Cece Bell
Cecelia Carolina Bell 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 and Eisner Award for El Deafo.Five of Bell's books are Junior Library Guild selections: Sock Monkey Rides Again, El Deafo, Rabbit & Robot and Ribbit, Smell My Foot!: Chick and Brain, and Egg or Eyeball?,
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, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal. It was also a New York Times Notable Children’s Book.
In 2019, Smell My Foot! was named one of the best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library and School Library Journal.
| Year | Title | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2012 | Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover | Cybils Award for Early Chapter Books | Finalist | |
| 2013 | ' | NAIBA Book of the Year for Middle Readers | Winner | |
| 2013 | Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover | Theodor Seuss Geisel Award | Honor | |
| 2014 | El Deafo | Cybils Award for Elementary and Middle Grade Graphic Novel | Winner | |
| 2014 | El Deafo | Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade and Children's | Nominee | |
| 2014 | El Deafo | Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature | Finalist | |
| 2015 | El Deafo | Guardian Children's Fiction Prize | Longlist | |
| 2015 | El Deafo | Charlotte Huck Award | Honor | |
| 2015 | El Deafo | Children's Choice Book Award for Debut Author | Finalist | |
| 2015 | El Deafo | Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids | Winner | |
| 2015 | El Deafo | Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work | Finalist | |
| 2015 | El Deafo | Judy Lopez Memorial Award | Winner' | |
| 2015 | El Deafo | 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 Food Friends: Fun Foods That Go Together Bee-Wigged Itty Bitty El Deafo I Yam a Donkey! Chuck and Woodchuck You Loves Ewe!- ''''
Sock Monkey trilogy (2003-2006)
- Sock Monkey Goes To Hollywood: A Star Is Bathed
- Sock Monkey Boogie Woogie: A Friend Is Made
- ''Sock Monkey Rides Again''
Rabbit & Robot duo (2012-2016)
- The Sleepover
- ''Rabbit and Robot and Ribbit''
Inspector Flytrap trilogy (2016-2017)
- Inspector Flytrap with Tom Angleberger
- Inspector Flytrap in The President’s Mane Is Missing with Tom Angleberger
- Inspector Flytrap in The Goat Who Chewed Too Much with Tom Angleberger
Chick and Brain duo (2019-2020)
- Smell My Foot!
- ''Egg or Eyeball?''