Betsy Bird's Blog, page 116

Review of the Day: Honey for You, Honey for Me, compiled by Michael Rosen, ill. Chris Riddell

Honey for You, Honey for Me: A First Book of Nursery Rhymes
Compiled by Michael Rosen
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Candlewick Press
$19.99
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1273-0
Ages 0-3
On shelves now

On the one hand I want to ask why more illustrators don’t publish collections of nursery rhymes, and on the other hand I think I may understand completely. If I were to hazard a guess, I’d say that there might be oodles of artists out there just itching to put their own spin on “Doctor Gloucester” (as an example) ...

Unexpected Jolts of Children’s Literature

It’s that time again! I plow through loads of dull adult books every day just so that I can pluck the few with children’s literature connections out of the morass and hand them over. Once again it’s time for Unexpected Jolts of Children’s Literature, a regular series where we peek at the grown-up world of literature and see what they have to say about books for kids. Today I’ve only four titles, but they’re an interesting mix.

Wild Visionary: Maurice Sendak in Queer Jewish Context by Gol...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Black Is Brown Is Tan by Arnold Adoff, ill. Emily Arnold McCully

In honor of the recent death of children’s author Arnold Adoff, I thought it might be a good idea to consider a book that many call the first professionally published picture book to feature an interracial family published in the United States. Originally released in 1973, we look at the 2002 edition (re-illustrated by the same artist as the first time, Emily Arnold McCully). I get very excited about the fact that Adoff was not only married to Virginia Hamilton, but that he met her as a nigh...

Review of the Day: J.D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard, ill. Akeem S. Roberts

J.D. and the Great Barber Battle
By J. Dillard
Illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
Kokila (an imprint of Penguin Random House)
$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-593-11152-9
Ages 5 to 9
On shelves now

A lot of us were quickly disabused of our fantasies that we might be harboring secret haircutting skills, once the pandemic hit and home haircuts rose to an all-time high. My own husband accidentally ended up with two buzzed lines on the side of his head ala every single sitcom you’ve ever seen, thanks to my own “skills...

Your Legacy: A Talk With Broadway Director Schele Williams About the Enslaved in Children’s Literature

Director of the upcoming revival of Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical “Aida.”

Associate director of “Motown: The Musical.”

Associate director of “Porgy and Bess’ on its European tour, and associate choreographer of “Rent” on its North American and international tours.

Schele Williams

And when they ask you if you would like to interview that very someone about a book that they have written that discusses slavery with younger kids, you should jolly well have the brains to be interested...

The Rare Teaflet & Roog Dual Interview: Jeanne Birdsall and Jane Dyer Tell All

It’s a horrible word, “classic”. Hard to encompass. Makes you wonder aloud where nostalgia ends and “classic” begins. But children’s books are funny that way. You can, if you have the talent to do so, actually make books that “feel classic” to readers. Which is to say, books that will be treasured and loved and remembered by kids long after other memories have faded. So when I heard that (A) there was a Jeanne Birdsall/Jane Dyer early chapter book (or is it a bedtime book?) coming out and that (...

Beauty Woke: Puerto Rican Pride and Fairy Tale Twists in an Interview with NoNieqa Ramos

Are you ready to start talking about 2022 books, because for me it is NEVER too early! Particularly when there are fun titles to look forward to.

NoNieqa Ramos first came to wide acclaim and attention when she wrote the YA novel THE DISTURBED GIRL’S DICTIONARY. Next thing you know, it’s a 2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens, a 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection, and a 2019 In the Margins Award Top Ten pick. Since then she’s turned her attentions to the child...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein, ill. Henry Cole

“I am perfectly willing to believe that this is a stupidflock.” Kate’s getting very fond of giving me challenges. This week? To do another celebrity picture book. I’d already handed her a Julie Andrews, and it’s still too soon to do Madonna. Where does that leave us? Well, let me put it this way: If you wanted to learn about a book based on a film that included in its cast (amongst others) Estelle Getty and Melissa Etheridge, today’s your lucky day. We tackle Harvey Fierstein’s still-in-prin...

Trailer Reveal & Interview: A Peek at Derek Desierto’s ODDBIRD

Don’t let it get around, but I have a soft spot for birds. I also have a soft spot for eels and beavers, but birds far outstrip those other obsessions. I like ostriches and kookaburras and birds that don’t quite fit into categories. Oddbirds, if you will. Kinda like today’s picture book ODDBIRD by Derek Desierto. Here’s the description, for what it’s worth:

A picture book from Derek Desierto about a bird who doesn’t fit in…at first!

It’s SO hot outside. All the fancy birds are gathered around ...

Trouble Is a Friend of Mine: An Interview with Sarah Prineas About her Latest Science Fiction Endeavor

So I’ve been reading the middle grade science fiction novel TROUBLE IN THE STARS to my six-year-old son recently at bedtime. I didn’t plan to. Technically I figured that once we’d finished the second Wizard of Oz book that we’d do something like The Giver or The Phantom Tollbooth or something. Then he took one look at the cover of the latest from Sarah Prineas and it was all over. Now every time he finds a hole in his sock and wants me to throw it out he’ll proclaim, “Space it, mom! Space it!” L...