Tucson Festival of Books

Scott Campbell (he/him/his)


Scott Campbell is an artist, author, and illustrator known for “Hug Machine,” the Zombie in Love series, and his whimsical “Great Showdowns” paintings. A former art director for video games like Psychonauts, he creates books, comics, and gallery art, a form celebrated worldwide. His newest graphic novel series for young readers, “Cabin Head and Tree Head,” showcases his signature humor and heart. Campbell lives in Los Angeles with his family.

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Scheduled events:
CATS Friday
The CATS Friday event with area teens is scheduled from 9:00-1:00 and involves an opening panel, workshops on writing and illustrating, and book signing. School groups must be registered ahead of time for this event. Contact Sybil Durand for more info.

Education Room 211 (Kiva) (Seats 200)  View this venue on the Festival map
Fri, Mar 13, 9:00 am - 12:55 pm
Teen
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Lower Level (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Hailey Alcaraz, Scott Campbell, Saraciea Fennell, Idris Goodwin, Tiffany D. Jackson, Lars Kenseth, Adib Khorram, Cynthia Leitich Smith
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, HarperCollins Children's Books
Design Amazing Characters for Video Games: YA Workshop
Explore how to create amazing characters and their worlds for video games with Scott Campbell. Scott creates books, comics, illustrations and video games and also worked as an art director on games such as Psychonauts. His new graphic novel is "Cabin Head and Tree Head."

UA Library YA /Room 254 Main Floor (Seats 55, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Teen
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelist: Scott Campbell
Moderator: Ann Parker
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Southside Community School
Draw a World on Your Head: Workshop for KIds
In this workshop, cartoonist Scott Campbell invites children to create characters who have worlds on their heads, like the characters in his new graphic novel, "Cabin Head and Tree Head." Scott Campbell creates books, comics, paintings, illustrations and video games.

Education Room 349 (Seats 48, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelist: Scott Campbell
Moderator: Karen Gabino
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Ellen Wheeler and David Nix
Laugh-Out-Loud Fun in Graphic Novels
Laugh along with the graphic novel creators of InvestiGators, Cabin Head and Tree Head, and Gumshoe. John Patrick Green, Scott Campbell and Brenna Thummler explore their processes of creating cartoons and graphic novels and the essential role of humor in visual storytelling. Join us for fun and story.

Education Room 211 (Kiva) (Seats 200)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Scott Campbell, John Patrick Green, Brenna Thummler
Moderator: Elizabeth O'Donnell
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, HarperCollins Children's Books
On Your Mark, Get Set, Draw: Illustrator Draw-Off with Adam Rex
Join Adam Rex for a fun draw-off as illustrators, including Campbell, Green, Thummler, Littlebird and Raúl the Third compete to create quick drawings based on suggestions from Adam Rex and the audience.

Education Room 211 (Kiva) (Seats 200)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Scott Campbell, Steph Littlebird, Raúl Third, John Patrick Green, Brenna Thummler
Moderator: Adam Rex
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, HarperCollins Children's Books

Books:
Cabin Head and Tree Head (Cabin Head and Tree Head, Book #1)
Children
Penguin Group
September 2025
ISBN 9781774885079
88 pages
Buy now

Hug Machine
Children
Simon and Schuster
August 2014
ISBN 9781442459359
40 pages
Buy now