Cece Bell is a beloved children’s author and illustrator, best known for her graphic memoir El Deafo. Her books combine humor, honesty, and warmth while exploring childhood, identity, and resilience.
If you enjoy reading Cece Bell, these authors are well worth adding to your list:
Raina Telgemeier writes graphic novels filled with emotional honesty, everyday humor, and deeply relatable moments. Readers who connected with Cece Bell’s candid take on growing up will likely find a similar openness in Telgemeier’s work.
In Smile, Raina recounts her real-life experience after a fall damages her front teeth. What follows is a middle school journey packed with braces, awkward moments, shifting friendships, crushes, and the slow process of figuring out who she is.
It’s the kind of story that feels instantly recognizable, which makes it both comforting and hard to put down.
Dav Pilkey brings together silliness, heart, and big comic energy in a way that many Cece Bell fans will enjoy. His book Dog Man introduces a one-of-a-kind hero who is part dog and part police officer.
After an accident, Officer Knight and his dog Greg are combined into Dog Man, a crime-fighting character whose adventures are wildly funny and unexpectedly sweet. The stories are full of absurd villains, fast-paced action, and gentle messages about loyalty, kindness, and courage.
Pilkey’s graphic style is playful and inviting, making his books a great choice for readers who appreciate the humor and accessibility of El Deafo.
Jeff Kinney is known for capturing the embarrassments and absurdities of growing up with a sharp sense of humor. His stories about school, family, and friendship are especially appealing to readers who like funny books grounded in real kid experiences.
His bestselling series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, follows Greg Heffley as he stumbles through middle school, social disasters, sibling trouble, and one awkward situation after another.
In Rodrick Rules, Greg has to deal with his older brother Rodrick, who seems determined to make his life even more humiliating. The result is a string of mishaps that will feel very familiar to anyone who remembers the chaos of school and family life.
With simple illustrations and a strong comic voice, Kinney offers the same kind of approachable, funny storytelling that makes Cece Bell’s work so appealing.
Victoria Jamieson is an excellent pick for readers who love stories that are funny, heartfelt, and true to the emotions of growing up.
Her graphic novel, Roller Girl, follows Astrid, a determined twelve-year-old who signs up for roller derby camp while her best friend heads in a different direction. That choice marks the start of a summer filled with hard work, bruised confidence, and big changes.
Astrid must navigate new friendships, demanding practices, and the pain of feeling left behind by someone she cares about.
Jamieson captures middle-school emotions with real tenderness, and her lively artwork gives the story extra energy and charm.
Shannon Hale often writes about friendship, insecurity, and the search for belonging with warmth and clarity. Readers who appreciated the emotional honesty of Cece Bell’s El Deafo may find a lot to love in Shannon Hale’s graphic memoir Real Friends.
In Real Friends, Shannon looks back on her elementary school years and the complicated world of childhood friendships. She deals with shifting social circles, pressure from peers, and the difficult question of where she truly fits.
The book is thoughtful, relatable, and emotionally precise, making it an especially strong recommendation for readers who like stories that feel personal and true.
Jennifer L. Holm writes engaging, character-driven books with humor, heart, and a strong sense of childhood perspective. Her graphic novel Sunny Side Up is a great match for readers who enjoy stories that mix lightness with deeper family themes.
The book follows Sunny Lewin, who is sent to spend the summer with her grandfather in a Florida retirement community. She expects a season of sun and adventure, but instead finds bingo, shuffleboard, and a slower pace than she imagined.
As the summer goes on, Sunny begins to understand the family issues behind her visit. Holm handles those revelations with care, balancing comedy and emotional truth in a way Cece Bell fans will likely appreciate.
Sara Varon creates visually expressive stories that are tender, imaginative, and full of feeling. Her book Robot Dreams tells the story of a dog who builds a robot companion and discovers just how much friendship can mean.
When a beach trip leaves the robot stranded, the two friends are separated and forced into very different experiences. Without using words, Varon conveys loneliness, hope, and the longing to reconnect.
Readers who admire Cece Bell’s emotional depth and expressive artwork will likely be moved by the quiet power of Varon’s storytelling.
Jarrett J. Krosoczka is a children’s author and illustrator whose work often blends humor with emotional honesty. His graphic memoir Hey, Kiddo explores his childhood being raised by his grandparents while coping with his mother’s addiction and his father’s absence.
Krosoczka tells this personal story with openness, compassion, and moments of humor that keep it grounded and deeply human.
If you value the way Cece Bell transforms lived experience into accessible, thoughtful storytelling, Hey, Kiddo is a powerful next read.
Elise Gravel is a great choice for readers who enjoy quirky humor, playful illustrations, and a sense of curiosity about the world. Her books have a lively, inviting style that feels both clever and approachable.
In The Mushroom Fan Club she introduces readers to the fascinating world of mushrooms through colorful drawings, amusing observations, and easy-to-follow facts. Gravel makes each discovery feel exciting rather than instructional.
Her blend of wonder and wit gives the book a distinctive charm, especially for readers who love the offbeat warmth found in Cece Bell’s work.
If you like stories about school, friendship, and everyday disasters told with a strong comic touch, Lincoln Peirce is well worth trying. His Big Nate books are full of energy, attitude, and middle-school chaos.
Peirce follows Nate Wright, a sixth-grader with a talent for getting into trouble. Nate’s messy locker, constant schemes, and running battles with his teacher Mrs. Godfrey create plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
In Big Nate: In a Class by Himself, Nate becomes convinced that a fortune cookie predicts his greatness, so he sets out to outdo everyone around him. Naturally, things do not go exactly as planned.
Like Cece Bell, Peirce combines expressive illustrations with recognizable emotions from school life, making his books especially easy for young readers to fall into.
Ben Hatke writes adventurous graphic novels with warmth, humor, and a strong sense of wonder. Readers who enjoy Cece Bell’s sincerity may appreciate the way Hatke balances action with emotion.
In Zita the Spacegirl, Zita is thrust into a strange alien world after her friend is taken away, and she sets off on a rescue mission. Along the way she encounters unusual creatures, surprising allies, and one challenge after another.
The book offers a satisfying blend of adventure, friendship, and courage, all brought to life through dynamic artwork and an engaging sense of fun.
Mariko Tamaki writes stories that feel observant, intimate, and emotionally layered. Readers drawn to Cece Bell’s personal and heartfelt storytelling may also appreciate Tamaki’s sensitive approach to adolescence.
Her graphic novel This One Summer, created with illustrator Jillian Tamaki, follows Rose and Windy during a summer by the lake that slowly becomes more complicated than it first appears.
As Rose becomes more aware of family strain and shifting relationships, the story captures the uneasy, in-between feeling of growing up. It’s a beautifully observed book that lingers long after the final page.
Luke Pearson’s books are a wonderful fit for readers who enjoy imagination, emotional warmth, and memorable visual storytelling. He is best known for the charming Hilda and the Troll series.
The first book introduces Hilda, a curious and fearless girl living in a magical landscape filled with unusual creatures and quiet mysteries. When she encounters a stone troll near her mountain home, her ordinary day turns into an unexpected adventure.
Pearson combines gentle humor with a strong sense of wonder, creating a story that feels cozy, inventive, and rewarding for readers of many ages.
Matthew Holm is another strong recommendation for Cece Bell fans, especially those who enjoy graphic novels about school, friendship, and self-acceptance. He collaborates with his sister Jennifer on the popular Babymouse: Queen of the World. series.
The story follows Babymouse, an imaginative young mouse who wants nothing more than to fit in and be invited to the most exciting slumber party in town.
Her daydreams and dramatic hopes make the book especially funny, while the underlying emotions stay true to real childhood experiences. The result is a lively, relatable story with plenty of charm.
Terri Libenson creates graphic novels that blend humor, vulnerability, and realistic school-life drama. If Cece Bell’s books appeal to you because they feel authentic as well as funny, Libenson is a natural next choice.
In Invisible Emmie readers meet two very different middle school girls: Emmie, who is quiet and artistic, and Katie, who is popular and confident. Their lives begin to overlap after an embarrassing note falls into the wrong hands.
Libenson captures the awkwardness of middle school with a light touch, and her expressive illustrations help bring both characters to life in a way young readers will instantly understand.
