Toon Books
| Company type | Imprint |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Françoise Mouly |
Key people | Françoise Mouly (founder) |
| Products | Hardcover comic book early readers, graphic novels |
| Website | www |
Toon Books is a publisher specializing in hardcover comic book early readers, established by Françoise Mouly. The imprint features work from notable creators such as Geoffrey Hayes, Jay Lynch, Dean Haspiel, Eleanor Davis, and Mouly’s collaborator and spouse, Art Spiegelman. Toon Books promotes itself as "the first premium-quality comics created for children aged four and older."
History
The concept behind Toon Books emerged when Mouly was searching for captivating reading options for her son Dash, dissatisfied with the standard "easy reader" selections available. Inspired by French comic books, she decided to develop Toon Books. One of the initial titles released was Agnès Rosenstiehl's Silly Lilly, a character familiar to many French toddlers.
Between 2004 and 2007, Mouly pitched the idea to major children’s publishers but faced rejection because the books did not fit traditional categories. Drawing upon her experience as an independent publisher—having founded RAW Books & Graphics in 1977 and RAW Junior in 1999—and her editorial work on avant-garde comics magazines like Raw and anthologies such as Little Lit, she assembled a skilled creative team to bring Toon Books to life.
In 2008, Toon Books launched with eight titles featuring established names including Harry Bliss, Art Spiegelman, and Jeff Smith, alongside seasoned children’s authors like Geoffrey Hayes and emerging talents such as Eleanor Davis. This initial collection earned critical praise, numerous awards, and industry accolades. Publishers Weekly emphasized the imprint’s potential to transform the children’s comics market, highlighting Mouly’s visionary leadership in revitalizing comics for young audiences.
Toon Books expanded its offerings by releasing its first graphic novel, The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra, in autumn 2012. In 2014, the company introduced the Toon Graphics imprint aimed at readers eight years and older, thereby extending its market presence and diversifying its product range.
Distribution
At its inception, Toon Books’ distribution was managed by Diamond Books, a branch of Diamond Comic Distributors specializing in comics and graphic novels within the book trade. In 2010, distribution responsibilities shifted to Candlewick Press. By late 2014, with the launch of the TOON Graphics line targeting readers aged eight and above, distribution transitioned to Consortium, part of the Perseus. This change reflected Toon Books’ progression as a growing independent publisher.
TOON in the classroom
Once criticized during the 1954 Congressional hearings, comics have since gained recognition as effective educational tools for engaging young readers. Founder Françoise Mouly developed a specialized approach for beginning readers by collaborating closely with educators and conducting school-based testing to ensure content appropriateness.
In response to demand, Toon Books expanded its lineup with bilingual editions—including French-English versions through French publisher Casterman—as well as audio formats designed for ESL learners and reluctant readers. The imprint also introduced its first nonfiction title, Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework (2010).
Toon Books has received strong endorsement from librarians, teachers, and parents seeking quality early reader materials. The Maryland Comic Book Initiative adopted Toon Books early under State Superintendent Dr. Nancy Grasmick, with other states exploring similar initiatives. These books are incorporated into Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reader Program and assigned Reading Recovery and Lexile levels—marking industry firsts for comics aimed at young children.
The company’s website provides free educational tools such as downloadable lesson plans for kindergarten through third grade, online readers, videos, and interactive games. The "CarTOON Maker" feature encourages children to create their own cartoons, while Readers Theater offers guidance for educators to perform TOON titles in classrooms—supporting literacy development through engaging multimedia experiences.
TOON Reading Levels
The TOON into Reading initiative offers a tiered structure designed for young readers, consisting of three distinct stages:
- Level 1 — introductory comics aimed at beginners (Grades K–1), featuring 200–300 sight words, brief sentences, typically focusing on a single character, and 1–2 panels per page. An example title is Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons.
- Level 2 — accessible comics for developing readers (Grades 1–2), containing between 300 and 600 words, incorporating repetitive short sentences, straightforward storylines, and multiple panels on each page. For instance, Benny and Penny in Just Pretend.
- Level 3 — chapter-book style comics intended for more proficient beginners (Grades 2–3), including 800–1000 words, lengthier sentences, expanded narrative settings, chapter divisions, and interactive elements for readers. An example is Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework.
Recognition and Distinctions
Toon Books has earned numerous prestigious accolades within the publishing industry. In 2009, Stinky by Eleanor Davis was honored as a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book, celebrating outstanding early reader literature. The following year, Geoffrey Hayes' Benny and Penny: The Big No-No! secured the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, while Jeff Smith's Little Mouse Gets Ready received an Honor mention.
Liniers' Good Night, Planet claimed the 2018 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers, with Ivan Brunetti's Comics: Easy as ABC winning the same award in 2020. Since its launch in 2012, Toon Books has consistently been nominated for the Eisner Award, underscoring its ongoing influence and dedication to excellence in children’s book publishing.
Published Works
- Benny and Penny in Just Pretend (Geoffrey Hayes), 2008
- Otto's Orange Day (Frank Cammuso & Jay Lynch), 2008
- Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons (Agnès Rosenstiehl), 2008
- Stinky (Eleanor Davis), 2008
- Mo & Jo Fighting Together Forever (Dean Haspiel & Jay Lynch), 2008
- Jack and the Box (Art Spiegelman), 2008
- Luke on the Loose (Harry Bliss), 2009
- Benny and Penny: The Big No-No! (Geoffrey Hayes), 2009
- Little Mouse Gets Ready (Jeff Smith), 2009
- Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker (Geoffrey Hayes), 2010
- Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework (Nadja Spiegelman & Trade Loeffler), 2010
- Silly Lilly in What Will I Be Today? (Agnès Rosenstiehl), 2011
- Patrick in a Teddy Bear's Picnic and Other Stories (Geoffrey Hayes), 2011
- Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking (Philippe Coudray), 2011
- Nina in That Makes Me Mad! (Hilary Knight & Steven Kroll), 2011
- Chick and Chickie (Claude Ponti), 2012
- Zig and Wikki in The Cow (Nadja Spiegelman & Trade Loeffler), 2012
- The Shark King (R. Kikuo Johnson), 2012
- A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse (Frank Viva), 2012
- Maya Makes a Mess (Rutu Modan), 2012
- Benny and Penny in Lights Out! (Geoffrey Hayes), 2012
- The Secret of the Stone Frog (David Nytra), 2012
- Barry's Best Buddy (Renée French), 2013
- Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas! (Philippe Coudray), 2013
- Otto's Backward Day (Frank Cammuso with Jay Lynch), 2013
- The Big Wet Balloon (Liniers), 2013
- Hearts (Thereza Rowe), 2014
- Tippy's Night Parade (Lilli Carré), 2014
- Benny and Penny in Lost and Found (Geoffrey Hayes), 2014
- Flop to the Top! (Eleanor Davis and Drew Weing), 2015
- We Dig Worms! (Kevin McCloskey), 2015
- Written and Drawn by Henrietta (Liniers), 2015
- Ape and Armadillo Take Over the World (James Sturm), 2016
- Good Night, Planet (Liniers), 2017
- Adele in Sand Land (Claude Ponti), 2017 (originally published as Adèle et la pelle, 1988)
- Comics: Easy as ABC (Ivan Brunetti), 2019
- A Trip to the Top of the Volcano with Mouse (Frank Viva), 2019