Incorrect use of the term graphic novel.

The English term "graphic novel" refers to a comic strip, i.e., a novel drawn in sequential images. The term "grahic" does not mean "explicit" in this context.

Whatever wordreference or any other reference may say, the overwhelming majority of people in my part of the English speaking world would be aghast at the suggestion of a ‘graphic novel’ for a child ! Do you mean a ‘picture book’, an ‘illustrated novel’, or a ‘comic strip’ ? 

Here is what Wikipedia has on this:

A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term graphic novel is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics scholars and industry professionals. It is, at least in the United States, typically distinct from the term comic book, which is generally used for comics periodicals and trade paperbacks (see American comic book).[1][2]

That is a technical description of ‘graphic novel, ’ but if parents were sent a school notice that their child was about to study a ‘graphic novel’, there would be a lot of consternation and complaint, at least in some English-speaking parts of the world. 

There are many fields and situations in which technical language has a quite different connotation to the everyday understanding of the same terms. 

I agree with the rest of the native English speakers.  The term graphic novel would never connote any sort of illustrated book, particularly for a child.  Instead it connotes a text laden with descriptions of violence,  difficult visual scenes, and perhaps even sexual matter.  As a parent, I would be shocked if someone gave a nine-year old a "graphic novel." 

I agree that the usage of the term 'Graphic Novel' is not done in everyday language. It surprised me when I read it too and I would just say a 'Comic Strip'.

To me, a “graphic novel” refers to a long form comic, normally aimed at the teen to adult age range. The word “graphic” only refers to the fact that the story is drawn out in a storyboard format. If you’re not familiar with these books, then you could easily think that the “graphic” in “graphic novel” referred to the presence of sex/violence/etc in the story. To complicate matters, graphic novels often deal with darker storylines that can be, well… graphic!

I was surprised to see Maarten and Frank's responses that a "graphic novel" refers to a novel with graphic content, as opposed essentially a long-form comic. In the U.S. it definitely refers to the latter, and I understand that's also the case in the UK (although I'm less sure on this as I am not British nor have I lived in the UK, but I remember seeing the term graphic novel in bookstores in London). Perhaps in other English-speaking countries this isn't the case, but the U.S. and UK are the two largest predominantly English-speaking countries in the world.