Where to Start with Cece Bell
Cece Bell is a highly celebrated American cartoonist, author, and illustrator. While her works span a variety of formats—from board books for toddlers to graphic novels for middle-grade readers—they all share a signature blend of quirky humor, colorful illustrations, and deep emotional resonance. Because her series are distinct, there is no single chronological order across her entire body of work. Instead, the best way to read Cece Bell is by choosing a starting point tailored to the reader's age and interests:
- For Middle-Grade Readers & Families: Start with El Deafo (2014). This graphic novel memoir is her most famous work, capturing her childhood experience with hearing loss in a deeply personal and funny way.
- For Beginning Readers (Ages 6–9): Start with the Rabbit & Robot duo or the Chick and Brain series. Both offer simple dialogue, comic-strip paneling, and hilarious misunderstandings that build reading confidence.
- For Younger Children & Toddlers: Start with the Sock Monkey books, the wordplay-heavy Yam and Donkey books, or board books like Busy Buddies and Food Friends.
- For Fans of Silly Mysteries: Start with the Inspector Flytrap trilogy, a collaborative series illustrated by Cece Bell and written by her husband, Tom Angleberger.
El Deafo: The Superhero Memoir
Published in 2014, El Deafo is a standalone graphic novel memoir that serves as a perfect introduction to Cece Bell's storytelling. The book recounts Cece's childhood experience of losing her hearing due to meningitis at age four, and her subsequent journey navigating school with a bulky Phonic Ear hearing aid. By imagining herself with a superhero alter ego named "El Deafo," she learns to view her differences as superpowers.
A major stylistic choice in the memoir is depicting all the characters as anthropomorphic rabbits. Since rabbits are known for their large ears and excellent hearing, this visual metaphor highlights the irony of Cece's deafness while making her struggles feel highly universal and approachable for children. In 2022, El Deafo was adapted into a critically acclaimed three-part animated miniseries on Apple TV+.
Readers may also come across Supersorda (sometimes styled as Super Sorda), published in 2020. This is not a sequel or a standalone spin-off, but rather the official Spanish-language translation of El Deafo.
Early Reader Series in Order
Cece Bell has created several charming series designed for children transitioning into independent reading. These should be read in publication order, as each book builds on the established dynamic between the main characters.
Chick and Brain Series
This early graphic novel series uses speech bubbles and highly expressive art to deliver absurd, laugh-out-loud stories that teach basic social rules (like manners) through comedy.
- Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot! (2019)
- Chick and Brain: Egg or Eyeball? (2020)
Rabbit & Robot Series
An early chapter book series about two very different friends—a high-energy rabbit who loves spreadsheets and lists, and a logical robot who likes to eat nuts and bolts. Their contrasting personalities lead to funny conflicts and warm resolutions.
- Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover (2012)
- Rabbit and Robot and Ribbit (2016)
Yam and Donkey Series
This picture book series relies on clever grammar puns and dialogue between a stubborn donkey and a yam who is frustrated by the donkey's incorrect English usage.
- I Yam a Donkey! (2015)
- You Loves Ewe! (2019)
Sock Monkey Series
Cece Bell's earliest series follows a toy sock monkey on whimsical, everyday adventures. These are great for younger children transitioning from picture books to early readers.
- Sock Monkey Goes To Hollywood (2003)
- Sock Monkey Takes a Bath (2003)
- Sock Monkey Boogie Woogie: A Friend Is Made (2004)
- Sock Monkey Rides Again (2006)
Illustrated Collaborations with Tom Angleberger
Cece Bell is married to fellow children's author Tom Angleberger (creator of the Origami Yoda series). The couple has collaborated on several projects, with Tom writing the stories and Cece providing the illustrations. Their most notable joint project is the Inspector Flytrap chapter book series, which features a detective Venus flytrap who solves big mysteries with the help of his assistant, Nina the Goat.
- Inspector Flytrap (also published as Inspector Flytrap in The Da Vinci Cold) (2016)
- Inspector Flytrap in The Goat Who Chewed Up Town (2016)
- Inspector Flytrap in Fast Times at Junkshoo High (2017)
Additionally, Bell illustrated Angleberger's humorous history-inspired picture book, Crankee Doodle (2013), which puts a stubborn, pony-riding spin on the classic American song.
Standalone Picture & Board Books
For younger readers, Cece Bell has written and illustrated several standalone picture books and board books that showcase her trademark visual humor:
- Busy Buddies: Silly Stuff That Goes Together (2006) — A board book showing object pairs, like a pencil and paper, playing together.
- Food Friends: Fun Foods That Go Together (2006) — A board book about classic food pairings, like cookies and milk, throwing a party.
- Bee-Wigged (2008) — A story about an oversized bee named Jerry who wears a wig to fit in and find friends.
- Itty Bitty (2009) — The tale of a tiny dog who makes a home out of an oversized bone.
- Chuck and Woodchuck (2016) — A heartwarming story about a shy boy, a friendly classmate, and a helpful woodchuck who acts as a social matchmaker.
Clarifying the "Candlewick Sparks" Imprint
When searching bibliographies for Cece Bell, readers often encounter a long list of books under the series heading Candlewick Sparks. It is important to note that Candlewick Sparks is not a single storyline written by Cece Bell. Instead, it is an early-reader publishing imprint from Candlewick Press.
While Cece Bell's Rabbit & Robot books were published under this imprint, many other books associated with it—such as Laura McGee Kvasnosky's Zelda and Ivy, James Howe's Houndsley and Catina, and Kate Messner's Fergus and Zeke—are written and illustrated by entirely different creators. Readers seeking books written or illustrated by Cece Bell should focus specifically on her named series rather than trying to read the entire Candlewick Sparks catalog.