Manga is one of the fastest‑growing reading formats for kids today — but for many families, it’s still unfamiliar. If your reader loves graphic novels or animated series like Pokémon, Sailor Moon, or Dragon Ball, they’ll enjoy reading and exploring manga books.
Similar to award-winning graphic novels like The Baby-sitters Club, Dog Man, and Amulet, manga books appeal to readers through visual storytelling. But what makes manga such an effective medium for readers? Read on to find out more.
Manga 101: What Families Need to Know
Manga, which translates to "whimsical pictures or drawings" is a style of graphic storytelling that originated in Japan and is now loved by readers around the world. Like graphic novels, manga tells stories through a combination of panels with words and pictures — but with a few key differences families should be aware of:
- Manga is traditionally (but not always!) read from right to left and top to bottom, which can feel new at first but quickly becomes second nature.
- Stories often use a stylized artwork that is fast‑paced and almost cinematic, emphasizing emotion, movement, and dramatic pacing that helps readers follow the story even during fast‑moving scenes.
- Manga books are often printed in black and white, while Western style comics and graphic novels have frequently been printed in full color. With the growth of manga, this is not always the case today.
- Many manga series are created specifically for kids, while others are aimed at teens or adults, so families can find age‑appropriate series for every reader.
Why Manga Is Great for Kids
Manga’s highly expressive artwork supports comprehension by giving readers visual context for new vocabulary, complex emotions, and fast‑moving plot points. This makes manga especially helpful for striving readers, visual learners, and English language learners.
As many manga stories are driven by dialogue and character perspective, readers also build fluency, inference skills, and visual literacy, all key components of reading standards.
Families will also find that manga stories can fit the interests of so many types of readers. While many series are designed specifically for kids, others explore more complex themes, symbolism, and emotional nuance, making manga a format that grows with readers over time.
Great First Manga Books for Kids
For kids new to manga, familiar characters can make the transition even easier.
Following the story arc of the first original chapter book, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga is reenvisioned as an engaging graphic novel reading in Western style (left to right). With dynamic manga artwork by Japanese artist Motojiro, all-new Flip-O-Ramas, and much more, it will captivate existing fans, capture new readers, and appeal to comics, manga, and anime aficionados alike!
Readers ready for a more emotional story will love Unico: Awakening, Scholastic’s first manga published under the Graphix imprint. The beautifully illustrated fantasy series is a refresh of a beloved story by Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka, known as the "God of Manga." With full-color artwork and reading left to right in the Western style, UNICO is a brilliant manga series that also opens the door to conversations and insights about our complex world.
