Elise Gravel
Canadian children's book author
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Élise Gravel (born 10 January 1977[1]) is a Canadian author and illustrator from Montreal, Quebec.
Elise Gravel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 January 1977 Montreal, Canada |
| Occupations | Writer, cartoonist, illustrator |
| Relatives | François Gravel (father) Michèle Marineau (stepmother) |
| Website | elisegravel |
Gravel's original books[2] and graphic novels[3] focus on whimsical characters, social justice issues, and biodiversity. She cites children's author Roald Dahl and illustrator Quentin Blake as major sources of inspiration.[1]
Gravel has written more than fifty books, and her work has been translated into over twelve languages.[4][5][6] She studied graphic design at Collège Ahuntsic, before becoming an illustrator.[7]
Gravel publishes in both English and in French.[1] She has worked with several different publishing houses, including Montreal-based comics publisher Drawn & Quarterly.
In September 2021, Gravel's original artwork was featured on a series of stamps for the U.S. Postal Service.[8] The 'Message Monsters' stamp design was interactive and playful with the inclusion of dozens of accessory stickers.[9]
In February 2024, the Jewish Public Library of Montreal moved her books to their closed stacks, following Instagram posts that the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs described as antisemitic.[10][11] A few days later, the library restored the books.[12][13]
Personal life
Gravel is the daughter of writer François Gravel and Murielle Grégoire.[14] She is married and lives in Montreal.[1] She has two daughters.[1] In 2026, Gravel endorsed Avi Lewis in that year's federal NDP leadership race.[15]
Awards and recognition
- 2012 Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration in French[16] for La clé à molette.[17]
- 2019 The Rights and Freedoms Award from the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse in honour of her body of work.[18]
- 2022 Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People from the Writers' Trust of Canada in honour of her body of work.[19]
- 2024 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award (Ontario Arts Foundation) for Nutshimit: In the Woods.[20]
- 2025 Appointed to the Order of Canada.[21]
Selected works
- Balloon Toons: Adopt A Glurb (Blue Apple Books, 2010, ISBN 978-1609050375)
- Blast Off With Doodle Tom (Blue Apple Books, 2012 ISBN 978-1609052638)
- Jessie Elliot Is a Big Chicken (Roaring Brook Press, 2014, ISBN 978-1596437418)
- The Great Antonio (TOON Books, 2016, ISBN 978-1943145089)
- I Want a Monster! (HarperCollins, 2016, ISBN 978-0062415332)
- The Cranky Ballerina: A Graphic Novel (HarperCollins, 2016, ISBN 978-0062351241)
- Head Lice: The Disgusting Critters Series (Tundra Books, 2016, ISBN 978-1101918531)
- The Spider: The Disgusting Critters Series (Tundra Books, 2016, ISBN 978-1101918548)
- The Rat: The Disgusting Critters Series (Tundra Books, 2016, ISBN 978-1770496590)
- The Slug: The Disgusting Critters Series (Tundra Books, 2016, ISBN 978-1770496569)
- The Toad: The Disgusting Critters Series (Tundra Books, 2016, ISBN 978-1770496675)
- The Worm: The Disgusting Critters Series (Tundra Books, 2016, ISBN 978-1101918418)
- The Fly: The Disgusting Critters Series (Tundra Books, 2016, ISBN 978-1101918401)
- If Found...Please Return to Elise Gravel (Drawn & Quarterly, 2017, ISBN 978-1770462786)
- Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere (Olga, 1) (HarperCollins, 2017, ISBN 978-0062351265)
- Olga: We're Out of Here! (Olga, 2) (HarperCollins, 2018, ISBN 978-0062351296)
- The Mushroom Fan Club (Drawn and Quarterly, 2018, ISBN 978-1770463226)
- You Can Be (The Innovation Press, 2018, ISBN 978-1943147403)
- A Potato on a Bike (Orca Book Publishers, 2019, ISBN 978-1459823204)
- Olga: Out of Control! (Olga, 3) (HarperCollins, 2019, ISBN 978-0062351326)
- The Worst Book Ever (Drawn & Quarterly, 2019, ISBN 978-1770463639)
- What Is a Refugee? (Anne Schwartz Books, 2019, ISBN 978-0593120057)
- Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds (HarperAlley, 2020, ISBN 978-0062982223)
- I Am Scary (Orca Book Publishers, 2020, ISBN 978-1459823167)
- Not Me! (North Winds Press, 2020, ISBN 978-1443181747)
- Arlo & Pips #2: Join the Crow Crowd! (HarperAlley, 2021, ISBN 978-0063050778)
- The Bug Club (Drawn & Quarterly, 2021, ISBN 978-1770464155)
- Everybody!: You, Me & Us (Scholastic Press, 2022, ISBN 978-1338830897)
- It's My Body! (Scholastic Canada, 2022, ISBN 978-1443196505)
- Pink, Blue, and You!: Questions for Kids about Gender Stereotypes with Mykaell Blais (Anne Schwartz Books, 2022, ISBN 978-0593178638)
- Nutshimit: In the Woods, author Melissa Mollen Dupuis (North Winds Press, 2023, ISBN 978-1039701809)
- Club Microbe (Drawn & Quarterly, 2024 ISBN 978-1770467026)
- True Colors: Growing Up Weird in the '90s (Drawn & Quarterly, 2025, ISBN 978-1770467996)