Biography

Nidhi Chanani is a freelance illustrator, cartoonist, and writer. 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.

After completing her undergraduate 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 each day and called this Every Day Love. Thanks to three years of daily practice, she developed her narrative style and voice and launched her art career and business. In April of 2012 she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change.

Nidhi’s debut graphic novel, Pashmina (First Second/Macmillan) received starred reviews in School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly and was reviewed in the New York Times. It was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Chicago Public Library Best Book, a Texas Maverick Graphic Novel, a 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 received a starred review in Booklist and was a Texas Maverick Graphic Novel, a Northern California Indie Bookseller Association Long-List Title, and a YALSA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens. Her first graphic novel series for early readers, Shark Princess released in 2022 and the second book in the series, Shark Party followed in 2023. Her latest middle grade graphic novel is Super Boba Café.

Nidhi’s debut picture book, I Will Be Fierce, written by Bea Birdsong, 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 picture debut What Will My Story Be? released in 2021.

When she isn’t drawing, Nidhi enjoys cooking, snorkeling, and traveling with her husband and kid. She lives with them and two cats in the San Francisco Bay Area.