Betsy Bird's Blog, page 175
February 13, 2019
Review of the Day: Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, ill. Kadir Nelson
The Undefeated
By Kwame Alexander
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Versify (an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
$17.99
ISBN: 978-1-328-78096-6
Ages 4 and up
On shelves April 2nd
Kids learn American history through a process of osmosis, long before they’re taught the basics in elementary school. They pick up bits and pieces of it in a million different places, but never in any kind of a linear fashion. Thanks goodness WWI and WWII were consecutive, since otherwise my children would have...
February 12, 2019
For Example, Take These Joke Books . . . Please!
Sympathy for the gatekeeper. It’s not easy thinking you know what’s best for kids. The darn little rapscallions always seem to have a different opinion about what’s good for them. Hey! Kids! Come over here at read this searing novel that will really speak to your generation about the challenges you’re facing today! What’s that? You just want to know where the joke books are?
*groan*
Look in 808 section then. Man, two years in library school and who knew I’d be spending so much of my time just...
February 11, 2019
Board Book Trailer Reveal: You Are Light by Aaron Becker
Remember that moment at the beginning of the graduate when Dustin Hoffman gets pulled aside and is told, “One word: Plastics”. That guy was way off. Me? If I could pull any up-and-coming author/illustrator aside I’d say something else.
“Two words: board books.”
The future is board books. Grab the nearest issue of Publishers Weekly if you don’t believe me. Any issue. It really doesn’t matter. Turn a couple pages in and see how books are doing compared to last year. Adult Nonfiction sales might...
February 10, 2019
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, ill. Michael Martchenko
I try to talk a little less loudly in this episode since I feel like, in my excitement, I’ve been blowing out the speaker systems. So I found a nice calm little book and discussed it in a nice calm little way. Fear not, though. There is PLENTY to pick apart. The fact that a Dude In Distress can be simplified to simply “The D.I.D.” Who you would cast as the dragon in the movie of this book (which, let’s admit it, it’s a little weird that it HASN’T been turned into an animated full-length featu...
February 9, 2019
2019 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour: Through the Window – Talking with Barb Rosenstock and Mary GrandPré
Here’s a clever little idea that awards of every kind should try. After announcing the recipients of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards at the ALA Youth Media Awards a week or two ago, the Association of Jewish Libraries and the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee have planned a blog tour for each of their winners. Showcasing their 2019 gold and silver medalists, from February 10-14 you’ll be able to find interviews with the winning authors and illustrators in a variety of Jewish and children’s li...
February 6, 2019
Review of the Day: We’re Not From Here by Geoff Rodkey
We’re Not From Here
By Geoff Rodkey
Crown Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Random House)
$16.99
ISBN: 9781524773045
Ages 9-12
On shelves March 5th
There’s stuff in the publishing industry that “everybody knows”. For example, it wasn’t that long ago that “everybody knew” that books with green covers wouldn’t sell. Then Percy Jackson comes along and so much for that theory (it’s sepia covers that don’t sell, anyway). “Everybody knew” that kids weren’t all that into fantasy right up...
February 5, 2019
The Girl Sleuth Trope: An Ode to Victoria “Vikki” Allen of The Bloodhound Gang
The other day I ran across this tweet:
First off, the man is not incorrect. The Carmen Sandiego revival on Netflix is successful (if, for nothing else, getting my kids to occasionally cry out, “la femme rouge!” at opportune moments). He is also correct that at this point we need to start going through the PBS back catalog for shows to revive. Ghostwriter would be a superb choice.
You may not be on board with all the revivals of 80s-90s nostalgia children’s television shows going on at the mo...
February 4, 2019
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
It just seemed to make sense to do a book this week that could kill two birds with one stone. I’ve always wanted to do a wider range of children’s picture books and we haven’t done any by Muslim-American (or, in this case, Muslim-Canadian) authors. So I took a look at New York Public Library’s 100 Children’s Books, 100 Years list (which I still love and admire) and selected Big Red Lollipop. And who did the illustrations? The latest double Caldecott Award winner, Sophie Blackall. Of course, t...
February 3, 2019
The Inexpensive Way to Keep Up With the 2019 Oscar Contenders
Who has the time, am I right? You’re busy people. The likelihood that you’ve had a chance to see all of the Oscar contenders for Best Picture this year is slim. I know some of you have done it, but it takes a concerned effort. To lighten the load, let me make it easy on you. You may not have time to see a film, but surely you’ve time to read a book for kids! They’re so short, and many of them cover the same ground as the film nominated. Don’t believe me? Just watch.
If you want to see:
The...
January 30, 2019
Review of the Day: The Full House and the Empty House by LK James
The Full House and the Empty House
By LK James
Ripple Grove Press
$17.99
ISBN: 9780999024935
Ages 3-6
On shelves February 5th
As a reviewer of children’s books, I have a big problem that can impede my job right from the get go. I’m an adult. Now, generally this isn’t a bad thing. I know how to spell and type quickly. I can come up with lofty explanations about why a book featuring a llama or a farting toad is great literature. But like any adult, I’m far removed from my own childhood. A...
