Raina

Telgemeier

Middle Grade Graphic Novelist

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Travels from: San Francisco, CA

“Telgemeier is prodigiously talented at telling cheerful stories with realistic portrayals of middle-school characters.” — Booklist, starred review

Raina Telgemeier is the author and illustrator of the graphic novels Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts, all #1 New York Times bestsellers. She also adapted and illustrated four graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series, and has contributed short stories to many anthologies. Raina’s accolades include six Eisner Awards, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, a Stonewall Honor, and many Best-of and Notables lists.

Raina has two new books, Facing Feelings: The Art of Raina Telgemeier, An Exhibition Catalogue (August 2024), and The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel (April 2025), written with Scott McCloud. It is a one-of-a-kind friendship story about creativity and self-expression that blends how-to and comics magic.

A critically acclaimed comics artist, Raina Telgemeier grew up in San Francisco, then moved to New York City, where she earned an illustration degree at the School of Visual Arts. Now, Raina lives and works in San Francisco, CA.

Please Note: Raina is currently only available for virtual visits… please be in touch with any questions!

Raina's Featured Titles

My Life in Comics | In-Person or Virtual (All Ages)

Raina will share a fast-paced visual lecture for the first 20 minutes, sharing her journey from kid reader/artist to teenage cartoonist to professional author—including where her ideas come from, using her life as a springboard for stories, and what inspired her style. She’ll share tons of art from milestones along the way, and offer a peak into the process of making a graphic novel! The remaining time will be spent creating artwork live for the audience, while simultaneously answering their questions.

60-minute lectures will include a live reading from one of her books, tapping members of the audience to participate with voices and sound effects!

Audience Size: Any, from small groups to large assemblies
40-60 minutes, Ages 7 and up

Smile: A Look Inside | In-Person or Virtual (All Ages)

Raina will share a behind the scenes look at the creation of her graphic memoir Smile, discussing her memories of middle school, dentistry, frenemies, and finding solace in making comics. She’ll share anecdotes and a peek at the process of creating a graphic novel, and answer audience questions at the end.

60-minute lectures will include a live reading from Smile, tapping members of the audience to participate with voices and sound effects!

Audience Size: Any, from small groups to large assemblies
40-60 minutes, Ages 7 and up

It Takes Guts | In-Person or Virtual (All Ages)

Raina will share a gentle look at the creation of her most recent graphic memoir Guts, discussing anxiety, fear, therapy, art, and friendship. She will include childhood photos and some process art to break down the making of a graphic novel, and discuss why it’s so important to share your inner world with those around you. There will be time for audience questions at the end. (Note: No imagery of throwing up will be included.)

Audience Size: Any, from small groups to large assemblies
40 minutes, Ages 9 and up

Q&A Sessions | In-Person or Virtual (All Ages)

Q & A for groups who have read one or more of my books.

Audience Size: Classroom-size group
30 minutes, Ages 9 and up

Turn Your Life Into A Comic | In-Person Only (All Ages)

Raina brings the magic of making comics right into the room, by soliciting stories from the audience and choosing one story to adapt into a one-page comic, in front of the audience’s eyes! All that’s needed is a marker and a large pad of drawing paper (or a drawing surface and an overhead projector).

Audience Size: Any, from small groups to large assemblies
60 minutes, Ages 7 and up

Why Comics? | In-Person or Virtual (Adult Audiences)

Graphic novels are real books, and comics are real reading! Kids agree, but sometimes adults need convincing. We’ll talk about the magic of comics, how they inspire imagination and engagement, and frequently turn reluctant readers into insatiable devotees. We’ll also discuss book bans and challenges. Raina will share comic and graphic novel recommendations for all reading levels.

Audience Size: Classroom-size group or assembly
40 minutes, Adult and professional groups

Graphic Novels: The Heart of the Matter | In-Person or Virtual (Adult Audiences)

What makes a work resonate with its readers? How do you use the medium of comics to push emotions further than images or words alone? Raina will share some of her tips and tricks, as well as discuss the fragile boundaries of what to include or not include on the page.

Audience Size: Classroom-size group
40 minutes, College and up

Graphic Novels: Memoir and Middle Grade | In-Person or Virtual (Adult Audiences)

Adults interested in creating middle grade and memoir comics for the book publishing marketplace will hear an in-depth lecture about ideas, motivation, art school (is it worth it?), agents, editors, pitching, and tailoring their work for the intended audience. There will be plenty of time to ask questions, brainstorm, and exchange information.

Longer sessions may include limited time for critique of audience work, although this must be coordinated in advance.

Audience Size: Classroom-size group
40-60 minutes, College and up

Reading Rockets | Raina Telgemeier: Guts — let’s just talk about it

Gene Luen Yang and Raina Telgemeier at the San Francisco Public Library

Comic Con International | Raina and Robin in Conversation

Chatting with Raina Telgemeier | Reading Without Walls with Gene Yang

Library of Congress | Raina Telgemeier at 2019 Library of Congress National Book Festival

Reading Rockets | Raina Telgemeier: Advice to my middle school self

“Raina was kind, organized, and fun to be around! Our selection committee loved having lunch with her and all the presentation feedback from staff, students, and the community has been very positive.” — Tulsa City-County Library, 2024

“Raina’s books are the most checked-out books in our school library— and for good reason! By candidly sharing her own adolescent experiences dealing with shame, doubt, anxiety, and grief, Raina is able to easily connect with both students and adults alike. Although a great speaker in front of a large crowd, Raina especially shines in small-group settings where she can connect one-on-one with students and engage directly with their questions. She is both funny and insightful, which helps students feel hopeful about their own future while also acknowledging the messiness of growing up and trying to navigating life.” — Washington School, 2024

“Raina was incredibly prepared, generous with her time, gracious, kind, and so fun to work with. We had a great day at a few local schools and our evening event FAR SURPASSED any expectations we had. We loved having Raina – it was truly magical!” — Medina County District Library, 2024

“Raina was wonderful to have at our school. She provided a clear and interesting presentation for the kids including humor in there and the kids responded with loads and loads of questions for her. It is so fantastic for the kids to hear about someone that followed their dreams not on a traditional path. She was prompt when I picked her and up and very easy with her lunch requests. Raina was warm and friendly and great to have at the school for the day.” — Middlesex Parents Association, 2024

“Mead Elementary was so excited to have Raina Telgemeier come to speak about her amazing work! She was more wonderful than we could have imagined. Raina is kind, funny and relatable. She gave our students so much to think about. There was a positive walk away for everyone, including our staff. Many of our students took her words to heart. They began personal journals – recording personal moments, drawing and using the comic strip form all on their own accord.” — Mead Elementary, 2023

“Raina was delightful. She brought kids up to read parts from one of her books. In the first session, when the little girl was saying “ow” (the part in Smile where she gets braces) the girl howled it like an angry tiger. Everybody cracked up. It was awesome.” — Upper Arlington Library, 2023

“Bringing Raina Telgemeier to Anchorage was a magical experience for our public. I had so many caregivers telling me this was the book that made their child a reader. I watched children standing in line holding their personal copy of her book that was battered and barely held together with love and tape. They would be about ready to buzz out of their skin with excitement to meet their favorite author. Her presentation was engaging and relatable, just like her books. She shared her own life in a way that empowered her audience to create stories from their life.” — Anchorage Public Library, 2023

“Telgemeier’s art is incredibly expressive, and the green circles that surround Raina will have readers feeling nauseous along with her as her panic intensifies. Especially important is a scene in which Raina’s therapist talks her through a grounding technique and deep breathing exercise, giving readers a coping technique that they can use. VERDICT: A must.”— School Library Journal, starred review

“With disarming candor and in her now instantly recognizable panel artwork, Eisner Award–winner Telgemeier weaves a tangle of personal preadolescent traumas into another compelling graphic memoir.”— Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Telgemeier brilliantly produces extremely accurate visual representations of stress and anxiety.” — Kirkus Reviews

“…handled with a deft sensitivity in which young readers, perhaps facing similar fears, can find comfort. It’s an accomplishment that renders the book a must-get for not only school librarians, but also clinicians who treat children.”—Washington Post review

“When Raina was in fourth grade, she had a lot on her mind — school, trying not to vomit, and a million other things. Over time, Raina learned how to confront her fears and find ways to stay calm during overwhelming moments. Raina shares her anxieties and fears in this funny and poignant graphic memoir, which is sure to comfort any reader who may be going through the same thing.” — Jen Steele, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI

Purchase Signed Books from Raina’s Hometown Bookstore

Smile Classroom Bookshelf Guide

Smile Discussion Guide

Ghosts Discussion Guide

A Guide to Using Graphic Novels with Children and Teens

Honors, Awards & Recognition

#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller
#1 Indie Bestseller
Multiple Eisner Award Winner
Boston Globe Horn Book Honor
Stonewall Honor
Kids Indie Next List
Indigo, TIME, Today Show, Goodreads, and NPR Best Book of 2019

Media clips

The Atlantic | The Magic of Raina is Real

The New York Times | How Raina Telgemeier Faces Her Fear

The Washington Post | Raina Telgemeier became a hero to millions of readers by showing how uncomfortable growing up can be

The New Yorker | “Ghosts”: Raina Telgemeier Returns

Cosmopolitan | Get That Life: How I Became a Best-Selling Graphic Novelist

The Globe and Mail | Raina Telgemeier: ‘I’d like to meet Walt Disney’

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.