Read books, eat cookies, watch movies with Oscar-winner William Joyce

DALLAS (SMU)­ – Children’s book lovers are invited to a book signing and film-screening featuring SMU graduate and best-selling children’s book author William Joyce.

The illustrator and filmmaker will sign books and screen his 2012 Oscar-winning Best Animated Short Film, “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,” 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Oct. 25, in Centennial Hall in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center, 3140 Dyer. Milk and cookies will be served at the child-friendly event.

The screening is free and open to the public. To register, visit www.smu.edu/fun.

Joyce also will lead SMU’s book-themed Homecoming parade as grand marshal Oct. 26, celebrating SMU’s Year of the Library. Community members and families are invited to enjoy a parade featuring marching bands, student-built floats and costumed characters. The parade will begin near campus at the intersection of University Boulevard and Hillcrest Avenue, travel south on Hillcrest, then north on Bishop Boulevard into campus. The parade time will be announced based on the still-pending game time.         

Joyce’s two latest books are The Mischievians and The Sandman and the War of Dreams. He also is the author of George Shrinks, Santa Calls, Dinosaur Bob and his Adventures with the Family Lazardo, The Leaf Men and The Brave Good Bugs, A Day with Wilbur Robinson, Bently & Egg, and the “Rolie Polie Olie” animated children's television program, which has earned three Emmy awards.

Hailed by Newsweek as one of the top 100 people to watch in the new millennium, Joyce co-wrote and produced the recently released film, “Epic.” Joyce also created conceptual characters for films such as Toy Story and A Bug's Life. Joyce's second television series, George Shrinks, aired daily on PBS stations across the country. In addition, he was the producer and production designer for the critically acclaimed animated feature film Robots and was the executive producer of the Disney Feature Animation film Meet the Robinsons, which is based on his picture book, A Day with Wilbur Robinson.

Joyce will be recognized as an SMU Centennial History Maker at the University’s Distinguished Alumni Awards, kicking off Homecoming on Thursday, Oct. 24.

SMU Homecoming includes events for all ages. For the full schedule visit: www.smu.edu/homecoming.

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