Colour illustrated books for older readers

[SingToTheSky]

Looking for recommendations of any preteen age books that are available in colour illustrated format please! My DS (nearly 12 and autistic) struggles to read fiction without illustrations. His sister is the same, she used to say it hurt her brain even if I was reading to her (as it meant her imagination had to work harder to picture the characters). He really wants to read at bedtime but he’s so picky due to these difficulties. He’s read some Percy Jackson and Harry Potter I think but only because he’s so familiar with the stories/films/audiobooks.

He’s currently reading the Roald Dahl books that are in A4 format with colour pictures, I read those to them when they were younger. But once they’re finished I’m not sure what to try - most illustrated books seem to be for younger kids and he’d be into themes like mystery and adventure. We do have the hobbit in this format but it’s too difficult for him (he’s not dyslexic but isn’t a strong reader) and he’s not really into fantasy so much.

He likes a limited range of comic books too - some Phoenix ones like bunny vs monkey and he’s going to try dog man soon, and young avengers. But any recommendations there would be great too.

Thanks!

You can get a lot of timeless classics (Wind in the Willows, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Gulliver's Travels, etc) in beautiful full-colour illustrated editions. Just have a look on Amazon or at Waterstones! There are many options for illustrated classics both abridged and unabridged editions for children.

Does he have to read fiction? Can you get him a non-fiction book? Guinness book of records, for example.

See if you can find vintage hardcovers, maybe from the 1960s or earlier. Illustrations used to be more common.

Quite a few books now have graphic novel versions eg the Alex Rider stories.

Adventure/quest Comic books to try-
Amulet series
Zeta Spacegirl series
Mighty Jack
5 worlds
Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian

If he likes Percy Jackson he might enjoy The Olympians comic books - Greek myths.

Not colour but he might like Bag Guys series if he likes BvM or maybe looshkin or Hilo (those are colour).

Just to say Dogman is excellent, my 9yo is completely obsessed but his big sisters and DH love as well.

Slightly older graphic novels include some of The Phoenix Presents series, or Chris Riddell's books are heavily illustrated (Goth Girl and Ottoline). What about things like Wimpy Kit or Tom Gates. Fictionalised history might be an option: Freedom Bound: Escaping Slavery in Scotland by Warren Pleece or Susanna Moodie, Roughing It In the Bush by Carol Shields and Patrick Crowe are two I got for my DC recently.

Sorry, realised you said colour illustrations so Wimpy Kid and Tom Gates aren't so good. We're big fans of Hilo books though which are colourful and very funny.

A couple already mentioned here, Dogman and Amulet. He loves Asterix and Tintin and Gaston (Gomer).
Also the more complicated Usborne young reading ones. Have you tried Barrington Stoke for easier to read books aimed at older kids?

Thank you, these are great! He had a look at dogman and said he will try that, I’ll look for others mentioned too.

He does like some non fiction - especially usborne science type stuff. Also some of those puzzle adventure things where you choose your own path - I had a set of maths/science/history ones which he enjoyed.

Mine love those puzzle adventure books too there's also some books he might like called "get a clue" where there is a page of text explaining what has happened & a drawing (b&w) on the opposite page that contains information/solution about how/why something happened.