Cece Bell

Cecelia Carolina Bell (born December 26, 1970, in Richmond, Virginia) is an American author, cartoonist, and illustrator. Most well known for her graphic novel El Deafo, Bell's work has appeared in The Atlantic, Vegetarian Times, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, Working Woman, Esquire and many other publications.

Biography Bell suffered hearing loss as a child due to a case of meningitis. As a result, she had to get used to using bulky and prominent hearing devices around her school-age peers.

Bell attended the Paier College of Art as an art major and went on to get a graduate degree in illustration and design at Kent State University in 1991. She became a freelance commercial artist, illustrator, and designer for an array of projects before beginning her career as a full-time author-illustrator.

Career El Deafo

El Deafo is based on Bell's own childhood. She wanted there to be a handbook for hearing people so they knew how to understand and communicate with deaf people without being disrespectful. The project eventually evolved into a graphic novel where children who were deaf could see themselves positively represented in a book.

Bell uses the imagery of everyone illustrated as rabbits as a visual metaphor. When she was growing up, she felt like she was the only "rabbit" whose ears didn't work, in doing so she shows being deaf as a power. She also shows and talks about how being deaf isn't something negative.

The title of the graphic novel comes from the idea that Cece feels powerful like a superhero with the assistance of her Phonic Ear, the hearing aid she uses in order to hear her teachers at school.

Personal life Bell is married to children's author Tom Angleberger.

Awards and honors Bell won the Newbery Medal Honor El Deafo (2014), Rabbit & Robot and Ribbit (2016), Smell My Foot!: Chick and Brain (2019), and Egg or Eyeball? (2020),

In 2014, El Deafo was named one of the best books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, the Los Angeles Public Library,

(as illus.) NAIBA Book of the Year for Middle Readers Winner Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor

Cybils Award for Elementary and Middle Grade Graphic Novel Winner Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade and Children's Nominee Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature Finalist

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize Longlist Charlotte Huck Award Honor Children's Choice Book Award for Debut Author Finalist Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids Winner Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work Finalist Judy Lopez Memorial Award Winner Newbery Medal Honor 2016 Rabbit and Robot and Ribbit Cybils Award for Early Chapter Books Finalist 2020 Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot! Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Publications

As author and illustrator

Standalone books Busy Buddies: Silly Stuff That Goes Together (2006, Candlewick Press, ) Food Friends: Fun Foods That Go Together (2006, Candlewick Press, ) Bee-Wigged (2008, Candlewick Press, ) Itty Bitty (2009, Candlewick Press, ) El Deafo (2014, Harry N. Abrams, ) I Yam a Donkey! (2015, Clarion Books, ) Chuck and Woodchuck (2016, Candlewick Press, ) You Loves Ewe! (2019, Clarion Books, ) Animal Albums from A to Z (2024, Candlewick Press, )

Sock Monkey trilogy (2003-2006)

Sock Monkey Goes To Hollywood: A Star Is Bathed (2003, Candlewick Press, ) Sock Monkey Boogie Woogie: A Friend Is Made (2004, Candlewick Press, ) Sock Monkey Rides Again (2006, Candlewick Press, )

Rabbit & Robot duo (2012-2016) The Sleepover (2012, Candlewick Press, ) Rabbit and Robot and Ribbit (2016, Candlewick Press, )

Inspector Flytrap trilogy (2016-2017)

Inspector Flytrap with Tom Angleberger (2016, Amulet Books, ) Inspector Flytrap in The President’s Mane Is Missing with Tom Angleberger (2016, Harry N. Abrams, ) Inspector Flytrap in The Goat Who Chewed Too Much with Tom Angleberger (2017, Harry N. Abrams, )

Chick and Brain duo (2019-2020)

Smell My Foot! (2019, Candlewick Press, ) Egg or Eyeball? (2020, Candlewick Press, )

As contributor

The Best American Comics 2016, edited by Roz Chast and Bill Kartalopoulos (2016, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ) Lunch! (2016, Random House Books for Young Readers, ) Funny Girl, edited by Betsy Bird (2017, Viking Press)

As illustrator

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee, written by Tom Angleberger (2012, Harry N. Abrams, ) Bug Patrol, written by Denise Dowling Mortensen (2013, Clarion Books, ) Crankee Doodle, written by Tom Angleberger (2013, Clarion Books, )