Elise Gravel

Elise Gravel
Born (1977-01-10) 10 January 1977
Montreal, Canada
OccupationWriter, cartoonist, illustrator
Notable awards
RelativesFrançois Gravel (father)
Website
elisegravel.com/en

Élise Gravel (born 10 January 1977[1]) is a Canadian author and illustrator from Montreal, Quebec.

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]

Awards and recognition

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)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Gravel, Elise. "info-bio". Elise Gravel. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Elise Gravel". Penguin Random House Canada. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  3. ^ "If Found... Please Return to Elise Gravel". Spring 2017 Books Preview. CBC Radio-Canada. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Mrs. Élise Gravel". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Elise Gravel Creators / Featured Guest / Kids Comics Creator / Kids Feature Guest". Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Meet Canada's 'hyperactive' illustrator, Elise Gravel". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. ^ McGillis, Ian (8 March 2019). "Elise Gravel's children's books never talk down to readers". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Message Monsters Ready to Bring a Smile to Your Mail - Newsroom - About.usps.com". about.usps.com. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  9. ^ "2021 Message Monsters Forever First Class Postage Stamps – USPostageMall". Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  10. ^ Riga, Andy (7 February 2024). "Montreal library moves children's books over author's Israel comments". The Gazette. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  11. ^ Bongiorno, Joe; François, Mélissa (7 February 2024). "Children's author Élise Gravel rejects accusations of antisemitism as books removed from library's shelves". CBC News. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  12. ^ Drimonis, Toula (16 February 2024). "Toula Drimonis: In the end, Jewish Public Library gets it right". The Gazette. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  13. ^ Riga, Andy (15 February 2024). "Under pressure, Jewish Public Library puts Elise Gravel books back on public shelves". The Gazette. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  14. ^ Larochelle, Claudia (21 April 2015). "Élise Gravel, Michèle Marineau et François Gravel: Sainte tribu". Les libraires.
  15. ^ Medley, Mark (7 August 2014). "Q&A: Elise Gravel makes a few gross points with her Organization for the Defence of Disgusting Critters". National Post. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  16. ^ "David Johnston, right, Governor General of Canada congratulates Élise Gravel for her award in the Children's Literature, Illustration category". Vancouver Sun. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Élise Gravel and Fondation Émergence are honoured at the 31st Ceremony of the Rights and Freedoms Award | News | CDPDJ". Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  18. ^ Dundas, Deborah (2 November 2022). "Writers' Trust 2022 book award winners collect $270,000 in prizes". Toronto Star.
  19. ^ "2024 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards presented to Melissa Mollen Dupuis, Elise Gravel and Kevin Sands – Ontario Arts Foundation". Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Order of Canada Appointees – June 30, 2025".
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