Happy Happy Clover by Sayuri Tatsuyama

Clover is a young, energetic bunny growing up in Crescent Forest. Together with her bunny friends Mallow, Shallot, and Kale, and their babysitter, flying squirrel Hickory, Clover has fun and goes on adventures. Clover challenges the wandering rabbit Bramble to an obstacle course race; promises to deliver a letter across the forest for her teacher Mr. Hoot; and accidentally tells Kale's six little brothers about the human called Santa Claus-- and then has to bring them the presents they ask Santa for!

Appeal: Cute, animals, all ages, growing up, friendship

Art: Chibi, cute, stereotyped

Text: Busy but simple, exclamatory

Other: Happy Happy Clover has been adapted into an anime and a Nintendo DS game.

Awards: Tatsuyama's previous work, about puppies and other pets, won the Shogakukan Manga Award for kids' manga in 2001.

Tatsuyama, Sayuri, Sayuri Amemiya, and Kaori Inoue. Happy Happy Clover. San Francisco, Calif. : Viz Media, 2007. Print.

Tiny Titans: Welcome to the Treehouse by Art Baltazar and Franco

Tiny Titans: Welcome to the Treehouse

This kid-friendly take on DC Comics' younger heroes takes place at Sidekick Elementary, where Robin and Starfire hang out with their friends, form a super pet club, and feud with rivals from the villains' elementary school across town. Characters reference and parody current events in the DC universe in addition to having their own adventures. Kid Flash races other speedsters only to be distracted by friends. Robin tries on a new costume and new name, but no one recognizes him. Everyone dresses up in special outfits for pink day, where our heroes celebrate all things pink.

Appeal: Kids, DC Comics, superheroes, humor, animals

Art: Caricature, bold, bright

Text: Punny, simple

Other: Art Baltazar and Franco work for DC Comics, and have also collaborated on the kid-friendly Itty Bitty Hellboy and Superman Family Adventures.

Awards: Tiny Titans won the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids in 2009 and 2011.

Baltazar, Art. Franco. Tiny Titans Vol. 01: Welcome to the Treehouse. Place : DC Comics, 2009. Print.

The Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story by Sergio Cariello and Doug Mauss

The Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story

More than 200 stories adapted from the Bible into full-color comics, with an emphasis on drama. The stories are straightforward, told in a combination of contemporary and traditional Biblical language. The story of Elijah is particularly compelling, following his life as a prophet through difficult times (being blamed for a drought) and good times (ascending to heaven on a fiery chariot).

Appeal: Christianity, the Bible, history, short stories

Art: Colorful, realistic, cinematic

Text: A mix of traditional King James text and contemporary speech. The builders of the Tower of Babel exclaim "We rule!"

Other: An update of The Picture Bible. Sergio Cariello read The Picture Bible throughout his youth in Brazil. Cariello has illustrated for DC and Marvel, and attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art and the Word of Life Bible Institute.

Awards: In 2011 The Action Bible won the Evangelical Christian Publishers Christian Book Award in its children's category.

Cariello, Sergio and Doug Mauss.The Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story. Colorado Springs, Colo. : David C. Cook, 2010. Print.

Heavenly Nostrils by Dana Simpson

Heavenly Nostrils

A strip about a girl named Phoebe and her best friend, a unicorn named Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. One day Phoebe is skipping rocks in the woods behind her house and she hits a unicorn by mistake. Phoebe's rock saved Marigold from staring forever at her own captivating reflection and in return, Marigold grants Phoebe one wish. Phoebe wishes for Marigold to become her best friend. Marigold is a magical, self-absorbed unicorn, and Phoebe is an imaginative and enthusiastic nine-year-old. Together they learn how to be friends in a world filled with candy-barfing dragons, goblins, video game-obsessed parents, and fourth-grade frenemies. Heavenly Nostrils is available online at gocomics.com.

Appeal: Magic, fantasy, sarcastic humor, unicorns, all ages.

Art: Flowing, modern

Text: Conversational, fantastical

Other: Dana Simpson also drew a webcomic called Ozy and Millie, populated by talking animals, with similar themes of elementary school philosophy and adventure. Ozy and Millie ran from 1998 to 2008, and is available online.

Simpson, Dana. "Heavenly Nostrils." gocomics.com. Universal Uclick, n. d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin and his best friend Hobbes, whom Calvin sees as a live tiger and whom everyone else sees as a stuffed animal, have lots of adventures. They explore in the woods, travel to Mars, fight with the girl next door, and make mayhem while discussing philosophy and life as seen from Calvin's six-year-old point of view. Calvin and Hobbes is available online at gocomics.com.

Appeal: Childhood mischief, imagination, environmentalism, philosophy, art, family friendly

Art: Calligraphic, dynamic, realism in some Sunday strips.

Textual style: Sarcastic, ironic, conversational.

Other: Bill Watterson is notoriously reclusive, and has given only a handful of interviews since the launch of Calvin and Hobbes. He refuses to allow merchandise or other media to be based on his comic strip.

Awards: Watterson has won numerous awards for Calvin & Hobbes, including the Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year in 1986 and 1988, Harvey Awards in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1993 through 1996, and an Eisner Award for Best Comic Strip Collection in 1992. The Complete Calvin and Hobbes had a starred review in Publisher's Weekly.

Watterson, Bill. Attack Of The Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons. Kansas City, Mo. : Andrews And McMeel, 1992. Print. All.