Raina Telgemeier, born May 26, 1977, is an acclaimed American cartoonist recognized for her significant contributions to the world of graphic novels. Her pioneering works include the autobiographical webcomic Smile, which garnered immense popularity upon its publication as a full-color middle-grade graphic novel in February 2010. Following Smile, Raina continued to captivate audiences with the sequel Sisters and the fiction graphic novel Drama, all of which have secured spots on The New York Times Best Seller lists. Additionally, she has authored and illustrated the graphic novels Ghosts and Guts, as well as four graphic novels adapted from The Baby-Sitters Club stories by Ann M. Martin.
Raina's remarkable talents have been recognized with numerous awards, including six Eisner Awards, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and a Stonewall Honor, among others. Her works have also been featured on many Best-of and Notables lists, affirming her status as a leading figure in contemporary graphic storytelling. Raina resides and works in San Francisco, CA, where she continues to inspire a new generation of readers and artists alike.