On June 1st, many countries all over the world are celebrating International Children’s Day. To join the celebration, we are taking a look at the children’s books from the Europe Comics catalog, so as to establish what we, adults, could learn from these books and characters. Are there any personality traits we might have lost along the way of growing up, and can these books gently remind us of what we’re missing?
Allow yourself to be absorbed by the wonderfully quirky world of Pico Bogue and his cute little sister Anna (who happens to be an Eisner award nominee!!). The two go through life with as many convictions as questions. With a sharp eye and impeccable logic, they prove to be challenging and sometimes even frustrating, but always witty and lovable, eternally provoking the amusement and exasperation of their parents and teachers. Pico and Anna teach us to be more confident in our curiosity. Above all, they show us how to be more up front about what we feel and what we want.
When the cat Brina goes on vacation with her owners, things don’t quite turn out as planned. Should our loved ones be held on to and protected, or should we let them go, to live out their own adventures? A charming and spirited graphic novel from scriptwriter Giorgio Salati (Disney, RAI) and artist Christian Cornia.
A little thief from the streets of Abu, Mehdi finds himself forced to take a complicated and dangerous test in order to get into the most celebrated alchemy school on the continent. With no knowledge of spells, enchantments or any experience in navigating golams, he somehow finds the strength within him to pass. But how does he do it? In the make-believe world of Hikmadrassa, one cannot survive without courage and a strong sense of responsibility towards those around you. And don’t we all need to express a little bit of heroism every once in a while? Just for the sake of discovering what we’re actually capable of!
Ready for some old school fun? Jeremy, the number one Dutch-speaking comics character in Belgium, is as heroic as Mehdi, as curious as Pico Bogue, and as 
adventurous as Marion. But there is something else about Jeremy that sets him apart. And that something is the unconditional friendship that he shares with his best friend, Frankie. Frankie might be Jeremy’s complete opposite, even a bit of a rogue at times, causing trouble not only for himself, but also for those closest to him. But that doesn’t stop Jeremy from always being by Frankie’s side and getting them both out of the trickiest situations. Because that’s what real friendship is all about!
There are some things that a child should never have to endure, but life can be cruel sometimes. Clara is only seven years old when she loses her mother to cancer. Before she passes away, Clara’s mother gives her a doll from the days of her own childhood. Clara doesn’t particularly like the doll at first, but it’ll prove to be a precious ally, accompanying little Clara along the rough road of grief and mourning, through all its stages.
When a 13-year-old orphan sets out to find his parents and ends up in prehistoric times, he realises he’s got a lot of work 
to do: so many things haven’t been invented yet, like fire, soap… and vowels! Not to mention all the terrifying creatures and knuckledragging cavemen he has to deal with!
He’s got a yellow shirt and a red neckerchief, unruly locks and a sprig of grass in his mouth. He maintains law and order at the Nothing Gulch School, and he runs faster than his shadow as soon as there’s even the slightest hint of chores to be done. It’s Kid Lucky, a young cowboy knee-high to a grasshopper, always ready to discover the customs of the Wild West, and, most of all, to muck about with his buddies. This is the birth of a legend: the greatest (but still quite small) cowboy of the Wild West! In this first album, Kid Lucky learns his very first cowboy lessons.
Adolescence is a terrible time for most people. For Louca, it’s especially bad! Generally mediocre, a poor student, awkward with girls… he’s a walking disaster. But Louca has decided: starting tomorrow, he’s going to change! Still, that’s easier said than done… especially when your own mind keeps 
changing! Luckily, Louca will get a helping hand from a certain fellow named Nathan. Good-looking, amazing at football, funny, smart… this Nathan certainly seems like the perfect guy, and the best coach Louca could possibly hope for. With one little exception: Nathan is a ghost… How did Nathan die? Why can only Louca see him? Will Nathan manage to turn Louca into the kind of guy people want to be with? Will Louca manage both to pass his exams, and to win over Julie, the girl of his dreams?
Newb wants to join the Toucan Patrol. But first, he’ll have to earn the two things every toucan needs: a neckerchief and slide. How? By confronting his greatest fears. Geez! It’s not going to be easy!
Tiny Fox lives alone beneath his apple tree in the distant hills. He is a happy little animal, busy looking after himself and his foxy things. Then one day, a Great Boar appears and moves in under the apple tree, bringing with 
him a time of change and adventure. Is Tiny Fox ready?
Tosca and Rinaldo are orphans. Ever since their parents died, they have been living hidden in the forest. Lucilla is the only daughter of the Duc di Castelguelfo, famous for his exploits 
defending the Republic of Siena. Lucilla’s parents are too busy to pay much attention to their daughter, who still feels lonely despite being surrounded by an army of maids and servants. But everything changes when she meets Tosca – a mini Robin Hood living a life so different from her own – and their adventures through 14th-century Tuscany begin. In this first volume in the series, they will have to save Lucilla from a fate worse than death: marriage to a man she doesn’t want.
Abbott wishes to take his son Barley to a 
special place, a place just for the two of them, a place where he can be a hero to Barley. Wherever they decide to go, Barley’s friends had been there before. Only Abbott’s huge heart will be able to find the perfect place: he’s brave, he can handle it!
Milo’s WorldMilo lives in a house by a lake. He’s often alone, but he’s used to it. One day, he comes across a beautiful golden fish, and his whole world is turned on its head! Milo soon discovers that, just on the other side of the lake, there’s another, magical world where a battle between good and evil is in full swing. It’s not long before he realizes that he didn’t find this world by accident…
The planet Oceania is covered with an ocean of vegetation. Humans navigate the green seas with futuristic ships. Teenagers Jon and Jasper spend most of their days surfing the vast waves of foliage, until one day, without warning, they’re hit by a tsunami. Jon disappears beneath the leafy ocean surface and Jasper is picked up by a ship called the Poseidon. It is said that none return from the depths of this treacherous ocean. But the captain of the Poseidon tells a different story. Will Jon and Jasper ever find each other?
Mia & CoMia, Gauthier, Louka and Zouzou are inseparable. Like most teenagers, they’d much rather be playing video games or making music than doing their homework. Mia, the only girl in the group, doesn’t really seem to click with the other girls in her class. But as they grow up, her tight-knit friendship group will become more and more complicated as girl-boy relationships start to get interesting…
On the History Trail with Ariane and Nino
Nino would rather be outside playing than stuck inside doing homework—especially science homework. Then he discovers that one of the greatest scientists ever started out feeling the same way: Albert Einstein—the guy who invented that famous formula: E=mc2. And, as Ariane explains, there was a lot more to Einstein than just formulas. Thanks to him, we have GPS devices and electric gates, nuclear energy and … well, yes, also nuclear bombs. Einstein did everything he could to make the world a better place—but after all, he was only human!
The Music BoxFor her eighth birthday, Nola receives a marvelous present: her late mother Annah’s music box. It has the most enchanting melody, and inside the globe… is that a little girl waving? And calling for help?! Before she knows it, Nola has shrunk down size, slipped through the keyhole, and entered the world of Pandorient, where even the most ordinary-looking citizens can have extraordinary powers—and where danger could lurk down every hallway. Nola must help her new friends save their mother from a mysterious malady—all the while making surprising discoveries about Annah’s past, and—maybe—her own future…
TelemachusUlysses, mythical hero and king of Ithaca, left years ago to fight in the Trojan War. He never came home. His son, Telemachus, an impatient and immature prince who is as clumsy as he is ambitious, decides to go looking for him. On the way, he meets the hot-headed princess Polycaste, who helps him in his perilous adventure full of vengeful gods and terrifying monsters. Will the winds be favorable to them?
Timo’s been preparing to be an adventurer his whole (short) life—devouring books of valiant feats and incredible journeys, learning about navigation, botany, and other survival skills. But now that he’s taken the plunge, venturing alone into a new land, the fairy tale has become all too real. Will he fulfill his wish and become a true hero, noble steed and legendary weapon included? More importantly, will he be able to distinguish friend from foe?
A monkey-faced man named Kid Noize who has a 1977 Mustang, a talking dog, and dreams of being a famous DJ, travels between worlds to deliver mysterious packages to people. Unfortunately, he has lost the package of his next recipient, a young boy named Sam who is having a hard time in life, grieving the loss of his mother while trying to adapt to a tough new town and school. Neither Sam nor Kid Noize has any idea what awaits them as they join forces to find the package that will help shape Sam’s destiny…
When your old man’s a police captain, it can make for some lonely evenings at home! Tom would know. But when the investigation his father is working on implicates Fabian, one of the hall monitors at his middle school, Tom decides to find out for himself what’s going on. With his best friend Lilia by his side, he sets out to catch the bad guys. They suddenly find themselves trailing suspects, following clues, going undercover, and even getting into high-speed chases! The only thing is they have to do it all in absolute secrecy, so that Tom’s father doesn’t suspect their involvement. To do so, they’ll have to become real-life anonymous informers. But just where will all of this lead?
Jack is a typical grade school kid… except that he never speaks a word, is followed everywhere he goes by a flying bug, and can turn into any animal he wants, usually to come to the rescue of his family and classmates. Not everybody appreciates his strange behavior, however. When the town’s children start disappearing into the forest, though, Jack’s special ability is their only hope. Will Jack ever be understood and accepted by those around him? And will the townsfolk come to see the forest as anything besides a danger and a nuisance?
Oxana, a young dancer from the turn of the 19th century, is the victim of a terrible curse that plunges her into a deep sleep. She awakens a hundred years later with no memory of the past in a time that is not her own. Why has she lost her memory? What power does her strange medallion hold? What are the intentions of the mysterious man in white who comes to her assistance?
On May 10th, 1940, Nazi Germany attacked France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Their advance was swift, and led to the fall of France just six weeks later. In the fictional French village of Pontain-L’Écluse, 13-year-old François is shocked to see his fellow villagers—and even some of his family members—accept this occupation and submit to the laws and behavior of the German invaders. Determined to thwart the enemy, he enlists his friend Eusèbe to help sabotage the Nazis and motivate his village to unite against them. A fascinating tale of the Resistance and of actions taken by its youngest activitsts, inspired by true stories.
Elma is a joyful, free-spirited child who is being raised by a bear she thinks of as her father. But Papa Bear is hiding a secret, and the close-knit duo must make a long and perilous journey to begin a mysterious new life beyond the forest. Adventure and danger are in store as they discover the linked secrets of Elma’s past and future.
Elena Potato just moved to Oldmill Village, but she’s about to find that there’s a lot more going on in this quiet little town than meets the eye—Oldmill Village is actually an oasis for all kinds of monsters! Zick, Elena’s new neighbor, is a strange kid who’s allergic to just about everything, but he alone has the power to see the invisible ghosts and monsters that live among us.
Hercules and his friend Marlon have just enrolled at the School of Intergalactic Agents, but they’re both having problems. Hercules is a little young—and a little short—to make the grade, while Marlon just can’t help being a coward. For their first Surveillance Operation, they’re sent to Earth to gather information on a girl who’s behaving strangely. But while they’re away, the dreaded Blackbird plans to attack the School…
One morning, the circus arrives in Fede’s town. What a thrill! Now he has a chance to be a circus star! And there he goes, with his cat Tomato, avoiding any streets where he might run into Florencia (because Florencia is his girlfriend, but she doesn’t know it yet). Of course, things get complicated when the lion looks at Tomato with hungry eyes! And the adventure begins when… TOMATO MUST BE SAVED!
Hubert Reeves ExplainsAfter spending many years gazing up at the stars, Hubert Reeves has turned his attention to the future of our planet. The world’s friendliest and most enthusiastic astrophysicist takes us on a surprising journey, which will make us all realize how important it is to protect our environment.
Dead and UnburiedYan is on top of the world. School’s almost out for summer, he’s about to have a new baby sister, and he’s going to be spending his vacation making a zombie movie with his best friend Nico. But on his way home from school, he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and before he knows it, his life is slipping away… Things are no longer smelling rosy now that Yan’s pushing up daisies. But for some reason, Yan’s soul isn’t going anywhere: his body may be rotting, but his mind is clear, and once out of his grave, Yan is determined to be reunited with his family. He may be falling apart, but he isn’t about to let that happen to them!
The World According to François
François has no interest in choosing between dream and reality: he wants both! Like all ten-year-olds, François has a lot of questions–but he puts his imagination to use to try to find the answers.
Her name is Rebecca, and she’s now six, almost six and a half. Her immune system is a little weak, but she’s not going to let that stop her. She’s going to prove to the world that she’s not some little flea! While out hunting frogs in the rain one day, she catches Ernest, a strange outspoken microbe—just the kind of friend that comes in handy when parents get lost in their grown-up fights… An original youth series that combines lively artwork with an endearing story.
The day before her seventeenth birthday, Lya’s life changed forever. Hit by a speeding car and left for dead, she lost the use of her legs as well as some of her faith in the world… Lya learned to live again with the support of her parents. But having discovered that someone bought their silence, Lya is determined to unmask the perpetrator and obtain justice. Her search for the truth takes her to a famous law firm… and down a dangerous path. With the help of her friend Antoine, she’ll stop at nothing to get to the bottom of it all…
Saturday and Sunday are a pair of lizards living the good life, lazing around on a tropical atoll and fishing off the beach. But when Saturday comes down with a case of acute questionitis, the big mysteries—why are we here? how did we get here?—won’t leave him alone. Only travel can cure his ills, and he sets off with Sunday in tow. What’s a best friend to do but tag along? Together, the indefatigable duo have encounters both fanciful and philosophical in this charming and freewheeling paean to simple joys, curiosity, and friendship, fit for all ages.
The seemingly idyllic town of Mitaines has been beset by a wave of kidnappings. Strange prints have been spotted in the woods, but there’s no sign of foul play. With the authorities baffled, will young Arthur and the rest of the Mitaines Gang be able to solve the crime? More importantly, will they be able to stay out of trouble themselves?
Chris is a young pastry apprentice who, one fateful night, sees his delicious creations magically disappear. He decides to get hold of the thief, who happens to be a peculiar sort of squirrel. Chris doesn’t know that the chase will lead to a fantastic adventure! The restaurant’s fridge is the gateway to the magical world of Fridgebottom, a country populated by myths and legends. In this new universe Chris makes the acquaintance of Hannah, a young elf who runs the Monster Delight pastry shop, and who isn’t so great at making pastry! Luckily for Hannah, Chris has a knack for inventing the perfect sweet delight for every palette.
Being sisters is never easy. But when you’re as different as Sarah, Cassiopeia, and Lucille, it’s even harder! The first is haunted by recurring dreams, the second lives with her head in the clouds, and the last spends most of her time with her cat. Then one day they discover a mysterious photo of their mother pregnant. Where was it taken, and who is the baby? And most importantly, why was this photo hidden away in the depths of the attic? To find out, they’ll have to venture into the tangled forest of the Grémillet family secrets!
The Amazing Adventures of Jules
Jules, a nice boy living a quiet life without any particular problems (except his little brother set on murdering his guinea pig), is selected by the Global Space Agency to take part in the first expedition to planet Alpha aboard an interstellar spaceship. The journey will last 8 weeks for the passengers, and 8 months in Earth-time (because of relativity)… Thus Jules embarks upon the voyage of a lifetime, stowaway guinea pig in tow, accompanied by the other members of this glorious team of space explorers: a couple of eccentrics who collect Nobel prizes; a rather tetchy roommate; a drunken pilot who seems to mess up the landings every time and endangers interplanetary peace; and a pretty exobiologist who will study any extraterrestrial life they come across. Get ready for takeoff!
Elle is just another teenage girl… most of the time. Bubbly and good-natured, she wastes no time making friends on her first day at her new school. But Elle has a secret: she hasn’t come alone. She’s brought with her a colorful mix of personalities, which come out when she least expects it… Who is Elle, really? And will her new friends stand by her when they find out the truth?
Welcome to the wonderful world of Looniland, filled with loonicorns, cyclopes, dodos, and other fantastical creatures! Life is good in Looniville… if you’re a Pretty. Meanwhile, the Uglies do all the work and get teased and ridiculed. Until, one day, a huge storm blows through, bringing with it a mysterious illness that only seems to affect the Pretties. And in the nearby forest, a strange new creature has landed. Her name is Penelope, and no one has seen anything like her before. Where did she come from? Could she be the cause of this nefarious disease?
While visiting her in the hospital, Élina discovers that her grandmother is the Keeper of the Little Folk, protecting fairies, nymphs, naiads, and other fantastical creatures! And now, her grandmother is ready to pass her responsibilities on to Élina. It’s not a moment too soon—Llyam and Nelvyna, creatures of the Little Folk, have sent up a distress signal, because a naiad has gone missing from Bird Lake. Will Élina be able to figure out how to see the fairy creatures in time to help them in their search?
Olive, age 17, has a rich and vivid inner life. She has created an imaginary world that she’s able to visit whenever she chooses. But her daily life on earth is shaken up by the arrival of a new roommate at boarding school, who won’t leave Olive alone. And even more upsetting: a mysterious spaceman makes a surprise appearance in her imaginary world! A coming-of-age story that will take Olive far from her comfort zone, as she discovers unsuspected sides of herself and the world around her.
When middle school friends Mel, Lisa, and Gwen, along with a pet rat named Razzie, go looking for Gwen’s missing older sister, they find themselves in a greenhouse with giant carnivorous plants, a mad scientist with an evil plan, menacing thugs, and… newly developed superpowers that they mysteriously develop just in time to save the day (and their own butts)!
A group of students is on a field trip to an ancient castle when a storm erupts. As they are about to leave, four friends are cornered by the class bully, who tries to pull one of his usual pranks. Instead, they all get the scare of their lives when they fall down a tunnel that takes them into the future: a future where mankind has nearly disappeared from the face of the earth, and where nature has taken control. The friends will have to face up to this hostile new world—as well as their nemesis—if they’re to have any chance of making it back home…
Hell and damnation! The Bruja is missing! When the most powerful witch alive disappears without a trace, Norah, her 17-year-old niece, decides to investigate. But upon entering her aunt’s manor, she interrupts a summoning ritual and finds herself face to face with the devil… Or half of him, anyway, as he has been cut in two and is now stuck in a pentagram. Unable to return to Hell without Norah’s help, Lucifer agrees to assist her in finding the Bruja—a devilish task when you’re the most feared and hated being on the planet!
A baby girl born with purple hair is promptly handed over to a convent by her horrified father, who fears she bears the sign of the witch. And indeed, little Evelyn seems to have strange powers and to attract supernatural manifestations as she grows up among the nuns, who patiently put up with it as best they can. But after one scary “trick” too many, she is entrusted to the care of a hat-maker, who whisks her off to London, where she will learn about much more than making hats! For as Evelyn and her talking cat Benedict will soon find out, Master Neil has a few tricks up his sleeve, too, and his hat shop might not be exactly what it seems…
Linon and Garance are best friends with very different ideas about love. To get to the bottom of what all this romance stuff is really about, they decide to conduct an investigation into some of the older students at their middle school. Why are certain kids more popular than others? Why do some already have a “bad reputation” by the 8th grade? Why is everyone so obsessed with appearances? Along the way, the pair discover that, for best friends who are supposed to share everything, they’ve both been keeping some pretty big secrets of their own.
Wild adventures are on the horizon for little girl Ayak and her one-eyed dog Por. In the first story of this two-part tale, Ayak, Por, and the wacky professor seek shelter in an abandoned house, after their biosphere in Kamchatka explodes. But the discovery of an old teapot will soon whisk them away to a far-off land. In the second story, Ayak meets a lonely crown prince who is kept away from his people. Everyone thinks he is foolish, but what if he is just misunderstood?
Many different beings live on the tiny but magical Island of the Sun, unknown to humans. Some were created at sea and others on land. Owley, the wise owl of the island, built a holiday resort so all of them can live together in harmony, while having fun on the same beach. But Starfizz, a human-like starfish who is full of ideas and loves building things, unwittingly drags sweet Shelly and tiny Magna Alga into a wild adventure across the sea on Shell Island, where the legendary Sand Games are being held… Will our friends emerge victorious and find a way back home?
Deep in the heart of an enchanted forest, a small village of children lives unaffected by the passage of time thanks to a powerful stone that protects them from it. But when the stone is shattered and a thief runs off with one of the shards, four of the children must set out at once in search of the missing shard before their village is swallowed up by time and everybody in it dies. Armed with four crystals with special powers, the children bravely make their way through the dangerous forest to hunt down the thief, making friends and enemies along the way and encountering one strange creature after another.
is a cosplayer. His parents don’t get it. His brother’s a big, dumb jock. Still, the geek heaven of Comic-Kon is just around the corner, and this year, Abel plans to win the cosplay contest as his hero, Batman. But the convention has other surprises in store. When an intelligence team invades the floor in hot pursuit of a rogue agent, Abel and his friends have a chance to be the heroes they only dress up as. A series of chases and double-crosses ensues that will teach these eager kids what being a true hero really means.
Once every thousand years, the incredible Sea Dragon reappears! It is said that the first person it lays eyes upon will become its master and be able to control its extraordinary powers. The time has come: the Sea Dragon is about to return at any moment! Master Fox wishes to use the Sea Dragon’s powers to reign over the Squirming Archipelago. But he will need the help of his servant, the cowardly and naive cat Menji. But others are also searching for the legendary Sea Dragon… and they will stop at nothing to get there first!
On his first day of class at a new school, Leo, a boy who talks to the ghosts of famous dead people for fun, meets Hamlin, who can talk to animals, and Farah, a human flamethrower. The new friends band together to track down the thief who has made off with the school’s prized trophy, and must use all their powers to fight off an army of gigantic robots intent on destroying them. What they don’t know is that this is all just part of a much, much bigger plan…
Header image: Tosca © by Teresa Radice & Stefano Turconi, Tunué 2016
