Author Robert Forbes (also Vice President of Forbes magazine and President of ForbesLife magazine) has written a series of poetry books for children. The books are fabulously illustrated by British artist and master illustrator, Ronald Searle, famous for his book series about St. Trinian's School and for work appearing in the New Yorker, Le Monde and other publications. Forbes's recent book, Beastly Feasts! A Mischievous Menagerie in Rhyme (Overlook Juvenile, 2007) is the source for a current exhibition at Wilson Library at UNC in Chapel Hill. The poems and 38 original Searle drawings from the book are on display. The exhibit has been extended until October 31 and is highly recommended.

During a recent visit to North Carolina, Forbes gave a reading at the North Carolina Museum of Art and read to hundreds of children in local elementray schools. He also spoke at the Ackland Museum in connection with it's current show, Carolina Collects. Forbes, a photography collector, has artworks included in the Ackland exhibition.