Rhys is nervous about his first year at college for reasons beyond the first-year jitters and academic stress; he has prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which makes navigating social situations extremely difficult. His housemate, Malcolm, though, is easy to talk to and has a smile like none other.

With a sweet romance, A Smile Like Yours is a comforting read that made me smile throughout. Its soft art, whimsical flourishes, and thoughtful exploration of anxiety, friendship, and love make it perfect for readers craving a new title after the conclusion of Heartstopper.

Megan Rupe

Author of the adorable and funny Narwhal and Jelly does it again, this time in the world of Aquaman. Marlow the manatee has always dreamed of being Aquaman's sidekick. One day he is bitten by a radioactive sea slug, hit by a mysterious space rock, and eats a powerful ring, and his dreams come true. He suddenly has superpowers, and Aquaman asks him to be his sidekick. With references to many different parts of the DC universe, grown-ups will enjoy sharing this intro to superheroes with the young readers in their lives.

Both fans of DC and Narwhal and Jelly will find something to love in this story.

Tayla Cardillo

In this collection of short comics, we meet animal friends Baloney, Peanut, Bizz, and Krabbit. These friends always seem to have a fun time together, except for Krabbit, who is always crabby. With bright, simple illustrations and the sense of humor kids can't seem to get enough of, this book will make young readers and their grown-ups smile.

Young comic fan ready to graduate from Elephant and Piggie will eat up Baloney and Friends.

Tayla Cardillo

Dan always thought it would be nice to settle down; he just didn’t expect his mother to suddenly leave him with his grandparents! The flamboyant, gregarious Dan stands out in his grandparents’ conservative Tennessee town, and his wit and entrepreneurial spirit draw people in or lead to clashes. Can he finally find a place to belong?

An ultimately hopeful story about acceptance, belonging, and family, Dan in Green Gables is a charming story, perfect for when you need a pick-me-up or need to believe people can find happiness in a difficult world.

Homophobia; assault; bullying; abuse

Megan Rupe

Fairy Cat tells the story of an adorable, tiny, long-haired cat that decides to live with Kanade, a typical high school student. Fairy Cats are mysterious creatures that cannot be kept as a pet, but sometimes choose to live with human companions. Instantly, Kanade is charmed by the tiny, cute cat he comes to call Fluffy. Each day he goes to school or falls asleep, he worries that Fluffy will leave, but instead he finds that Fluffy is making herself more at home. Kanade wants to be the best companion for Fluffy and continues to research and learn ways to make her happy. You will be delighted by each chapter as Fluffy integrates herself more into Kanade’s home.

Fairy Cat is written at a middle school level but will be appreciated by cat lovers through adults. Low on drama, this series will be a comforting and cozy pick for people looking for the simple joy of a cute animal.

Teresa Slobuski

Siblings J and K live together in Lilypad City. K is always building something in her mechano shop. When she builds a car, the only logical thing to do is to go on a road trip with the pair. As they run into trouble along the way, J wonders if it would have been better to have stayed home for a quiet afternoon in, but K uses her mechanical mind to get them out of a pinch every step of the way. With its rich colors and beautifully drawn landscapes, this book gives you the warm, contented feeling of watching a Ghibli film.

Young readers who already feel the call of the open road will love this pair's road trip adventure.

Tayla Cardillo

Mr. Villain’s Day Off takes the setting of an action manga but turns those tropes and expectations upside down. The protagonist is an alien General overseeing the Evil League, which seeks to destroy all humans and claim Earth as their own; however, most of the series focuses on his days off from this mission. Destroying civilization takes a lot of planning and hard work, but the General knows that he will only be able to keep up the pace if he takes breaks and maintains a good work-life balance. During his time off, the General finds simple joys such as trying new foods like meat buns and ice creams. After a trip to the zoo, he discovers a new passion in the form of all things panda. Although he occasionally crosses paths with one or more of humanity’s heroes, he largely maintains the separation from his work and seems to be decent enough to lend an umbrella or give helpful directions. The ultimate champion of self-care, the General is sure to remind you to enjoy the pleasures of day-to-day life.

Teens and adults will enjoy and resonate with the stress-relieving message of Mr. Villain’s Day Off. Hints of the more sinister and violent activities of the General are minimal, but provide an interesting backdrop that is further developed in each volume.

Regular references to death and destruction but little on page violence

Teresa Slobuski

Follow the ups and downs of daily life with cats Ton-chan and Shino-san, two very opposite in personality, and how they show their appreciation (or lack thereof) for their humans. As the series goes on, we see the two as they get a little older and slightly calmer, alongside both new and old cats, like memories of Tamako's childhood cats and new foster cats.

This series is an absolutely perfect choice for any cat owner. There are so many relatable moments for those of us who have chosen to have one of these silly little guys in our homes. Even for non-cat owners, though, the stories of My Cat Is Such A Weirdo are sweet and funny, guaranteed to lift any reader's mood.

Shannan Prukop

Megumi, a divorced mom in her 40s with a teen daughter, struggles with how open her daughter is about her nerdier interests and how accepted it is by her friends. Frequently, something her daughter says or does sends Megumi back in time, reminding her of her own youth, when being such an otaku was significantly less accepted by her peers. The story primarily unfolds through these memories and Megumi's experiences with love, friendship, and surviving high school.

This series is a lot of fun and can be a little painful for readers who remember being into anime and manga in the 1990s and 2000s (but in a fun way), and can be a little of a history lesson for younger fans who want to know what it was like in the past. Other than the otaku theming, this is a great pick for anyone who likes a romantic comedy series that has plenty of pining, yearning, and a love triangle that's not even a triangle at first. Read to find out what that means!

Shannan Prukop

Shibanban is the epitome of the cute, silly joyfulness of Shiba Inu dogs. The cast of kawaii pups was originally designed for stickers, and the comic offers a series of vignettes that any dog lover will find relatable. Most are standalone stories in the classic four-panel style. Each page shows off the charming nature of Shiba Inus in funny and sometimes surreal situations. Some comics have the everyday fun of dogs excited about food or meeting a friend on a walk, while others are silly interludes like a dog born of the fur pile after a brushing or dogs holding a press release. The fast read is filled with uplifting and fun stories that will make anyone happy.

Written at a middle-grade level, Shibanban is an easy read for 10 and up and may appeal to readers of all ages who love cute dogs. Some of the stories have minimal text and feature no violence or heavier themes, so even younger readers will be able to enjoy most of them independently.

Teresa Slobuski

Tasty answers questions about some of the most popular foods, like where they came from, really, and how they ended up being what they are now, while engaging the reader to be a part of the discussion with the return of the friendly food sprites. They walk readers through how various experiments led to foods such as ice cream and pickles, including the people behind these creations, and provide easy recipes to make at home.

While this is a nonfiction graphic novel, there are quite a few fictional elements, and the story-centered format means readers who want to learn more about food history but don't find most nonfiction appealing might enjoy Tasty. It's a great choice for younger readers who want approachable recipes to make with friends and family, too.

Shannan Prukop

Philonoe's birthmark is one curse she bears; the other is the family curse that has already led her sisters to betray their husbands. Nevertheless, Philonoe is determined to fulfill her duties and be a good wife to her betrothed; she visits Aphrodite and asks her to lift her curse. Aphrodite sends her on a quest. Philonoe sets out, followed by Artemis, who is determined to talk her out of it.

The Lost Daughter of Sparta is an engrossing story about learning to accept oneself and resisting worldly pressures. The Lost Daughter of Sparta will appeal to readers who love spins on classical myth or need a story about the importance of self-acceptance to happiness.

attempted sexual violence; manipulation; bullying/abuse--everything is very brief or discussed

Megan Rupe

Emily's mom and aunt run a bakery fueled by their magical powers to infuse emotions into the baked goods they create, and it's a great life until a car accident causes Emily's aunt to pass away. Emily and her mom struggle to find a new equilibrium in their lives, but as the distance between them grows, Emily breaks one of the family's cardinal rules and starts baking when she's sad.

There are a lot of things to appreciate about Crumble, from the exploration of the shapes grief can take to the different family dynamics and a dash of charming, sweet magic. I appreciate that the adults in this story are multi-faceted, showing how grief affects adults in kids' lives. The art is also vibrant and clear, easy to parse for newer comic readers.

Discussion of death and grief

Shannan Prukop

Hiroto is a 29-year-old who works at a local fishing spot in town and ends up making friends with the cranky 83-year-old Hanae, who dies and leaves her home to him. He hardly has time to process this or his feelings on the matter when he's suddenly informed that his 18-year-old cousin Natsumi is going to live with him because she got into art school. She's got her own feelings to process, living in Tokyo for the first time and away from her immediate family, plus the growing pains of college and art. And yet, life goes on.

Hirayasumi, while certainly sad, is not depressing; it acknowledges life's dark parts while celebrating its beauty and brightness. Over the volumes, we learn more about how Hiroto came to be working in a fishing pond, while we see Natsumi achieve success in her endeavors to become a manga creator. It's always a little of both.

Shannan Prukop

After Adara loses her mom, her dad moves them to Michigan. She feels adrift, but can't get him to talk about her mom. After her dad buys her a plant, Adara discovers that she can talk to plants just like her mother. However, her grief and her dad’s lack of communication threaten to disrupt her relationship with her succulent Perle and the process of adjusting to her new home.

Ideal for kids experiencing grief, this tender, beautifully illustrated story is about handling your emotions, caring for yourself, and moving forward.

Megan Rupe

In Limbo is Lee’s graphic memoir of her adolescence. Born in Korea and raised in the US, Lee’s story is drawn in greyscale but colored by the struggles of being both too Asian and not enough at once as she loses her first language and tries to find herself. As she moves through high school, Lee navigates parental expectations, changing friendships, and other hardships while living with depression. The detailed illustrations and use of dynamic page layouts help to express the way time expands and contracts as seemingly small moments last a lifetime and the day-to-day becomes a blur.

Young adults with similar struggles with mental health and/or being an immigrant will certainly relate to Lee’s story, but the truthful portrayal of adolescence is sure to resonate with many. Parents and friends of those with depression may also find increased understanding of their loved one by reading In Limbo.

Anti-Asian racism, suicide attempt, child abuse

Teresa Slobuski

Follow Takalo’s path of recovery when a ruptured aneurysm interrupts a quiet night at her home in Finland. Originally published one page at a time starting one year after the incident, she expresses the stress, grief, and confusion as she begins recovery and rebuilds her life. Using a finely honed, limited color palette and expressive pencils, Takalo beautifully captures her struggles with navigating the medical system, understanding her mortality, and finding meaning after tragedy.

People struggling with their own or a loved one's health struggles will find Momento Mori's story relatable and ultimately hopeful. Practitioners and students of medicine and psychology will learn a lot from Takalo's Story.

Medical trauma, mental health struggles, depictions of blood/bleeding

Teresa Slobuski

Mushi are creatures somewhere outside the rest of the defined types of the world that only some people can see, and mushishi are the people who study them and treat others affected by mushi. It is a quiet, melancholy life of wandering village to village in the Japanese countryside, sometimes encountering cases Ginkō, the mushishi this story follows, can't always save or treat.

Come for the moody art and the main character; stay for the beautiful, sad storytelling in Mushishi. The format is almost like a short story anthology, with Ginko wandering in and out of people's lives in largely unconnected moments. This story is perfect for a rainy afternoon spent indoors in a comfy spot meant for melancholy wonderings about nature and humanity.
Something to keep in mind: this is an older series, originally published in the 2000s; the edition discussed here is the new collector's edition, a 2-in-1 hardcover omnibus.

Shannan Prukop

Alex hasn’t visited her hometown to see her grandmother in a long time, but now her grandmother has passed away. When she arrives in Indigo Harbour to pack up her grandmother’s belongings, Alex discovers that she can barely remember anything about the town, and her memories of her grandmother are oddly fuzzy. Grieving yet determined, Alex sets out to find answers.

With a lovely, mysterious town and a quest exploring loss and memory at its center, this is a tender, whimsical story; it will be popular with fans of gentle fantasy, such as K O’Neill’s work or Lee Ostertag's lighter work.

A little bit of swearing

Megan Rupe

Vaughan’s fast-paced storytelling and Henrichon’s richly detailed drawings form a perfect match in Pride of Baghdad. Readers will follow 4 lions as they are freed from a zoo during a US air raid of the city. The animal protagonists provide some separation from reality, but the devastation of war is starkly on display page after page. As they move through the largely destroyed and abandoned city, the lions struggle to find food and safety and disagree on the best plans for their now uncertain future. War and predators combine for a meditation on the senselessness of violence most appropriate for older teens and adults.

People interested in broadening or deepening their perspectives on war and violence will be drawn through the brutality by the beautiful, dynamic art and story in Pride of Baghdad. It may also be an excellent addition to classes in war and conflict studies or literature exploring those themes.

War, blood, guns, animal violence and death

Teresa Slobuski

Jade has a lot riding on her summer art intensive, affectionately called The Art Farm. It is her chance to get accepted into art school on a scholarship, which is the only way she'll be able to make it happen financially. Right before she leaves for the summer, her best friend Phoebe is hospitalized after a suicide attempt. Jade wonders how she can go off and make art for the summer while her friend is suffering. Through her art, and with a touch of magical realism, Jade is able to work through her anger, guilt, and worry to figure out a way to be there for Phoebe, as well as make room in her heart for new friends at the art intensive.

Aspiring artists of all mediums will relate to Jade's struggle to make art that says something meaningful.

Discussions of suicide and hospitalization for mental health.

Tayla Cardillo

Matt loves his nanny, Ruby; she's practically part of the family. While he, his mom, and his little sister are on vacation, Ruby passes away unexpectedly. The whole family is devastated, but Matt seems to be having the hardest time. He feels like everyone wants to move on with their lives like Ruby never existed, and Matt doesn't want to forget someone so special to him. So when his friend suggests a sleepover on the new nanny, Miss Swan's first night, it seems like the perfect thing to cheer Matt up, but Miss Swan may not be what she appears on first inspection. Wrapped in a classic witch-in-the-woods tale is a story about grief, family, and keeping a loved one's memory alive.

Fans of monster tales will love this story, which is equal parts scares and heart.

Death of a love one, fantasy typical violence

Tayla Cardillo

When Abby transfers to an all-girls private school, Wilberton Academy, she thinks that all she will be able to do there is bide her time until graduation. Then, unbeknownst to her, Elizabeth Woodward, one of the most popular girls in school, sees her sitting on the sidelines at a party and talks to her. This conversation makes Abby feel like this new school might not be so bad after all. The next morning, Elizabeth is found dead. Abby gets pulled into unraveling the mystery of Elizabeth's death and discovers secrets about this school that she never could have imagined.

Both readers who remember the 80s (when the story is set) and those who don't will relate to the universality of teenage angst.

Death, misconduct of a teacher with underage students, homophobia

Tayla Cardillo

Sometimes despair calls for a side of humor, and that is just what Knisley does in WOE. Follow the antics of her cat, Linney, in a celebration of life and exploration of managing sickness and ultimately saying goodbye to a beloved pet. Featuring charming and brightly colored illustrations, Knisley perfectly captures the ridiculous spirit and liquid body of all cats. Anyone with a cat or another pet will be able to relate to the joys and sadnesses in this book.

WOE is a great pick for helping tweens, teens, or adults process the unique grief of losing a pet.

Animal illness and death (not graphic)

Teresa Slobuski