Babymouse: Skater Girl, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Brother/sister creative team Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm’s Babymouse books are a series of witty, girl-friendly graphic novels starring Babymouse, a anthropomorphic young mouse obsessed with books and cupcakes. Their most recent effort, Babymouse #7: Skater Girl, is pure goofy fun, sure to appeal to the 7- to-10-year-old set.

Babymouse feels like she’s the only person in the world without a special talent. She’s never won a trophy for anything (although she has quite the collection of honorable mention ribbons). But when Babymouse discovers she has a gift for ice-skating, is she truly willing to sacrifice everything to succeed—even friends, junk food, and free time?

Girls will like that Skater Girl is fun and unabashedly girly, with Spiegelman-influenced black, white, and pink illustrations, and their parents will like that, unlike many brands aimed at preteen girls, Babymouse isn't trashy (see: Bratz Dolls), insolent (see: Happy Bunny), or stomach-churning (see: the High School Musical franchise). This fresh, funny series is a great feminine alternative to the superhero-filled world of comic books for young readers.