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CHICAGO — Four acclaimed graphic novel authors and artists—Cece Bell, Françoise Mouly, Jeff Smith and Gene Luen Yang—join Booklist Associate Editor Sarah Hunter and Eva Volin, supervising children's librarian for the Alameda Free Library, to dig into graphic novels at the ERT/Booklist Author Forum at 2015 Midwinter Meeting. The popular Forum takes place 4 - 5:15 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30 at McCormick Place, and offers the first of many opportunities to hear and see favorite authors, illustrators and publishers up close at Midwinter.

Cece Bell has written and illustrated several books for children, including the Geisel Honor book “Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover.” In her most recent book, “El Deafo,” she shares what it is like to grow up deaf. “El Deafo” has received and . Watch and hear Bell talk about the book and demonstrate the Phonic Ear in this video: .

Françoise Mouly is art director at The New Yorker (where she has been responsible for more than 1,000 covers) and is also publisher and editorial director of TOON Books, an imprint of comics and visual narratives for young readers. She founded and co-edited, with collaborator and husband Art Spiegelman, the groundbreaking comics anthology RAW, the New York Times bestselling Little Lit series, and the TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics. A native of France, she has also received France's highest honor, the Legion of Honor and many other awards including the Richard Gangel Art Director Award from the Society of Illustrators and the Eric Carle Museum Bridge Award for “sustained achievement in the realm of the illustrated book for young people.”

Cartoonist Jeff Smith was an early adopter of the graphic novel format and is best known as the creator of the comic book series BONE, started in 1991 and now a New York Times bestselling series that has won numerous awards and honors including 10 Eisner Awards and 11 Harvey Awards. He is a board member of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, guest edited the 2013 Best American Comics anthology and is the creator of TÜKI and RASL. His other books include “Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil” and 2009 Geisel Honor recipient “Little Mouse Gets Ready.”

Gene Luen Yang's first book, “American Born Chinese,” is published in more 10 languages, won the Printz Award and was a National Book Award finalist. His other works include the popular comics adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and the New York Times bestselling graphic novel diptych “Boxers & Saints”- also a National Book Award Finalist. “The Shadow Hero,” the story of the first Asian-American superhero, is Yuen’s most recent graphic novel. His next book, “Secret Coders” (with Mike Holmes, Fall 2015), is about kids and computers, plus a mystery.

The authors are appearing thanks to the generous sponsorship of their publishers: Abrams (Cece Bell); TOON Books (Francoise Mouly); Scholastic (Jeff Smith); and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group (Gene Luen Yang).

The Exhibits Round Table is pleased to sponsor the ERT/Booklist Author Forum as one of the many ways they collaborate with staff and members to make the exhibits a dynamic part of conferences. The latest books by the authors who participate in the Author Forum can be found at their publishers’ booths in the Exhibit Hall. Some authors sign copies of their latest books immediately after the ERT/Booklist Author Forum during the Exhibits Opening Reception.

Booklist is the book review magazine of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app, considered an essential collection development and readers’ advisory tool by thousands of librarians for more than 100 years. includes a growing archive of 160,000+ reviews available to subscribers as well as a wealth of free content offering the latest news and views on books and media. offer essential integrated print and online access for the most efficient and effective workflow.

Registration and housing are open for 2015 Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits in Chicago, January 30-February 3, at . Use to make your case for attending!

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