Kids love visual media, sometimes too much. Graphic, cartoon-based books help bridge the gap between TV and video games and the most valuable virtues of reading. These new books offer cartoon appeal and fun tales.

"Zebrafish" by Peter H. Reynolds; Atheneum/Simon and Schuster; 120 pages; $16.99.

This thoughtful, creative tale of a young teen's band has all the zest and excitement of any rock 'n' roll tale. It also introduces the fear that comes with sickness and the hope and promise friends can provide. What's a zebrafish, by the way? It's a small transparent fish researchers use to study disease, which features into this multifaceted tale when band leader Vita gets leukemia.

Part of a multimedia project supported by Generation Cures, Reynolds and his FableVision company tie together an online platform that includes webisodes, games and websites about "Zebrafish." The team aims, with visual storytelling, to assist Generation Cures in its quest to save kids' lives and teach them compassion at the same time.

Bonus: The colorful, animated tale really rocks!

"Tower of Treasure" by Scott Chantler; Kids Can Press; 112 pages; $17.95.

Acclaimed graphic novelist and commercial illustrator, Chantler's new series for kids, "Three Thieves," starts freshly with book one. In it, 14-year-old orphan Dessa is an acrobat with a traveling circus in medieval times. When her scruffy circus reaches the city of Kingsbridge, Dessa believes she'll find her twin brother, long ago snatched away by a mysterious man.

But first, Dessa, the circus strongman and Topper the juggler embark upon a series of desperate robberies, all while traveling the world searching for Dessa's brother.

Lots of excitement with a look set in "Shrek" times, "Tower of Treasure" has all the graphic aplomb needed to score big with readers ages 9 to 14.

"A Sam & Friends Mystery: Mummy Mayhem" by Mary Labatt and Jo Rioux; Kids Can Press; 95 pages; $15.95.

Number three in the series, "Mummy Mayhem" is a refreshingly lighthearted cartoon tale beginning readers especially will love. Sam is a shaggy sheepdog who visits a museum with his girl pals to research mummies for their school project. But along the way, Sam sees what he believes is a real mummy. The mysterious mummy appears from time to time when Sam is out walking in the snow, but the girls never spot the creature.

Mummy trivia, fluffy mystery and clean black-and-white illustrations make Labatt's latest an easy, satisfying read that feels a bit like a "Scooby Doo" episode. Who's the mummy? Just an overzealous jogger with too many layers of down jacket.

"Amulet: The Cloud Searchers" by Kazu Kibuishi; Graphix/Scholastic; 200 pages; $10.99.

Book three in the "Amulet" series, Kibuishi's adventurous tale about two heroic children determined to save a magical world from destruction is action-packed and thrilling. Robotic dragons, elf kings and an island high above the clouds are just a few of the highly imaginative things dotting the landscape of Kibuishi's world.

Plenty of high-quality anime from the critically acclaimed comic artist fills the pages, and the otherworldly story will entice fans of "Avatar" and "The Last Airbender."

"Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray: The Uproar at the Front Door" by Nick Bruel; Roaring Book Press/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; 160 pages; $13.99.

In one corner — Bad Kitty, ferocious feline striking fear in the hearts of man and beast. In the other corner — Uncle Murray, couch potato cat sitter who doesn't stand a chance. Who will win? Why, Bad Kitty, of course, who is all mischief and pugnacity and hilariously wins out every time with his pranks and craziness.

More than two million "Bad Kitty" books — "Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty," "Bad Kitty" and "Bad Kitty Gets a Bath," (plus "Poor Puppy") — are in print, making Bruel's uproariously riotous graphic novels for young children ages 7 to 10 popularly fantastic.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.