Eleanor Davis

Eleanor Davis is a highly acclaimed, award-winning author of graphic novels and children’s books who has earned a reputation for both innovative and heartfelt stories that explore themes of humanity and adventure. With her visually engaging work, Eleanor Davis brings vivid imagination to each of her stories and creates characters that captivate and inspire readers of all ages.

No matter the medium, Davis consistently puts her readers at the forefront with her warmhearted stories of friendship, family, and adversity. Many of her stories are rooted in the South, drawing on the culture of the area she was born and raised in, and she has also explored other universes. Her narrative style varies from one book to the next and her artwork often has a dream-like quality that both reflects and enhances her stories.

Eleanor Davis’s breakout graphic novel was her first published work, How to Be Happy, from Fantagraphics Books, which was the recipient of a 2019 Ignatz Award and was hailed by critics with the Boston Globe calling it “one of the most beautiful works of art you’re likely to encounter.” This book follows the stories of three different characters who, despite their different backgrounds, must learn how to manage their struggles and complex emotions.

Not to be missed is The Hard Tomorrow, which was published in 2019 and was awarded a Ignatz Award as well as being nominated for an Eisner award. This award-winning graphic novel follows the story of Eva, who is conflicted between her desire to help her marginalized and impoverished community and her own need to make changes that will benefit her own family. Again, Davis’s work is filled with warmth and humanity that have earned her accolades from the comics community and beyond.

Davis’s children’s books are also packed with creativity and heart. Her book, A Cartoonist’s Advice, published by Drawn and Quarterly, tells the story of Angela, a young girl who is having difficulty becoming comfortable with her parenting and imaginative future, and it was nominated for the 2020 Eisner Award. Aliens Noisy ABC Book, a picture book for toddlers, was released in 2017 and likewise was nominated for the Eisner Award.

Eleanor Davis’s powerful and thought-provoking stories have crossed boundaries and earned her well-deserved recognition and acclaim. Her work is widely available in comics shops, bookstores, and online, and she is a regular speaker at comic and book conventions. Though her stories tackle difficult topics, they ultimately showcase the indisputable importance of love and relationships. As Davis once said, “What we do and who we care about isn’t just what makes us happy, it’s what makes us human.”