📖 Overview
Lincoln Peirce is an American cartoonist, animator, and writer who created the widely successful Big Nate comic strip and book series. Since 1991, his work has appeared in hundreds of newspapers worldwide and has expanded into a popular series of novels for young readers.
After studying art at Colby College and earning an MFA from Brooklyn College, Peirce developed Big Nate, which follows the adventures of a spirited sixth-grade student. The comic strip grew from its initial presence in 135 newspapers to syndication in over 400 publications, becoming one of the most-viewed features on gocomics.com.
Beyond print media, Peirce has contributed animated shorts to major networks including Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. His work reached streaming platforms with the creation of an animated Big Nate series for Paramount+, further expanding the reach of his signature character.
The success of Peirce's work stems from his early passion for comics, particularly influenced by Charles Schulz's Peanuts. His background as an art teacher and baseball coach at Xavier High School in New York City helped inform the school-based setting and themes that would later define Big Nate.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Peirce's Big Nate books for their humor and relatability to middle school experiences. Parents note the books encourage reluctant readers, with many reporting their children read multiple volumes in one sitting. The comic strip format and short chapters appeal to 8-12 year olds.
Common praise focuses on:
- Authentic middle school voice and situations
- Mix of text and illustrations
- Fast-paced storytelling
- Character consistency across books
Main criticisms include:
- Repetitive plots in later books
- Some find Nate too bratty or disrespectful
- Occasional bathroom humor
- Simple writing style for advanced readers
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (50,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.7/5 (15,000+ ratings)
Scholastic: 4.5/5 (3,000+ ratings)
"Perfect for Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans" appears frequently in reviews. Multiple teachers report the books help bridge students to longer chapter books.
📚 Books by Lincoln Peirce
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself
Sixth-grader Nate Wright navigates his way through school while holding the record for most detentions in school history.
Big Nate Strikes Again Nate faces his academic nemesis Gina on a team project while trying to lead his fleece-ball team to victory.
Big Nate: On a Roll Nate competes against overachiever Artur in a scout fundraising competition to win a customized skateboard.
Big Nate Goes for Broke When an emergency forces Nate's school to merge with rival Jefferson Middle School, he attempts to prove P.S. 38's superiority.
Big Nate: Flips Out Nate's friendship with Francis is tested when he becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of a school camera.
Big Nate: In the Zone A lucky foot causes a streak of good fortune for Nate, changing his typically chaotic school experience.
Big Nate: Lives It Up Nate discovers the history of P.S. 38 while preparing for the school's 100th anniversary celebration.
Big Nate: Blasts Off Nate deals with his first crush while competing against Jefferson Middle School in the Ultra Bowl.
Big Nate Strikes Again Nate faces his academic nemesis Gina on a team project while trying to lead his fleece-ball team to victory.
Big Nate: On a Roll Nate competes against overachiever Artur in a scout fundraising competition to win a customized skateboard.
Big Nate Goes for Broke When an emergency forces Nate's school to merge with rival Jefferson Middle School, he attempts to prove P.S. 38's superiority.
Big Nate: Flips Out Nate's friendship with Francis is tested when he becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of a school camera.
Big Nate: In the Zone A lucky foot causes a streak of good fortune for Nate, changing his typically chaotic school experience.
Big Nate: Lives It Up Nate discovers the history of P.S. 38 while preparing for the school's 100th anniversary celebration.
Big Nate: Blasts Off Nate deals with his first crush while competing against Jefferson Middle School in the Ultra Bowl.
👥 Similar authors
Jeff Kinney
Created the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series featuring a middle school student navigating daily challenges through text and drawings. His narrative style and integration of cartoons with story mirrors Peirce's approach.
Stephan Pastis Produces the Timmy Failure book series about a young detective and his polar bear partner, combining humor with illustrated storytelling. His work shares Peirce's mix of wit and visual comedy in a school setting.
Dav Pilkey Developed Captain Underpants and Dog Man series that blend comic panels with traditional text storytelling. His work features school-based humor and mischievous protagonists similar to Big Nate.
Renée Watson Writes middle-grade novels like Ryan Hart series focusing on everyday experiences of school-aged protagonists. Her character-driven narratives capture authentic kid perspectives comparable to Peirce's Big Nate.
James Patterson Authors the Middle School series and I Funny books about students dealing with school life challenges. His books incorporate illustrations and maintain the same age demographic and humorous tone as Peirce's work.
Stephan Pastis Produces the Timmy Failure book series about a young detective and his polar bear partner, combining humor with illustrated storytelling. His work shares Peirce's mix of wit and visual comedy in a school setting.
Dav Pilkey Developed Captain Underpants and Dog Man series that blend comic panels with traditional text storytelling. His work features school-based humor and mischievous protagonists similar to Big Nate.
Renée Watson Writes middle-grade novels like Ryan Hart series focusing on everyday experiences of school-aged protagonists. Her character-driven narratives capture authentic kid perspectives comparable to Peirce's Big Nate.
James Patterson Authors the Middle School series and I Funny books about students dealing with school life challenges. His books incorporate illustrations and maintain the same age demographic and humorous tone as Peirce's work.