Eisner Nomination for Best Publication for Early Readers 2026

Debbie Fong's The Faraway Forest: Wally's Route (Chronicle Books) has been nominated for a 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best Publication for Early Readers. The Eisners are the most prestigious honor in comics and graphic novels, presented each year at San Diego Comic-Con.

Wally's Route is the first book in The Faraway Forest series, a graphic novel that follows a pair of friends as they discover the power of kindness and community. With relatable characters, gentle humor, and inviting comic-style layouts — plus a seek-and-find challenge and a "how to draw" section — it's a perfect fit for beginning readers. Debbie's cozy, cheerful storytelling, brought to life with color by Kayla Catanzaro, makes the Faraway Forest the kind of world young readers want to return to again and again.

The 2026 Eisner Awards will be presented at San Diego Comic-Con on July 24, 2026. Congratulations, Debbie!

by Janna Morishima