The best books for globetrotter kids

Through the Woods is an atmospheric collection of stories in graphic novel form and delighted my creepy little heart. Not scary at all, but definitely intriguing, this collection is part ghost story and part creature feature. The illustrations were tantalising and masterful at capturing my attention. It reminds me of the way fairytales were horror stories to me when I was a child—chilling cautionary tales where little girls like me could be baked into pies and eaten or turned into feral dogs who never saw their family again. It also gives me Ito vibes in the pure weirdness of some of the stories—something that delights me to no end! 

A pregnant noblewoman fleeing a less than happy happily-ever-after finds her way to Castle Waiting, an overgrown castle that’s become a haven for forgotten figures from fairy tales, folklore, and myth. Much of this unbelievably absorbing comic is spent simply exploring the castle and following the residents in their day-to-day lives. And what better way is there to spend one’s time? Linda Medley’s immersive artwork, with its flavor of old-fashioned woodcuts and classical book illustrations, makes Castle Waiting look like the perfect place to rest between adventures, or maybe stay and become one of the long-term residents.

Marjane Satrapi’s powerful graphic novel memoir is one of my all-time favorite books in any genre. The stories that comprise her young life during Iran’s cultural revolution, her eventual solitary exile in Europe, and her post-war return, are riveting, heartbreaking, hilarious, and unforgettable. Illustrated in stunning black and white drawings, Persepolis blends Satrapi’s inner and outer experience of events and characters with such sublime artistry that her story will (if I can predict it) become instantly lodged in your heart.