The best creepy creature comics (& picture books!) for curious kids of all ages

I wish I was a bug so I could live in this world. Knetzger’s book is a gorgeously illustrated graphic chapter book that clearly loves the natural world and refuses to talk down to young readers. The bugs in question are beautifully drawn, cartoony versions of themselves—Rhino-B and Stag-B live in a colorful world filled with both realistic bug facts and a quietly fantastic reality where different bugs coexist harmoniously.

A case in point: the boys regularly visit their friend and librarian, Dome Spider, who often makes comments about eating "meat" but never actually tries to eat the pair. The stakes in their world are not quite naturally realistic, but the emotions are always resonant. The boys experience a range of days—beautiful ones, sad ones, days they fight, and everything in between.

I’d love to give this book to an early reader to teach them that empathy should extend to even the smallest among us.

I do NOT want to be a bug in this world, but I’m glad cartoon ant Rubi is here to walk us through it. The author is a real-life biologist, and it shows—this comic takes readers through the realistic world of ants, the things that ants eat, and the creatures that eat ants. There’s poop, bug dismemberment, and an unsettling amount of talk about parasites—but it’s all conveyed through the charming antics of a cute little cartoon storyteller.

This book gives me strong Calvin and Hobbes vibes, and I don’t make that comparison lightly. The humor and heart of the storytelling, paired with scientific detail, make it a rare find. Despite the slightly grotesque content, the playful tone and cartoonish style keep it light and engaging.

I think this book could turn even the most bug-averse kid into an entomologist-in-training! Early readers might need some assistance to get through it, but it would definitely be a fun (and informative) experience for a kid-parent reading pair.

As an animal lover who’s also lived in cities for half my life, I can’t help but love even the critters that typically get the “pest” label. This book’s author and artist are clearly on my side with this charming graphic novel. It’s a book about anthropomorphic raccoons, but it tackles some pretty wonderful social topics—in a quest to dive the perfect dumpster, the characters go up against the specter of corporate food waste.

While a topic like that might sound like a lot for a kid, the book is incredibly playful. I love any book that loves a raccoon, but they definitely get extra points for being anti-capitalist raccoons. I’d read this one with any kid who loves a pop-punk attitude—just keep some snacks on hand for when the critters finally get their garbage. Gardner makes it look tasty!

Alexovitch’s earlier work was a huge influence on my development as an artist—reading Serenity Rose at just the right time knocked my world sideways—so I would be remiss not to include this new book aimed at the 8-12 set. There aren’t any regular animals in this book, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t chock full of creepy creatures; sweet little Sunny Von Shock is one of the creepies herself. Sunny’s enthusiasm for scary things is infectious for the reader but not for her rightfully freaked-out friend, Milo.

Their budding friendship is sweet, their world is extremely cool, and the scares are actually scary—Alexovich used to work on Invader Zim, and it shows. This is the most “mature” book on my list, but I think a particularly brave little reader would still get a big kick out of it.

This is probably the “youngest” book on my list, but it’s one that’s very close to my heart. It is in the back of my mind every time I see a bat; I wouldn’t be the person I am today without this picture book. I grew up reading it, so it’s the only non-contemporary book on this list, but I think its story of self-discovery is an evergreen one.

It’s a love letter to bats, moms, and people who may not quite fit in. The illustrations are gorgeous and stand the test of time. It's the perfect short and sweet-rumination on the importance of being yourself, even if you’re a creepy critter.