Lincoln Peirce

For more than three decades, Lincoln Peirce has been channeling the chaos, charm, and comic timing of middle school into one unforgettable character: Nate Wright. Long before Big Nate became a beloved series for millions of young readers—and a hit animated show—Peirce was sketching his way through his own childhood in New Hampshire, dreaming up comic strips during class and imagining what it would be like to see his work in print. That day came in 1991, when Big Nate made its newspaper debut, capturing the everyday disasters of adolescence with a blend of mischief, heart, and hilarious honesty.

What sets Peirce’s storytelling apart isn’t just the punchlines—it’s the empathy behind the humor. His characters, while often caught in cringe-worthy moments or ridiculous schemes, are unmistakably human. Nate isn’t just funny; he’s flawed, hopeful, dramatic, and deeply relatable. Through comics and chapter books alike, Peirce taps into the real emotional rollercoaster of growing up without ever talking down to his audience. That balance has helped Big Nate resonate with generations of readers—kids who see a bit of themselves in the chaos of detention, dodgeball, and best-friend squabbles.