“What an illuminating and inspiring read, it really is an astonishing achievement.”
-Jake Hope,Awards Executive at the Carnegies and Publisher Liaison at IBC

"A rich tapestry of watercolor, gouache, and acrylic paints, along with mixed-media collages, create an immersive, breathtaking visual exploration of a post-apocalyptic world where nature, at once brutal and beautiful, has won out over the attempts of humans to assert dominance over it. Despite the heartbreaking, heavy content, there is still a wide audience for whom this will be thought-provoking and deeply memorable read." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Higher Ground, an innovative children's graphic novel by Tull Suwannakit (illustrator, Sad, the Dog), is a moving account of a family relying on each other and a bit of hope in the face of a natural disaster ... Stunning, dynamic watercolor, graphite, acrylic, and gouache illustrations bolster sparse text; wordless sequences of flipbook-like panels create visceral visual storytelling; and bird's-eye-view depictions of the granddaughter's journal pages provide facts and instructions readers can return to repeatedly ... This captivating work is both a warning about the effects of climate change and a reflection on the power of resilience and hope in the face of disaster." -- Shelf Awareness

“Intergenerational lessons on self-sufficiency become the cornerstone of survival for a pair of siblings in this quietly hopeful graphic novel by Suwannakit, set in a world ravaged by climate change ... Transparent watercolor washes are layered with graphite powder, while gouache and acrylic paints render finer details for a dreamy, fantastical feel.” -- Publishers Weekly

“In this striking and devastating graphic novel, the rains have come and do not stop, and two unnamed children, cared for by their grandmother, get left behind in a city that is entirely covered by water within days ... A rich tapestry of watercolor, gouache, and acrylic paints, along with mixed-media collages, create an immersive, breathtaking visual exploration of a post-apocalyptic world where nature, at once brutal and beautiful, has won out over the attempts of humans to assert dominance over it. Despite the heartbreaking, heavy content, there is still a wide audience for whom this will be thought-provoking and deeply memorable read.” -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

★ Longlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2026 (formerly known as the Kate Greenaway Medal. This is the UK’s highest children’s book award and one of the most prestigious children’s book awards worldwide)!
★ Winner of the New York Public Library’s Best Book of 2025!
★ Recipient of the Australian Aurealis Awards for Best Graphic Novel and Illustrated Work. (The Aurealis Awards are Australia’s premier fantasy literature prizes, often referred to as Australia’s “Hugo” or “Nebula” Awards)!
★ Selected as an Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) TOP Pick. (IBC is a UK-based charity dedicated to enhancing children’s reading skills, with the goal of nurturing an open-minded, inspired next generation of young readers).
★ Licensed in New Zealand, China, and the United States.
★ Recommended for readers aged 6 and up.

An inspiring coming-of-age tale of resilience, courage and spirit that illuminates how life can be beautiful even in the darkest of times.
After a great flood swallows their city, a wise grandmother, her two grandchildren, and their pet rabbit find themselves stranded on the only safe place left—the rooftop of their home. With nothing but their small garden and a handful of supplies, they must learn to survive in a world where the familiar streets have turned to endless water.
Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, as they face hunger, storms, and the uncertainty of what lies beyond the horizon. But through each hardship, the grandmother shares words of wisdom, teaching her grandchildren the power of resilience, kindness, and hope. As their garden grows, so too does their belief that even in the darkest times, life finds a way forward.
Higher Ground serves as both a warning and a call to action for future generations, urging readers to honor and protect the environment before it’s too late. Told through beautifully illustrated panels, this dystopian middle-grade graphic novel is a powerful meditation on survival, family, and the delicate balance between humanity and nature.
Perfect for fans of The Arrival and Amulet, Higher Ground is a poignant and breathtaking story that shows readers that even in a devastated world, hope can take root and flourish.

Tull Suwannakit
Tull Suwanakij is a Thai-Australian children’s book author and illustrator. He graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Early in his career, he worked in New York as a set designer and character sculptor at an animation studio.
He has written and illustrated numerous picture books that have been translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide. His publishing clients include New Frontier Publishing, Walker Books, Candlewick Press, and Scholastic. His book “Saying Goodbye to Sadness” was published in Traditional Chinese in China.
His work has been shortlisted for the Australian Children’s Book Council Awards’ Notable Books list, the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award, and the Crystal Kite Award. He has also won the Bangkok International Book Fair’s Picture Book of the Year award three times—in 2007, 2010, and 2014.
Tull primarily works with watercolor and graphite. His art has been featured in The Sydney Morning Herald and The New York Times, and he has appeared on ABC Radio’s morning program and on ABC Kids’ Play School.
In addition to writing and illustrating, Tull is an art educator who draws on his experience in visual arts and storytelling to inspire creative expression across all age groups.
Born in Thailand, Tull now lives with his son and dog in a peaceful rural town in Australia.