Nidhi Chanani

Nidhi Chanani is a freelance illustrator, cartoonist and writer. After completing her undergrad literature degree at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Nidhi pursued a career in non-profits. The desire to draw kept pulling her away and in 2008 she enrolled in art school (only to drop out a year later). In 2009 she began completing one illustration every day of the week. She called this Every Day Love and developed her narrative style and voice with three years of daily practice. This launched her art career and business. Born in Calcutta and raised in suburban southern California, Nidhi creates because it makes her happy – with the hope that it can make others happy, too. In April of 2012 she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change. Her debut graphic novel, Pashmina (First Second/Macmillan), released in fall 2017. It received starred reviews in the School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and was reviewed in the New York Times. Pashmina was a Junior Library Guild selection, Chicago Public Library Best Book, Texas Maverick Graphic Novel, Northern California Indie Bookseller Association Long-List Title and a YALSA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens. Her second original graphic novel, Jukebox, released in June 2021 with a starred review in Booklist and glowing reviews in Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. Jukebox was a Texas Maverick Graphic Novel, Northern California Indie Bookseller Association Long-List Title and a YALSA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens. Her debut picture book, written by Bea Birdsong, I will be fierce, released in April 2019. She followed that with Binny's Diwali, Kong and Me, and most recently, Strong which won the ALA Stonewall Honor. Her author/illustrator debut What will my story be? released in 2021. She is currently working on her next original middle grade graphic novel, Super Boba Café, as well as an early reader graphic novel series, Shark Princess. Her media appearances include PBS, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 and BBC Radio. Her work has been featured on NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, the Women's March, My Modern Met and India Times. Nidhi is frequently a featured artist with Disney Parks. Everyday Love Art prints and cards are sold in retail shops throughout California. When she isn't drawing Nidhi enjoys cooking, snorkeling and traveling with her kid. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.