Tull Suwannakit is an author and illustrator of picture books and graphic novels with background in animation and fine art.
Tull received a Bachelor of Art degree from The Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, USA. He began his artistic career as a set designer and character sculptor for animation studios in New York before migrating to Australia, where he became a graduate of the Master of Fine Art program with Distinction at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Melbourne.
His books have been published in Australia, The US, The UK and Thailand, as well as being translated into many languages all throughout the world.
Working predominantly with watercolour, graphite and mixed media, Tull’s books have been featured in The New York Times, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Mornings Radio, CILIP Pen&Inc magazine and Play School on ABC4Kids.
Tull's books have been on the Notables list as part of The Children's Book Council of Australia and shortlisted for Speech Pathology and Crystal Kites book of the year awards. His recent book, Higher Ground has been nominated for 2026 Carnegie Medal for Illustration (formally The Kate Greenaway Medal), and included as one of the best books for 2025 by New York Public Library (NYPL). Tull is also a 3 time recipient of Bangkok International Book Fair: Picture Book of The Year Awards in 2007, 2010 and 2014 respectively.
His clients include Scholastic Press , The National Library of Australia , New Frontier Publishing , Walker Books, and Candlewick Press.
When Tull is not writing and illustrating his books, he runs art classes and workshops for children and adults at his art school in Melbourne, Malvern School of Art.
Awards
Higher Ground
Nominated for Carnegie Medal for Illustration (formally The Kate Greenaway Medal): The Carnegies 2026
Best books of 2025: New York Public Library (NYPL) 2025
Please Handle With Care
Book of The Year Notables: The Children's Book Council of Australia 2023
Happy Hoppy Home
Book of The Year Notables: The Children's Book Council of Australia 2022
Longlisted: Australian Book Design Awards 2022
The Flying Angel
Book of The Year Notables: The Children's Book Council of Australia 2022
Heart and Soul
Longlisted: Australian Book Design Awards 2021
Sad, The Dog
Shortlisted: Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice (CCBC) Book of The Year Award, USA 2016
Shortlisted: SCBWI Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards 2016
What Happens Next?
Shortlisted: Speech Pathology Australia Picture Book of The Year Award 2015
The Elephant Parade
Winner: Bangkok International Book Fair Picture Book of The Year Award 2014
Guess What It Is?
Winner: Bangkok International Book Fair Picture Book of The Year Award 2010
Guess What I Am?
Winner: Bangkok International Book Fair Picture Book of The Year Award 2007
Collections
The Williams Collection, TheState Library of Western Australia
Genazzano FCJ College, Melbourne
Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Library, Tokyo