In the world of children’s and young adult graphic novels, Colleen A.F. Venable moves with a kind of quiet rebellion. Her stories never shout, but they linger—funny, clever, and just a little bit off-center in all the right ways. Whether it’s a guinea pig detective solving petty pet-shop crimes or a teen uncovering layered truths about identity and family, Venable’s characters stumble, grow, and shine with a rare honesty that invites readers to laugh, question, and feel seen.
Raised in Walden, New York, Venable grew up with woods in her backyard and stories in her blood. She studied English and Studio Art at Wagner College, a pairing that later became the blueprint for her career: words and visuals working together, not as accessories, but as equals. That balance became her signature as both a writer and graphic novel designer, particularly during her time at First Second Books, where she helped shape the visual language of the modern graphic novel.
Her breakout young adult work, Kiss Number 8—created with illustrator Ellen T. Crenshaw—isn’t your typical coming-of-age graphic novel. It’s a raw, layered, and at times painfully funny exploration of sexuality, faith, and the secrets that shape us. The book earned a National Book Award longlist nod and an Eisner nomination—not for flash or trend-chasing, but because it told the truth, even when it was messy.
Long before that, Venable was delighting younger readers with the Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye series, illustrated by Stephanie Yue. The books are as zany as they sound—a noir-flavored mystery romp told from the perspective of a cranky guinea pig—and they’ve earned their place on “best of” lists from Kirkus, the New York Public Library, and beyond.
In collaboration with Yue once again, Venable launched Katie the Catsitter, a middle-grade graphic novel that walks the tightrope between superhero antics and everyday tween angst. It’s funny, wildly illustrated, and filled with heart—exactly the kind of story that turns reluctant readers into lifelong fans.
But perhaps what makes Venable’s work stand out most is her respect for young readers. She never underestimates them. Her stories invite kids to grapple with big questions through humor and humanity, and she builds those narratives with the care of someone who knows that books can shape lives.
Now living between Brooklyn and the Berkshires, Venable spends her time writing, illustrating, rollerskating, rescuing animals, and restoring an old house with friends. Her life, like her stories, is one where the odd and the heartfelt live side by side—and where readers of all ages are welcome to pull up a chair.
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