Raina Telgemeier

Raina Telgemeier (born May 26, 1977) is an American cartoonist best known for her autobiographical and middle-grade graphic novels, which have become modern staples of children’s literature. Born in San Francisco, California, she grew up in a creative household and began drawing early, later studying illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her path into comics started with the webcomic *Smile*, which chronicled her own traumatic dental injury and adolescence; it was published as a full-color graphic novel in 2010 and became a *New York Times* bestseller. She followed with the companion *Sisters*, along with the fiction graphic novel *Drama*, both also bestsellers. Telgemeier’s signature style combines clear, expressive linework with warm, saturated colors, and she often collaborates with editor and colorist Braden Lamb. She has written and illustrated *Ghosts* and *Guts*, and adapted four of Ann M. Martin’s *The Baby-Sitters Club* stories into graphic novels, which she also drew. Her work is praised for its honest, relatable portrayal of childhood anxieties and family dynamics. Telgemeier has received multiple Eisner Awards, including for *Smile*, and her books have sold millions of copies worldwide, cementing her legacy as a pivotal voice in comics for young readers. She continues to write and draw, with new projects in development.