Andy Runton

Andy Runton is the creative force behind Owly, one of the most beloved all-ages graphic novel series of the past two decades — and it’s easy to see why. Through the adventures of a gentle, wide-eyed owl and his menagerie of forest friends, Runton has built a world where kindness always wins, friendship is the greatest adventure of all, and stories don’t need words to speak directly to the heart. Perfect for fans of Bone, Narwhal and Jelly, and heartwarming all-ages comics that prove the kindest heroes are often the bravest.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1974 and raised in Lilburn, Georgia, Runton discovered early on that comics were his calling. He earned a master’s degree in industrial design from the Georgia Institute of Technology and worked briefly as a graphic and interface designer at Motorola in Alpharetta. But when the dot-com bubble burst and he lost his job in 2001, Runton made a decision that would change children’s comics forever: “I finally followed my heart,” he recalls. “I started drawing comics, graphic novels, and children’s books — and I haven’t looked back since.”

First created in 2001 and published in 2004 by Top Shelf Productions, Owly stars that kind-hearted little owl forever searching for new friends and adventure alongside his best pal Wormy. What makes the series truly magical is Runton’s ingenious wordless storytelling: he communicates through a mixture of symbols, icons, and impossibly expressive facial expressions, making every page instantly accessible to readers of any age or reading level. Each volume sends Owly, Wormy, and their forest companions on adventures that explore friendship, empathy, courage, and belonging — warm, tender meditations on what it means to be a good friend and a kind soul.

Now published by Scholastic’s Graphix imprint, the series spans eight volumes. It all begins with Owly, Vol. 1: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer, where Owly meets Wormy and discovers that friendship can conquer even the deepest fears. Owly, Vol. 2: Just a Little Blue follows the duo as they help a family of bluebirds find a new home. Owly, Vol. 3: Flying Lessons introduces Shadow, a flying squirrel terrified of — you guessed it — owls. Owly, Vol. 4: A Time to Be Brave, inspired by a real opossum Runton rescued, takes on prejudice and courage. And Owly, Vol. 5: Tiny Tales collects standalone Owly adventures perfect for dipping into his world anytime. Beyond the main series, Runton also created two Owly & Wormy picture books with Simon & Schuster: Friends All Aflutter! (2011) and Bright Lights and Starry Nights (2012).

The awards speak for themselves: Runton won the 2006 Eisner Award for Best Publication for a Younger Audience (for Flying Lessons), earned a 2005 Eisner nomination in the same category, took home the 2005 Harvey Award for Best New Talent alongside nominations for Best New Series and Best Graphic Novel, and claimed the 2005 and 2006 Ignatz Awards for Promising New Talent and Outstanding Series. He also won the 2004 Howard E. Day Prize for outstanding achievement in self-publishing, and in 2010 the Georgia Center for the Book named Owly to its list of “25 Books All Young Georgians Should Read.” People magazine lauded the series for its “universal lessons of persistence, kindness, and loyalty,” while Kirkus called Runton’s characters “huggably adorable” and noted how the books “affirm the importance of compassion and empathy.”

You can meet Andy Runton at conventions throughout the year — he’s a regular at HeroesCon, SPX, and other major shows — where he’s known for taking custom “Owly As…” sketch requests, drawing Owly dressed as everything from superheroes to pop culture icons. Follow his work at andyrunton.com, browse his books at andyrunton.com/owly/, and find him on social media — @Owly on X/Twitter, @owly on Instagram, and Andy Runton on Facebook. For the latest Scholastic releases, visit his Andy Runton at Graphix page.