The Boxcar Children Graphic Novel

The Boxcar Children Graphic Novels [2026 Random House] #1

by Gertrude Chandler Warner, Meika Hashimoto (Adapter), Giovanni Abeille (Illustrator)

The first chapter book in the beloved Boxcar Children series is now available as a full-color graphic novel! Four brave siblings were searching for a home – and found a life of adventure! See where the Boxcar Children's story all began in this exciting graphic novel perfect for young readers.

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are brothers and sisters. They're orphans too, and the only way they can stay together is to make it on their own. When the children find an abandoned boxcar in the woods, they decide to call it home—and become the Boxcar Children!

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel brings Gertrude Chandler Warner's timeless tale to life for a new generation, championing the Alden siblings' journey of courage, resilience, and the enduring power of family. This exciting story will enchant both new readers and longstanding fans of the series, making it a treasured addition to any bookshelf.

What started as a single story about the Alden Children has delighted readers for generations and sold more than 80 million books worldwide. The Boxcar Children® series continues to inspire children to learn, question, imagine, and grow.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Graphic Novels

176 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 25, 2026

About the author

Gertrude Chandler Warner was born in Putnam, Connecticut, on April 16, 1890, to Edgar and Jane Warner. Her family included a sister, Frances, and a brother, John. From the age of five, she dreamed of becoming an author. She wrote stories for her Grandfather Carpenter, and each Christmas she gave him one of these stories as a gift. Today, Ms. Warner is best remembered as the author of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES.

As a child, Gertrude enjoyed many of the things that girls enjoy today. She loved furnishing a dollhouse with handmade furniture and she liked to read. Her favorite book was ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Often on Sundays after church, Gertrude enjoyed trips to visit her grandparents' farm. Along the way, she and Frances would stop to pick the wildflowers they both loved. Gertrude's favorite flower was the violet.

Her family was a very musical one. They were able to have a family orchestra, and Gertrude enjoyed playing the cello. Her father had brought her one from New York ---a cello, a bow, a case and an instruction book. All together, he paid $14. Later, as an adult, she began playing the pipe organ and sometimes substituted for the church organist.

Due to ill health, Ms. Warner never finished high school. She left in the middle of her second year and studied with a tutor. Then, in 1918, when teachers were called to serve in World War I, the school board asked her to teach first grade. She had forty children in the morning and forty more in the afternoon. Ms. Warner wrote, "I was asked or begged to take this job because I taught Sunday School. But believe me, day school is nothing like Sunday School, and I sure learned by doing --- I taught in that same room for 32 years, retiring at 60 to have more time to write." Eventually, Ms. Warner attended Yale, where she took several teacher training courses.

Once when she was sick and had to stay home from teaching, she thought up the story about the Boxcar Children. It was inspired by her childhood dreams. As a child, she had spent hours watching the trains go by near her family's home. Sometimes she could look through the window of a caboose and see a small stove, a little table, cracked cups with no saucers, and a tin coffee pot boiling away on the stove. The sight had fascinated her and made her dream about how much fun it would be to live and keep house in a boxcar or caboose. She read the story to her classes and rewrote it many times so the words were easy to understand. Some of her pupils spoke other languages at home and were just learning English. THE BOXCAR CHILDREN gave them a fun story that was easy to read.

Ms. Warner once wrote for her fans, "Perhaps you know that the original BOXCAR CHILDREN. . . raised a storm of protest from librarians who thought the children were having too good a time without any parental control! That is exactly why children like it! Most of my own childhood exploits, such as living in a freight car, received very little cooperation from my parents."

Though the story of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN went through some changes after it was first written, the version that we are familiar with today was originally published in 1942 by Scott Foresman. Today, Albert Whitman & Company publishes this first classic story as well as the next eighteen Alden children adventures that were written by Ms. Warner.

Gertrude Chandler Warner died in 1979 at the age of 89 after a full life as a teacher, author, and volunteer for the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations. After her death, Albert Whitman & Company continued to receive mail from children across the country asking for more adventures about Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny Alden. In 1991, Albert Whitman added to THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES so that today's children can enjoy many more adventures about this independent and caring group of children.

Books about Gertrude: https://www.goodreads.com/characters/...

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot of The Boxcar Children is literally everyone's childhood dream 🥹 As cute and nostalgic as this graphic novel was, nothing will every quite match the original. I definitely think this was still a really amazing book and loved seeing the story drawn exactly how I always imagined it when I read it as a kid. If you were/are a fan of these books, I highly recommend checking this out when it gets published!

Pre-read
So excited to read this arc because I am one of many people who LOVED the boxcar children books as a kid 🤭 I just know this is gonna be so nostalgic 🥹

[Hannah Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this update to the classic series! I read this series as a child, and this was a special experience for me. It was a nostalgic adventure getting to read this story in a graphic novel form with my own children! The creative collaboration of Giovanni Abeille and Whitney Cogar mixed with the story adaptation from Meika Hashimoto was a brilliant and dynamic partnership. It really brought this story to life in a new imaginative way. This is a great novel to start with if you are an early reader and looking for a mystery! If you read the Gertrude Chandler Warner classics, you will love reading this upgrade to the series!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing about classic children’s literature is that often the language and the situations are not as timeless as we may think they are, and modern kids can’t relate.

If you are familiar with the original BoxCar children, this is an updated version of them. They still live in an abandoned boxcar, and are still making friends with a small-town country doctor, but the children dress in up-to-date clothes.

This is a gentle story, really. The children’s parents have died, and they don’t want to live with their grandfather, because he didn’t approve of their parent’s marriage, so they think he must be a bad man. They run away, and find a place to live in the boxcar, and the oldest works for the country doctor to earn money so they can buy food that they can’t forage. It is the summer, so they don’t have to worry about freezing, or going to school.

All-in-all a good introduction to the series for a new generation of middle-grade readers.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published the 25th of August 2026.

[Lissa Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored the Boxcar Children series in elementary school. I checked out every one our school library had multiple times.
I am pleased to say that this graphic novel adaptation feels faithful to my memories from all those years ago.

My only quibble is that the art style is a bit simple for my tastes, but not annoyingly so.

Recommended for readers of all ages, those just finding the series and those recalling it.

[Michael B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, my all time favorite series of books was The Boxcar Children. I had at least 75 copies of the various books, and devoured every one. I was so excited when I discovered that the series is being adapted into graphic novels, and beyond thrilled when I was selected to review an ARC.

They did a beautiful job of adapting the story into this new format. The text stays true to the original narrative and the illustrations are colorful and eye-catching. Of course, when switching to this format, some things had to be removed, but the overall story does not deviate from the original.

It was a joy to dive back into the world of Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny again. The Alden children helped shape my childhood, and I’m thrilled that they will continue to be favorites of new young readers.

If you were a Boxcar Children fan in your younger years, or if you are today, you will love this adaptation. And, if you have children in your life, this is a great way you can share a piece of your childhood with them.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good graphic novel adaption of my favorite children’s book! The artwork was great and brought the story to life. I am excited to see a new generation of kids discover this story!
I was provided an advanced copy of this book which has not affected my review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Boxcar Children Graphic Novel!! I can't wait to recommend this series as a graphic novel to my library and purchase my own copy!

The four Alden kids are back, revamped in style but with the same stories and love for each other that has been adored for generations now! As a long-time favorite of mine, I jumped at the opportunity to read an early copy. My own copy of the story is well worn and loved from the MULTIPLE times I have read it since childhood (and I'm almost 40 now). There is something so special about Henry, Jessie, Violet, Benny and their dog Watch that is so heartwarming. Despite hardships of the loss of their parents, and being on the run from their grandfather whom they believe to be a grumpy man, they never let that stop them or discourage them. The children protect and care for one another, helping each other stay safe and working hard together.

The new graphic style edition brings a modern feel to the writing and the images, which young children today may not understand or relate to in the classic versions as well. I think this is such a great idea, and it's fun to have so many pictures! I remember the old sketch drawings to be my favorite, but they were few within the classic books. Now you get the full color edition of the Alden children's adventures bringing them to life again. The writing style is simpler for young readers, and the story is divided into easy short chapters, making it easy to keep littles with reading struggles from being overwhelmed.

I am so fond of this series, I happily await for more titles and can't wait to see all the kids at our libraries excitedly checking these out in future - a whole new generation enjoying these beloved stories!

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The runaway orphans who are icons of self-reliance and moxie have their first adventure adapted into graphic novel format for the second time. This Random House edition is significantly longer and better than the 2009 version put out by Albert Whitman and Company.

Adapter Meika Hashimoto does a good job catching the spirit of the original novel while outlining the highlights of their time living in the boxcar that is the namesake of their century-old brand. And Giovanni Abeille makes it look pretty good (except maybe for that ridiculous dam for the swimming hole).

The adaptation includes every chapter from the original book, though Chapter Six is now "A Strange Noise in the Night," a slight edit from the book's "A Queer Noise in the Night."

The original novel series definitely went on too long, but I look forward to revisiting the enjoyable early novels as this adaptation series continues over the next few years.


Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapter One. The Four Hungry Children -- Chapter Two. Night Is Turned into Day -- Chapter Three. A New Home in the Woods -- Chapter Four. Henry Has Two Surprises -- Chapter Five. The Explorers Find Treasure -- Chapter Six. A Strange Noise in the Night -- Chapter Seven. A Big Meal from Little Onions -- Chapter Eight. A Swimming Pool at Last -- Chapter Nine. Fun in the Cherry Orchard -- Chapter Ten. Henry and the Free-for-All -- Chapter Eleven. The Doctor Takes a Hand -- Chapter Twelve. James Henry and Henry James -- Chapter Thirteen. A New Home for the Boxcar

[Elly Christmas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from Random House Children's Books via Netgalley. This review is my opinion that has not been influenced by receiving it as an ARC.

I loved this book; it was very well done. It brought the children's book to life. It was very well done. Easy to follow for young readers, so that they can visually see the characters and follow the story in an easier way.

Bring to life Henry, who is the oldest, who works to provide for the younger siblings. The young siblings helped make the old boxcar they found into a home. Watching them enjoy the summer without having to worry about staying warm in the winter. It was cute to see how they found and reused what people had thrown out. The children were creative in how they foraged for food, and made meals out of the simple items Henrey was able to get from working for the Doctor.

The graphic novel did highlight how the children were afraid of their grandfather, who they believed was a mean man, because of how he felt about their parents' marriage. So the children really did not want to live with their grandfather. But that changed after Violet got sick and they met their grandfather. Their opinion of him changed an they realized that maybe he isn't what they were led to believe.

This story does follow the novel very well. It was nicely illustrated and easy for young children to read. I would say 3rd-7th graders would enjoy this book. Even older children would as well. Graphic novels are becoming a great way to reach children of any age.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Good heavens, the original Boxcar Children books are more than 100 years old. But, you know what? The stories still hold up today. My reluctant reader really glommed onto these books in first grade and helped her become more interested in reading. A new graphic novel reimagines the original book for a new generation.

What I really liked about this new version of The Boxcar Children is that everything from the original book is still present in this updated version. The story remains the same. The clothes the kids wear is nondescript and could be any kids in any time period. Yet, the adults are all in period wear, or old timey stuff, as my kids say. When Henry walks to town and takes up odd jobs for a doctor, he mows the lawn and uses one of those old push mowers that I remember sitting in our garage.

What I think kids might be able to relate to is that Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are very resourceful kids. Left to their own devices because they are orphaned, the figure things out on their own, they create or refashion things to fit their situation. That sense of independence will appeal to any age child, and the graphic novel format makes the book more accessible to all sorts of readers.

[thestarsue · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

First of all, a HUGE thank you to Random House Children's Books for allowing me access to an ARC of this book via NetGalley! It's my first ARC and it's really special to me that it gets to be of a series I held very close to my heart as a kid.

This book was absolutely beautiful! As someone who grew up reading some of the Boxcar Children books, it is so beautiful and exciting to see a graphic novel of the series come to life. I think that writing a graphic novel is such a great way to honor such a memorable series and make it even more accessible. The story was so well-paced, the art was so cute, and the characters were absolutely loveable. I enjoyed every second of this graphic novel and read it all in one sitting.
I think one thing that could be improved is the frame-to-frame transitions; I feel that some of the frames needed another frame inbetween to further explain/demonstrate what was going on. This only came up a few times throughout the book; for the most part, the frames flowed well.
I loved this book and am beyond excited to see its release!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I love these kids, and I have to say this version's illustrations are leaps and bounds better than the other graphic novel like ten years ago. I still loose a bit of the nostolgia of Vi loosing her mind about the dishes and making it a proper "home", it's there but in a much more "normal" way-- though we are still using a bit of hot water on dump dishes. The dump wasn't nearly as bad as the book one though so maybe I can give it a pass. You also don't have their bonkers milk drinks where they put everything in and down it, in fact I think the one boy even tells Benny to eat each thing one at a time. It was sprinkled in a bit, like when the doctor stalked them back to their boxcar, so all was not lost. All in all, it's a charming update on a classic, just missing that 1930's oddness I equate the series with.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy (digital) to form opinions from.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great adaptation for the Boxcar Children. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are orphans because their parents have died, and they think their grandfather doesn’t like them. They find an old abandoned boxcar and make it their home. Henry finds work at Dr. Moore’s house. An abandoned dog shows up, and they name him Watch. As the days go by, Henry continues to work for the doctor and brings home money and food. The doctor needs more help and Benny comes along. One day the doctor sees something in the paper about the missing four children offering a reward if they’re found. When Violet gets sick one day, they get the doctor to come who brings her back to his house. The others come. In the morning a man is sitting there, and it turns out to be their grandfather. He offers to take them back to his house? Will they go?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have very fond memories of reading The Boxcar Children in elementary school. It was so fun to refresh my memory on the story.
This volume follows 4 siblings whose parents have died and they are trying to make their way on their own. They find an old abandoned boxcar in the woods and decide to live there.
While the story is a little far fetched, especially in this time (I know it was originally written a very long time ago), it was still really fun to watch these siblings work together to create a life for themselves. As the eldest sibling, Henry constantly goes into town to find work so he can bring home food and necessities for the others. He ends up doing a lot of yard work for a very kind doctor and when his sister Violet gets sick, he feels comfortable enough to bring her to the doctor's house. The sibling bond between all 4 of them is very strong and heartwarming.
The artwork is so cute and I think really fits the story. It's bright and colorful and I think it will entice a lot of children to read it.
I hope they are planning to do more graphic novels in this series because I would love to continue reading them!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boxcar Children graphic novel adaptation is a warm, engaging success for readers ages 7–10.

The pacing is strong and the text is highly readable, making this an excellent choice for independent and developing readers. The illustrations are vivid, inviting, and timeless, enhancing comprehension and maintaining engagement throughout. Subtle nods to the original time period appear in details like automobiles and adult clothing, while a few modern touches are blended in seamlessly and never feel distracting.

As a longtime fan of the original—and a parent of a reluctant reader who responds best to visual storytelling—I was pleasantly surprised by how well this adaptation captured the warmth and charm I remember. This is a thoughtful, accessible update that will resonate with both new readers and families familiar with the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s book for an ARC of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of The Boxcar Children Graphic Novel, which I promptly read on my color e-reader.

As a child, The Boxcar Children was one of the first chapter books I read independently, and while it has been over thirty years, revisiting the story now as an adult felt familiar and also educational. I did not know the story was written now just over 100 years ago!

The illustrations moved the story along at a great pace, and I felt like I connected with the kids and their adventure of finding their new home together in the woods.

I would gladly recommend this books to parents for their kids and suggest that libraries get copies to lend, both physical and digital. I hope that more of the series gets translated to graphic novel form, as it would be fun to see the Boxcar Children and their adventures.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive a digital ARC of this graphic novel from NetGalley. I absolutely LOVED this series when I was a kid. The idea of kids living in an old boxcar and making a home with scavenged objects, hand picked wild berries and fresh bottles of milk bought with money made doing odd jobs. Though the original story is over 100 years old, the story’s charm remains untarnished. I loved seeing the four siblings brought to life in full color illustrations and easy-to-read text. This book is perfect for the early elementary crowd, especially because this could be a great starter graphic novel for independent reading. This falls short of 5 stars because it seemed to over simplify the story and felt a bit too superficial for me, but maybe that’s because I have such fondness for the source material.

[Margaret Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read and review this book! The whole experience was super nostalgic for me. The Boxcar Children was one of the first chapter books I read, and I read many more in the series throughout my childhood.

The graphic novel version is fun, quick to read, and faithful to the original book. I think this would be a great gateway into the series for younger kids who may not have the attention span for a full chapter book but love to look at pictures!

For me as an adult reading this book, the illustrations weren't my absolute favorite. They could've been prettier, but I think they worked with the story and the bright colors will appeal to younger kids for sure. The story was also simplified a little, which again, is great for younger children. I love that this opens it up to a new audience!

Overall, I have no real complaints. If I have any kids in the future, I would definitely buy this for them! It absolutely lived up to my expectations and it was so much fun to jump back into the lives of the Alden children for an hour or two:)

[Polycraftory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about nostalgia! I loved the Boxcar Children books as a kid and I was so excited to see there was a new graphic novel series coming out now. The art is so beautiful! It is just what I remembered of the books. It is simple, not overly sad or anything, and it wraps up in a happy way that makes sense. I remember thinking about how cool their adventures were as a kid and now as an adult I cannot believe they were just in the woods on their own for any amount of time! Hah! But, this is wonderful, it will be great for children, its punchy in color and content and it's just what I remember loving from 10-12 years old.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love The Boxcar Children, and here is a very enjoyable way to introduce them to a new generation. Readers of any age will love meeting the Aldens again or for the first time in the same beloved story with excellent updated pictures. I read it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. I eagerly wait for more of the series to be published in this format.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from the publisher through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ashley Stookey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for the Advanced Readers Copy!

This book is a graphic novel version of the classic "The Boxcar Children". It really brings the story to life with great artwork. A simple yet entertaining story, I could see this being popular with the sixth graders in the middle school library I work in! I'm definitely interested in adding it to our collection, and I could see it helping them be more interested in picking up the original series!

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Boxcar Children Graphic Novel coming out August 25, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love graphic novels! I grew up on reading the Boxcar Children books. I loved all the mysteries and adventures they went on. So I was excited to receive this. This book was really fun. I hope it helps new generations get interested in a classic series.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7yo (the target audience) loved thiS graphic novel version of The Boxcar Children. He adores the series and enjoyed seeing it with pictures. I felt like some background information was skipped or glossed over due to the small amount of dialogue. But overall it stayed true to the novel version and the illustrations were cute.

[Josie J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The boxcar children is a book that showed me how cool it was to read. My 4th grade teacher had me read it and this story has had a soft spot in my heart ever since. I'm so excited that this book will live a new life in the graphic novel format. This was very faithful too it's source.

[Sophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that they took this classic series and turned it into a graphic novel so a new generation can enjoy it. The art is beautifully done and brings fresh life to the story. Everything about this adaptation was enjoyable. I’ll definitely be adding it to our collection, and I hope they continue releasing more of the series in graphic novel form.

[Crim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very quick and easy read. For older fans this may not satisfy or compare to the books. But its not meant to. They do a wonderful job at getting all the key points from the story in there. Nothing beats the details and story of the original chapter books though. Just such magic in them. But the graphic novel is done super well!

I thank netgalley for this gift to read early.

[Stas · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a fun arc read, I loved the Boxcar Children books as a kid and its fun that theyre getting adapted into new graphic novels. these are obviously for young readers but the story is wholesome and I would definitely gift these to a kiddo learning to read.

thanks netgalley for the arc access!

[Haruka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!! The storyline was great. About family. I enjoyed reading the story. The way they take care of each other was very touching. I wanna read more about their adventures!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the first time this book has been made into a graphic novel. It's the Boxcar Children, so how can it be wrong. I enjoyed the layout, the pace of the book, the artwork and other elements of this graphic novel. Buy for your kids.

[Courtney Niederer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this graphic novel of The Boxcar Children, one of my favorite childhood books ever!