Jeff Smith is an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the comic book series Bone. This series won many awards including ten Eisner Awards and eleven Harvey Awards. Now you can meet him at Orbital Comics in London, on Monday 20th October 2014 from 5pm onwards. He will be signing comics and graphic novels and meeting his many many fans.
Several years ago I was lucky enough to meet Mr Smith and get him to draw and sign my one edition Bone Collection Graphic Novel in Forbidden Planet. Whilst he was drawing Bone and writing a personal message in my graphic novel, I told him how as a teacher I had many comics in my class to encourage disengaged pupils to be drawn into the fantastical worlds that the comic books offered. Mr Smith was very friendly and encouraging and said he agreed. After meeting him I checked further online and found that he had created many informative educational packs explaining how graphic novels could be used to promote reading. He has created a pack of resources similar to the ones book clubs have where deeper level understanding and discussion of a text was encouraged. With many reluctant readers this pack was invaluable and helped me develop my reciprocal reading approach in my class. This is all by the by but if you are free meet a genuinely friendly and wonderful man who does much to promote literacy across the world. I am in meeting until late unfortunately but I'll be there in spirit!