Nicholas Day author page

Nicholas Day biography

Nicholas Day is an American author of nonfiction and picture books for young readers. His book The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity, illustrated by Brett Helquist and published by Random House Studio, tells the story of the 1911 theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting from the Louvre.

Day followed with A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, a Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out, illustrated by Yas Imamura and published by Random House Studio. The book was named a finalist for the 2026 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.

His debut picture book, Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”, illustrated by Chris Raschka, introduces the composer and his best-known work for a picture book audience.

In 2024, The Mona Lisa Vanishes won the Robert F. Sibert Medal.