Betsy Bird's Blog, page 114
June 28, 2021
Unexpected Jolts of Children’s Literature
As the publishing cycle ramps up for the fall, the number of titles I’m starting to see increase as well. Today we’re looking at adult titles that have some kind of a connection to the world of children’s books. And there is a wide range of books to choose between.
How We Can Win: Race, History and Changing the Money Game That’s Rigged by Kimberly Jones
This time last year a video started circulating around the interwebs, described in many places with titles like This Powerful Seven-Mi...
June 27, 2021
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger, ill. Michael Hays
I am so excited to talk about this book today. I thought I knew how this story was going to end, and it definitely took a hard right turn that I was NOT expecting. We’re talking about Pete Seeger’s Abiyoyo, a title I first encountered as a child on Reading Rainbow. But what looks at first to be a simple case of cultural appropriation turns into something a bit more complicated. There are all kinds of twists and turns in our discussion today, and many of my assumptions walking in were upended...
June 24, 2021
SHE RAISED HER VOICE: A Cover Reveal and Interview with Jordannah Elizabeth
The art of the middle grade anthology will undoubtedly be worth seminars and long-winded papers in children’s literary academic circles in the near future. For now, however, it’s just a rather popular medium for getting the best voices and tales out there (trust me, I know). Recently, I heard that there was an anthology coming out of Black women who all had a hand in our musical history. Now I have often said that 90% of the factual information I have accrued over the years comes from the no...
June 23, 2021
Review of the Day: Off-Limits by Helen Yoon
Off-Limits
By Helen Yoon
Candlewick Press
$16.99
ISBN: 9781536207316
On shelves October 12th
Misbehavior is the backbone of children’s literature. Think of the great works of picture book literature. The apex of it all, Where the Wild Things Are is entirely ABOUT misbehaving. The Very Hungry Caterpillar climaxes with the caterpillar eating foods that are not good for him. Goodnight Moon is completely lacking in misbehavior (not even the kittens go for the seemingly suicidal mouse) so there’s not...
June 22, 2021
Newbery/Caldecott Summer Prediction Edition 2022
The name of the game is Newbery/Caldecott predicting. You know the rules. Only 2021 books need to apply. The same goes for books originally published elsewhere or created by citizens of countries other than the U.S.
But wait!
Turns out that there’s a fresh announcement to start us off today. This just in: This year’s Belpré Celebración, Newbery-Caldecott-Legacy Virtual Banquet, and ALSC Awards Ceremony will all premiere live on Youtube and are free and open to all! You heard me right....
June 21, 2021
Review of the Day: Timelines From Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies by D.K. Publishing
Timeline From Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies
Edited Steven Carton
D.K. Publishing (a division of Penguin Random House)
$19.99
ISBN: 9780-7440-3909-2
Ages 9-12
On shelves now.
In the course of a given week I tend to place loads of new and upcoming children’s books on hold at my library. As a result, I’m not precisely sure how Timeline From Black History showed up on my radar. Could have been from a review. Could have been sitting on a shelf in my library’s children’s room. Could have be...
Timelines From Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies by D.K. Publishing
Timeline From Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies
Edited Steven Carton
D.K. Publishing (a division of Penguin Random House)
$19.99
ISBN: 9780-7440-3909-2
Ages 9-12
On shelves now.
In the course of a given week I tend to place loads of new and upcoming children’s books on hold at my library. As a result, I’m not precisely sure how Timeline From Black History showed up on my radar. Could have been from a review. Could have been sitting on a shelf in my library’s children’s room. Could have be...
June 20, 2021
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
I wanted to do books in honor of the recently deceased Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert, but then Kate went and got married and I had a writing retreat the week after that. Now we are back! Kate’s got a ring, I’ve got a manuscript (sorta), and we’ve got a book from Eric Carle to discuss. A book with nudity! A book that’s been banned more than once! A book that includes neat little details. And stay tuned and see if you can catch something new in our closing credits.
Listen to the whole show he...
June 16, 2021
Unconventional Conversations with a Black Author: Emmanuel Acho Discusses His Young Reader’s Edition
The path from viral video hit series to book deal to children’s book deal is unique. I’ve seen viral videos spawn children’s books and I’ve seen them spawn adult titles, but you need to reach a second level, in a way, to then take that adult hit and write it with a younger audience in mind. Since I purchase the adult materials for my public library, I was already aware of Emmanuel Acho’s late 2020 bestseller Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man. The son of Nigerian immigrants who wen...
June 14, 2021
It Fell From the Sky: An Interview with The Fan Brothers
Eric and Terry Fan are not, what you might call, predictable. In my experience, the picture book creators you watch with the closest eye are the ones that follow a winding path. The trajectory of their particular career has been astonishing. I know of few artists that can pivot between topiary, pirates, scarecrows, science fiction experiments, and heartfelt odes to grandparents with such neat hairpin turns. And now, in this year of 2021, they have a new picture book out called IT FELL FROM THE S...
