Far too many adults still dismiss graphic novels as “too easy” or “not real literature.” Nothing could be further from the truth. In his 1993 work Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, Scott McCloud (recently interviewed about his new book, The Cartoonists Club) offers a rousing defense of the format. He notes that comics are made up of images presented in sequence; it’s up to readers to infer what happens in between. McCloud writes, “Every act committed to paper by the comics artist is aided and abetted by a silent accomplice. An equal partner in crime known as the reader.” These books require active engagement from their audiences.

But skeptical parents and educators needn’t take my word for it—or McCloud’s. The following selections offer proof that graphic literature is a rich format with immense educational and entertainment value.

A no-holds-barred boxing match; lurching zombies—with Chickenpox (Henry Holt, January 14), Remy Lai relies on clever visual metaphors that not only make for hilariously zany reading, but also result in a nuanced character study of 12-year-old Abby, who’s quarantined with her younger brothers and sisters. Based on events from Lai’s own childhood in Indonesia in the mid-’90s, the tale captures an age-old conundrum: How is it that the same siblings who drive us to distraction one minute can be our strongest allies the next?

A standout example of nonfiction comics, Anne Lambelet’s I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods (Graphic Universe, March 4) stars the adorable, enthusiastic Grimpy (“That’s short for Grimpoteuthis,” the scientific name for the dumbo octopus). Offering readers an introduction to the “coolest group of creatures in the whole ocean,” our host eventually begins to lose confidence. “Isn’t there anything special about dumbos?” Grimpy laments. Lambelet’s fetching, big-eyed cartoons ooze sweetness while offering clear depictions of a variety of species—and an empowering message for the insecure Grimpy.

Michael Emberley’s Night Light (Holiday House, April 15) is ideal fare for elementary schoolers still getting the hang of the format—and anyone nursing fears of the dark. To soothe a terrified child during a blackout, a parent scatters the stars from the sky across the youngster’s bedroom, but the little one is soon awakened by sobs from the anguished moon. Emberley dazzles with a breathtaking palette and brilliant layouts. This world may be plunged into darkness, but it’s awash with a wondrous glow—and ablaze with true warmth as this empathetic pair seeks creative solutions.

Adults who grew up with the likes of Calvin and Hobbes or The Far Side know the joys of comic strips—though not as many Americans are acquainted with Quino’s Mafalda, published in Argentina between 1964 and 1973. Happily, that will change with the release of Mafalda: Book One (Elsewhere Editions, June 10), translated by Frank Wynne. Simultaneously precocious and realistically childlike, the titular 6-year-old attempts to make sense of current events while embarking on flights of fancy. Speaking to universal childhood experiences while also offering pointed commentary on Argentina’s sociopolitical climate during the ’60s, this is a wise, wickedly funny work.

Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.