.

Books Sister Has Read:✔ Graphic Novel Books 1–2

🔗 Start the series: https://amzn.to/4bbWiP7

Mama Note: This is one of Sister’s newer favorite finds, and she is always asking for the next book. I’m also trying to get the “real” chapter book from the library to see if she’ll enjoy it—but graphic novels are usually her favorite format.

Summer Vamp (Vamp Camp) — Violet Chan Karim

“I like Summer Vamp because one girl is lost in a camp for vampires.” — Sister

Series Overview: A fun, kid-friendly vampire adventure with camp vibes—mysterious, silly, and perfect for readers who like spooky themes without it being too scary.

Books Sister Has Read:✔ Book 1 (so far)

🔗 Book 1: https://amzn.to/4k12XOD

Mama Note: Amazon has it listed as a series, so even though Book 2 isn’t available yet, I already know Sister will be asking the second it appears.

Cupcake Diaries (Graphic Novel Series) — Coco Simon

“Cupcake Diaries is a book with every book 4 different kids have a diary.” — Sister

Series Overview: A sweet, friendship-focused graphic novel series with rotating perspectives. Great for kids who like school stories, friend groups, and everyday drama with a light tone.

Books Sister Has Read:✔ Books 1–3

🔗 Start the series: https://amzn.to/3M3QVHu

How Not to Be a Vampire Slayer — Katy Birchall

“I just like this book because it [is] full of fun.” — Sister

Book Overview: A funny, fast chapter book with vampire chaos and humor—one of her rare non-graphic-novel picks, and it still made her top favorites list!

Books Sister Has Read:✔ This book

🔗 Get the book: https://amzn.to/45tBAGV

Mama Note: One Halloween she wanted to dress up as a vampire, and I told her if she read a vampire book, she could be one. It was surprisingly hard to find something age-appropriate at the time… but it definitely opened the door to her vampire-loving era. (Which explains why vampires show up twice in her Top 3!)

Beetle & the Hollowbones (The Beetle Books) — Aliza Layne

“This book is fun because it is full of monsters and I like monster[s].” — Sister

Series Overview: A monster-filled adventure series with creepy-fun vibes that still feels kid-appropriate. Great for readers who like imaginative creatures and a little spooky energy.

Books Sister Has Read:✔ Books 1–2

🔗 Start the series: https://amzn.to/461mfNP

Zoe’s Rescue Zoo — Amelia Cobb

“This book has a girl that can talk to animals and animals are cool.” — Sister

Series Overview: A gentle chapter book series about a girl who can talk to animals and helps them through different adventures. Perfect for animal lovers who are starting to enjoy longer “real book” reads.

Books Sister Has Read:✔ Books 1–4

🔗 Start the series: https://amzn.to/3Nv6bOa

Mama Note: This is one Sister found on her own, and we already own several—she genuinely enjoys them.