Book Series Guide
Jillian Tamaki

Author guide

Jillian Tamaki Books in Order

Jillian Tamaki is a Canadian illustrator, cartoonist, and author based in Toronto. Her work includes solo graphic collections, picture books, and graphic novels co-created with Mariko Tamaki, including Skim, This One Summer, and Roaming.

graphic novelscomicspicture booksshort stories

Catalog record updated .

Jillian Tamaki's Newest Book

Cover of Roaming

Roaming

graphic-novel · First published 2023

Roaming marks a triumphant return to the graphic novel and a deft foray into new adult fiction for Caldecott Medal authors Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki. Over the course of a much-anticipated trip to New York, an unexpected fling blossoms between casual acquaintances and throws a long-term friendship off-balance. Emotional tensions vibrate wildly against the resplendently illustrated backdrop of the city, capturing a spontaneous queer romance in all of its fledgling glory. Slick attention to the details of a bustling, intimidating metropolis are softened with a palette of muted pastels, as though seen through the eyes of first-time travelers. The awe, wonder, and occasional stumble along the way come to life with stunning accuracy. Roaming is the third collaboration from the critically acclaimed team behind Skim and Governor General’s Literary Award winner This One Summer. Moody, atmospheric, and teeming with life, the magic of this comics duo leaks through the pages with lush and exquisite pen work. The Tamakis’ singular, elegant vision of an urban paradise slowly revealing its imperfections to the tune of its visitors’ rhythms is a masterpiece―a future classic for generations to come.

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of Skim

Skim

A foundational co-created graphic novel and an accessible introduction to Tamaki's comics work.

Cover of This One Summer

This One Summer

Her best-known co-created graphic novel and a major award-winning work.

Cover of Boundless

Boundless

A strong introduction to Tamaki's solo short fiction and comics.

Cover of They Say Blue

They Say Blue

A concise introduction to her author-illustrator picture-book work.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (3)
  1. Skim

    graphic-novel · 2008

    The whole gamut of tortured teen life--love, depression, suicide, being gay or not, cliques, and manipulative peers--is explored through the eyes of Skim, aka Kimberly Keiko Cameron, a would-be Wiccan goth at a girls' academy in Toronto…

  2. This One Summer

    graphic-novel · 2014

    Rose and Windy are summer friends whose families have visited Awago Beach for as long as they can remember. But this year is different, and they soon find themselves tangled in teen love and family crisis. From the creators of Skim comes…

  3. Roaming

    graphic-novel · 2023

    Roaming marks a triumphant return to the graphic novel and a deft foray into new adult fiction for Caldecott Medal authors Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki. Over the course of a much-anticipated trip to New York, an unexpected fling…

Short fiction (1)
  1. Boundless

    short-story-collection · 2017

    "Jenny becomes obsessed with a strange "mirror Facebook," which presents an alternate, possibly better, version of herself. Helen finds her clothes growing baggy, her shoes looser, and as she shrinks away to nothingness, the world around…

Children's books (2)
  1. They Say Blue

    picture-book · 2018

    Now available as a board book, the award-winning They Say Blue is a playful, poetic exploration of color and point of view In captivating paintings full of movement and transformation, we follow a young girl through a year or a day as she…

  2. Our Little Kitchen

    picture-book · 2020

Other (3)
  1. Gilded Lilies

    graphic-collection · 2006

  2. Indoor Voice

    illustrated-collection · 2010

  3. SuperMutant Magic Academy

    graphic-collection · 2015

    "SuperMutant Magic Academy is a prep-school for mutants and witches but their paranormal abilities take a back seat to everyday teen concerns. Science experiments go awry, bake sales are upstaged, and the new kid at school is a cat who…

Frequently asked questions about Jillian Tamaki

Who is Jillian Tamaki, and where is she from?

Jillian Tamaki is a Canadian cartoonist and illustrator who grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and lives in Toronto, Ontario. Her work spans comics, picture books, editorial illustration, teaching, and storyboarding.

Source: jilliantamaki.com (opens in a new tab)

How did Jillian Tamaki begin her artistic career?

She became a professional artist in 2003 after graduating from the Alberta College of Art and Design. She has worked across illustration and comics and has also taught at Parsons and the School of Visual Arts.

Source: jilliantamaki.com (opens in a new tab)

Is Mariko Tamaki related to Jillian Tamaki?

Yes. They are cousins and co-creators of the graphic novels Skim and This One Summer.

Source: jilliantamaki.com (opens in a new tab)

What influences Jillian Tamaki’s art?

Tamaki has identified George Grosz, Max Beckmann, and Otto Dix as artistic influences, and has discussed her interest in printmaking.

Source: tcj.com (opens in a new tab)

What major awards has Jillian Tamaki received?

Her illustration for This One Summer received the 2015 Caldecott Honor and Printz Honor, and she won the 2014 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature—Illustration. Her collaboration Roaming later won the 2024 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album—New.

Sources: ala.org (opens in a new tab)ala.org (opens in a new tab)canadacouncil.ca (opens in a new tab)comic-con.org (opens in a new tab)