Betsy Bird's Blog, page 118

Review of the Day: The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book by Kate Milford

The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book
By Kate Milford
Illustrated by Nicole Wong
Clarion Books (an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
$17.99
Ages 9 and up
On shelves now.

The third law of library science, as stated by S.R. Ranganathan, says unequivocally, “Every book its reader”. Not “all books for all readers” but rather the idea that for each reader out there, there is a book. There are books on my library’s shelves that are built to suit the widest swath of readers imaginable. There are also boo...

Petulant Poultry Alert: The Cranky Chicken Cover Reveal and Interview with Katherine Battersby

On Monday of this week I conducted an interview with an author and illustrator on a book that takes a deep dive into the life of a Jewish American whose dedication to civil rights continues to inspire us to this day.

On Tuesday of this week I interviewed an author and illustrator about a book that pushes boundaries in terms of body positivity and the role of the human form in children’s literature at this precise moment in time.

Today, I’m talking about a cranky chicken.

I have layers, ...

The Big Bath House Interview: For “body-loving parents, rebel reviewers and vanguard author-librarians”

Think you’re for body positivity? Then it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.

Recently I’ve been enjoying the podcast You’re Wrong About, where the hosts interrogate some aspect of relatively recent history that we may remember incorrectly or not particularly well at all. Some of their best subject matter occurs when they talk about America’s “moral panics”. A moral panic constitutes “a feeling of fear spread among many people that some evil threatens the well-being of society”, or...

The Big Bath House Interview: A Book For “body-loving parents, rebel reviewers and vanguard author-librarians”

Think you’re for body positivity? Then it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.

Recently I’ve been enjoying the podcast You’re Wrong About, where the hosts interrogate some aspect of relatively recent history that we may remember incorrectly or not particularly well at all. Some of their best subject matter occurs when they talk about America’s “moral panics”. A moral panic constitutes “a feeling of fear spread among many people that some evil threatens the well-being of society”, or...

Bringing Unsung Heroes to Light: Talking about The People’s Painter with Cynthia Levinson and Evan Turk

For every book I read, I keep notes. Not particularly long ones (who has the time?) but a kind of encapsulation of my feelings surrounding each individual title. And I want to share with you today the thoughts I had surrounding a new picture book biography of the artist Ben Shahn. Like myself, you may never have heard of him. Here’s how the publisher describes the book The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice With Art by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Evan Turk:

“The first...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Arthur’s Nose by Marc Brown

When it comes to Arthur there is LOT to pick apart! Thanks, in large part, to the television show from 1996 which (checks watch) is still playing to this day. We go way way way back to 1976 to his VERY post-60s semi-psychedelic origins. Back when he actually looked like the aardvark he claims, to this day, to be. We talk earth pigs, children’s access to unnecessary cosmetic surgery, and how the entire point of the book is for the hero to fail to do something. And if you want a look at the r...

It’s Heeeeeere . . The Poultrygeist Trailer Premiere

Dead chickens. Who doesn’t love ’em? I know I do… in my belly!

Is it already the Halloween season? It is not, and yet here we are considering the latest Pete Oswald/Eric Geron picture book, Poultrygeist. And why not? Roadkill doesn’t take a holiday, after all.

Here’s the plot description:

Poultrygeist is punny. It’s spooky. It’s a meta picture book that puts a fresh spin on an old joke and elevates chicken comedy to ghastly new levels. A little spring chicken crosses the road but quick...

Review of the Day: Opposites Abstract by Mo Willems

Opposites Abstract
By Mo Willems
Hyperion Books for Children
$14.99
ISBN: 978-136807097-3
On shelves October 19th

Reviewing Mo Willems is kind of like poking at a very big, very colorful wall. The wall isn’t really going to care if you poke it or not and unless you continue poking for years at a time, you’re probably not going to make much of a dent in it. Now I just checked and rechecked my notes and as far as I can tell, the last time I reviewed a book by Mo Willems was on January 29, 2007. I ...

The Podcast/Book Hybrid: Diving Into the Story Seeds Imagination Lab Activity Book

“The Story Seeds Podcast is … making a book! It’s full of prompts and projects inspired by the show-a great thing for young writers.” – Travis Jonker, elementary school librarian and creator of 100 Scope Notes, a kidlit blog hosted by School Library Journal

When I was asked to help be a part of the Story Seeds Podcast, I little expected its team to be as creative, on top of things, and downright educational (oh yeah, I said it) as they were. Not only did they manage to get a wide array of...

The Rare Live Interview: Anastasia Higginbotham & I Talk “What You Don’t Know”

Take a trip back with me in time, roundabout two months or so, to February 10th. I know, I know. During a pandemic even two months can feel like years ago. Well, way back then I conducted an interview with author/illustrator Anastasia Higginbotham about her latest book What You Don’t Know: A Story of Liberated Childhood. Hosted by Seminary Co-op I sat down with Anastasia (virtually, naturally) and we talked.

Well, in a first time ever twist, Kait Heacock and the good folks of Dottir Press ac...