Just like books, these clever cartoons will help you reduce stress – and provide refreshing reasons to read even more books.

A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading for just 6 minutes can reduce stress by up to 68%.

It turns out books can be a more efficient relaxation method than listening to music, meditating, or even taking a short walk.

What’s an even more efficient stress reliever? A good cartoon will make you laugh out loud, force stress to leave, and instantly improve your mood. One cartoon a day keeps the bad mood away, one would say.

Cartoons about books and libraries are exceptional because they don’t just entertain. They give book lovers the continuous flow of reasons why reading is important and why there is no such excuse as “I don’t have time for reading.”

Every time, when I check my Twitter timeline and come across a new cartoon by Tom Gauld or Grant Snider, I am laughing my head off, admiring the wisdom and creativity of my favorite cartoonists. And I end up switching from Twitter to my book reading app.

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Which of the cartoons listed below would make you close the computer, pick up a good book, and start reading?

Best cartoons for book lovers – artists to follow

Grant Snider – this Kansas-based writer and comic strip artist creates cartoons tailored for the digital era. Most of them are devoted to books, libraries, and reading. You can find his most recent cartoons on Incidental Comics blog and Twitter profile. Snider is the author of a few books that will delight book lovers around the world. I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf is a collection of witty illustrations showing the joys of reading in the modern world.

Tom Gauld – drawings from this Scottish cartoonist are highly addictive. They combine a minimalist drawing style with a unique sense of humor. You can find more info on Tom Gauld’s website, including links to his gorgeous books such as The Snooty Bookshop, as well as original artwork for sale. If you want to see his latest cartoons drawn for The Guardian Review or New Scientist, make sure to follow him on Twitter.

Maureen “Marzi” Wilson – this book-loving cartoonist and graphic designer is the artist behind a highly popular webcomic Introvert Doodles, where you can find many stories that and book lovers would enjoy to the fullest. So far, Marzi has released four illustrated books with hilarious and heartwarming doodles every introvert will identify with.

Do you want to see more book-related comics and illustrations? Make sure to check out our lists of the best library cartoons and cartoons about ebooks and digital reading.

50 best cartoons for book lovers

1

The beloved book – the cartoon by Grant Snider. How does your favorite book look like? Have you bought a new copy because the old one has fallen apart? ⇢ Credits and more info.

2

Stages of reading a good book – the cartoon by Three Under The Rain. ⇢ Credits and more info.

3

Hard to stop reading – the cartoon by Aaron Caycedo-Kimura (INFJoe). “That paragraph just flowed right into the next.” ⇢ Credits and more info.

4

Classic fiction with binary numbers – the cartoon by Tom Gauld. Which one would you read? ⇢ Credits and more info.

5

Best smells, ranked – the cartoon by Mike Hinson for BuzzFeed. What is the greatest smell in the world? ⇢ Credits and more info.

6

Names for my novels – the cartoon by Grant Snider. Do you think about writing a novel? Do you already have a title? I would add “250 blank pages.” ⇢ Credits and more info.

7

Bookshops in the future – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. Have you ever wondered how bookshops would look in the future? ⇢ Credits and more info.

8

I love this book – the cartoon by Liz Climo. ⇢ Credits and more info.

9

Minimalist bookshelves – the cartoon by Grant Snider. How does your bookshelf look like? Mine is a window ledge with a sleeping cat. ⇢ Credits and more info.

10

Rearranging my bookshelves – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. There are books I want to read and books I want people to see behind me on Zoom calls. ⇢ Credits and more info.

11

Books versus phones – the cartoon by Shen Comix. ⇢ Credits and more info.

12

Book collection – the cartoon by Introvert Doodles. Which books take the most of your bookshelf? ⇢ Credits and more info.

13

Novels for time-pressed modern readers – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. ⇢ Credits and more info.

14

My ideal library – the cartoon by Grant Snider. What’s a favorite thing in your library? ⇢ Credits and more info.

15

Thoughts I have at the library – the cartoon by Introvert Doodles. “I can’t believe they’re letting me just walk out of here without paying for these! I feel like I’m shoplifting!” ⇢ Credits and more info.

16

Prequels to classic novels – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. I’d love to read “The Young Man and the Sea”! ⇢ Credits and more info.

17

Other people’s bookshelves – the cartoon by Grant Snider. You should never judge a book by its cover, but judging others by their bookshelves is a completely different story. ⇢ Credits and more info.

18

How to enjoy a fine book – the cartoon by Aaron Caycedo-Kimura (INFJoe). ⇢ Credits and more info.

19

Reading outside – the cartoon by Pedro Fequiere for BuzzFeed. Expectation versus reality. It always ends up like this! ⇢ Credits and more info.

20

Reading: what it feels like – the cartoon by Three Under the Rain. How does your reading feel like? ⇢ Credits and more info.

21

The writer’s block – the cartoon by Grant Snider. These symptoms very well describe the reader’s block, as well. ⇢ Credits and more info.

22

This book makes me sad – the cartoon by Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz (War and Peas). ⇢ Credits and more info.

23

Holiday reading – the cartoon by Tom Gauld. How many books do you usually take with you when you go on holiday? ⇢ Credits and more info.

24

My holiday wish list – the cartoon by Grant Snider. What books are on your holiday reading list? Do you have enough space for all of them? ⇢ Credits and more info.

25

How to tell if your dog is interested in the novel you are writing – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. ⇢ Credits and more info.

26

How to tell if your cat is interested in the novel you are writing – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. ⇢ Credits and more info.

27

How’s that book? – the cartoon by Liz Climo. Don’t stop reading a book. That would be childish. ⇢ Credits and more info.

28

Books are… – the cartoon by Grant Snider, after Rudine Sims Bishop. Books are windows, stepping stones, escape hatches, beacons to new readers, and so much more! ⇢ Credits and more info.

29

Browsing used books – the cartoon by Introvert Doodles. Oh, the joy of recognizing old friends! ⇢ Credits and more info.

30

Children in the library – the cartoon by Grant Snider. Please do not leave children unattended in the library. ⇢ Credits and more info.

31

The perfect summer holiday read – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. What’s your perfect summer holiday read? ⇢ Credits and more info.

32

Stay-at-home-reading – the cartoon by Grant Snider. Your favorite place at your home to read books? ⇢ Credits and more info.

33

Picture books for young billionaires – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. I’m hesitating between “The Cat in the Private Jet” and “The Very Wealthy Caterpillar”. ⇢ Credits and more info.

34

Dances with books – the cartoon by Grant Snider. My favorite dance is plot twist combined with page turn. What about you? ⇢ Credits and more info.

35

Bookworm’s wildest dreams – the cartoon by Three Under The Rain. What are your wildest dreams involving books? ⇢ Credits and more info.

36

Nobel Prize in Literature FAQs – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. ⇢ Credits and more info.

37

Perfect reading spots – the cartoon by Grant Snider. What was the most unusual reading place you’ve ever been in your life? ⇢ Credits and more info.

38

Tragic deaths in a badly written novel – the cartoon by Tom Gauld. ⇢ Credits and more info.

39

Finding herself – the cartoon by Introvert Doodles. Why is it that whenever there’s a novel about a woman trying to find herself, she ends up finding… ⇢ Credits and more info.

40

Reading goals – the cartoon by Grant Snider. What are your reading goals? Update them with some of these clever ideas. ⇢ Credits and more info.

41

Any plans for the weekend? – the cartoon by Aaron Caycedo-Kimura (INFJoe). What’s your triathlon training plan for the weekend? ⇢ Credits and more info.

42

New on your e-reader – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. Which personality mode would you use? ⇢ Credits and more info.

43

The book fair – the cartoon by Grant Snider. I have to try speed reading contest and bestseller bumper cars. ⇢ Credits and more info.

44

Reader’s block – the cartoon by Grant Snider. Do you suffer reader’s block sometimes? ⇢ Credits and more info.

45

Why do you read so many books? – the cartoon by Introvert Doodles. ⇢ Credits and more info.

46

Portrait of a parent reading – the cartoon by Grant Snider. A big round of applause for all parents who read books to their children. ⇢ Credits and more info.

47

Holiday reading – the cartoon by Grant Snider. What books are on your summer reading list (and do they include cold, ice, or snow)? ⇢ Credits and more info.

48

Classic books reissued with lower standards – the cartoon by Tom Gauld for the Guardian Review. Trying to imagine the mediocre Wizard of Oz. ⇢ Credits and more info.

49

Stages of becoming a reading multitasker – the cartoon by Introvert Doodles. I’m somewhere between “skilled” and “professional”. You? ⇢ Credits and more info.

50

Stages of the reader – the cartoon by Grant Snider. What stage are you at? ⇢ Credits and more info.

Keep exploring. Here are recent lists our readers love the most:

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Another brilliant cartoon by John Atkinson!

More cartoons to check out:

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From Common Sense, a leading online source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families, comes a wonderful visual that lists reasons why, in our rapidly changing world, libraries and librarians matter more than ever before.

Via Kristin Plue on Twitter.

Interested in more pics and images about books and libraries? Take a look:

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The World Book Day 2020 takes place in the United Kingdom on March 5, and Tom Gauld has created a clever cartoon to celebrate it. It has just been published by the Guardian Review of Books.

Via Tom Gauld on Twitter.

Check out more pics and cartoons about books and libraries:

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Here is another incredible comic by Grant Snider. This time it was created for the NY Times Book Review.

Via Incidental Comics on Tumblr.

More cartoons to check out:

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Another fantastic cartoon created by Tom Gauld for the Guardian.

More cartoons to check out:

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The newest cartoon from our beloved Grant Snider / Incidental Comics.

More cartoons to check out:

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What is the main reason for reading books? Here is another insightful cartoon by Debbie Tung.

It’s included in her new book, published in January by Andrews McMeel Publishing, Book Love. You can get it in both print and Kindle editions.

More cartoons to check out:

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Another awesome cartoon by John Atkinson / Wrong Hands.

More to check out:

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This is just one of dozens of gorgeous cartoons from a new book by Debbie Tung, Book Love.

Bookworms rejoice! These charming comics capture exactly what it feels like to be head-over-heels for hardcovers. And paperbacks! And ebooks! And bookstores! And libraries!

Via Debbie Tung blog.

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More to explore:

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