Betsy Bird's Blog, page 188

Fusenews – Warning: May use eigenface decomposition methods to calculate facial similarities

All right! Been a couple months since I did one of these and they’ve been burning a hole in my draft folder. My laptop is at 25% and I can’t find the cord to plug it in so let’s make these short and oh-so sweet!

 

In the good news department, Idris Elba is going to be in the film of G. Neri’s fabulous Ghetto Cowboy. Because sometimes the universe is a place I enjoy residing within.

 

Leave it to Marjorie Ingall to give Russell Freedman his proper due. In the Table article A Children’s Book...

Review of the Day: The Story Collector by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

The Story Collector
By Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno
Henry Holt & Co. (an imprint of Macmillan)
$16.99
ISBN: 978-1-250-14380-8
Ages 9-12
On shelves August 28th

From 2007 until about 2012 I had the distinct pleasure of working in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of New York Public Library. It’s one of those parts of my working life I look back at with a little bit of amazement. For only one time in my life I could essentially say to someone, “You know that library...

The Top 100 Board Books Poll Countdown: #5 – 1!

We did it!

We really and truly did it. You voted. The votes were tallied. And now we’re finishing up the last remaining titles on the Top 100 Board Books Poll Countdown. Some of you have asked if this will appear in a nice printable format, so I’ll work with SLJ to see if we can’t make that happen. Until then, enjoy the last remaining books. I know I sure as heck have.

 

#5 – Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (1999)

One of the best ever lift the flap books, perfect for building suspense and engagem...

Horror for Kids Today: Post-Goosebumps Scare Fests

If this whole Collection Management job I’ve got going on doesn’t pan out, I think I’ve a fine and beautiful career ahead of me as a Crochety Children’s Librarian That Takes Issue With People Who Inexplicably Are Discussing Children’s Literature. The source of today’s frustration? A recent NPR piece with a killer title: Like ‘Goosebumps?’ Here’s Another 30 Years’ Worth Of Horror For Kids. Sounds really great, right? I was looking forward to seeing what’s gone on since, oh say, Wait Till Helen...

Review of the Day: The Field by Baptiste Paul, ill. Jacqueline Alcántara

The Field
By Baptiste Paul
Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara
North/South Books, Inc.
$17.95
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4312-7
Ages 4-7
On shelves now

Here’s an interesting conundrum for you. Rattle it about in your brain for a while. It is an uncontestable fact that the majority of picture books published in America in a given year feature either white kids or animals. Now this is just talking about the bulk of the publishing industry, and there are always exceptions. So while the big publishe...

Alternative Anticipated Children’s Books of Fall 2018 List

No doubt by this time you’ve read PW’s list of the Most Anticipated Children’s And YA Books of Fall 2018. Good strong books are on that list, many that I absolutely adore. That said, I couldn’t help but notice a lot of gaps. Just one graphic novel. Three nonfiction. And, because a book is usually “anticipated” because its creator is already famous, there were a lot of familiar names without many debuts.

My idea: Let’s put together a list of Fall 2018 books that may not be anticipated by the m...

The Top 100 Board Books Poll Countdown: #10-6

*Sniff* And just like that it’s almost over. But what beauties we have to share before we go! Nearing the end, we’re seeing a sharp increase in the number of older titles. One thing that interested me, looking at today’s list, is that according to my sources, these books were all published in 1982 or 1996. I’m not sure if that’s an inaccuracy on the part of my distributor, or if you can actually track an increase in board book production in those two years. If it’s accurate, what was it about...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Thanks to a listener suggestion, Kate and I finally crack open the Henkes box. And when you’re talking Henkes, there’s only one place to start. Now I should warn you right from the start that I make an egregious error in this podcast. I own this mistake. This thing of darkness I claim mine. You see, at one point I make the claim that Julius, Baby of the World was published AFTER Purple Plastic Purse. I think we can all agree that this wasn’t the case, but I’ve been convinced of this order for...

Alice Faye Duncan: Interview, Cover Reveal, and the Gwendolyn Brooks Bio That’ll Knock Your Socks Off

Today’s cover reveal is interesting because rather than talk with the author about an upcoming book and its cover, I’ll be talking with writer Alice Faye Duncan about a book of hers that’s out later this month, alongside a cover reveal for a picture book biography that’s drop dead gorgeous. As of this writing, MEMPHIS, MARTIN, AND THE MOUNTAINTOP: THE SANITATION STRIKE OF 1968 has already garnered a star from Kirkus. I sat down and asked Ms. Duncan about this and her other upcoming book:

 

B...

Alice Faye: Interview, Cover Reveal, and the Gwendolyn Books Bio That’ll Knock Your Socks Off

Today’s cover reveal is interesting because rather than talk with the author about an upcoming book and its cover, I’ll be talking with writer Alice Faye Duncan about a book of hers that’s out later this month, alongside a cover reveal for a picture book biography that’s drop dead gorgeous. As of this writing, MEMPHIS, MARTIN, AND THE MOUNTAINTOP: THE SANITATION STRIKE OF 1968 has already garnered a star from Kirkus. I sat down and asked Ms. Duncan about this and her other upcoming book:

 

B...