Betsy Bird's Blog, page 190

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, ill. Axel Scheffler

If we are to assume that the point of my podcast Fuse 8 n’ Kate is to shine a light on “classic” picture books and ascertain whether or not they deserve that designation, it’s a short walk to doing the same for books from other countries. What better then than to consider a picture book that is MASSIVELY successful in England, and only mildly recognized in the States. As a reminder, it was listener Rebekah Harris-Hughes who should receive full credit for suggesting today’s book. So thank you,...

The Top 100 Board Books Poll Countdown: #40-36

You realize, of course, that when we hit the Top 20 in these poll results that I’ll be doing a board book a day. Woohoo! Can’t wait for that to begin. Then again, there’s much to be said for these countdowns by 5s. Where else could you find such an eclectic array? Starting, of course, with this one:

 

#40 – Besos for Baby by Jen Arena, ill. Blanca Gómez (2014)

Bilingual in an interesting way. Some bilingual board books incorporate words of one language strategically within the sentences of...

Review of the Day: Sci-Fu by Yehudi Mercado

Sci-Fu
By Yehudi Mercardo
Oni Press
$12.99
ISBN: 9781620104729
Ages 9-12
On shelves now

Not too long I attended a local comic convention in the Chicago area call C2E2. I’d been to the New York Comic Con once or twice, but that was small potatoes compared to this extravaganza. While there I had the chance to see something that a lot of librarians miss: Comics in their natural element. Comics from big publishers. Comics from small publishers. Independent artists. And, naturally, panels pa...

Walking and Talking with . . . Cece Bell

It’s always a glorious day when there’s a new Walking and Talking to present. Today Steve Sheinkin has an in-depth discussion with Cece Bell. If you’ve ever wanted to know what the status of El Deafo 2 might be, now’s your chance to find out.

Don’t forget to catch up with the whole series!

Walking and Talking with John Corey Whaley Walking and Talking with Jenni Holm Walking and Talking with Gene Luen Yang Walking and Talking with Laura Vaccaro Seeger Walking and Talking with Andrew Smith W...

The Top 100 Board Books Poll Countdown: #45-41

The other night I saw the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? about the life and work of Mr. Rogers. So much of the film discusses the emotional life and development of small children and I was continually struck by the fact that while I understand that the focus was on television and televised entertainment, there never seems to be any talk about books. Maybe that’s changed since the 1950s and 60s, though. Maybe discussions along these lines are now conceding the role board books play with...

Video Premiere: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

Last month I found myself overwhelmed. Overwhelmed, that is, with an incredible desire to review a book a full four months before its publication date. This is not an unheard of action on my part, but I do try to avoid talking up books too far in advance of their releases. Sometimes, though, when the book is particularly good, I can’t help it. I just gotta crow.

Enter Brangwain Spurge.

Folks, I’ve never seen anything like it. A book with a reliance on art ala Brian Selznick but with an unreli...

The Top 100 Board Books Poll Countdown: #50-46

Now that we’ve crested the fifty-mark, I’m going to slow things down a spell and start counting down by fives. Keep your eyes open wide, folks. These next few books are doozies:

 

#50 – Jamberry by Bruce Degen (1995)

The legacy of Bruce Degen can be nicely sliced into two distinct categories. On the one hand is his longstanding work on the Magic School Bus series (Frizzle then, now, and forever, people). On the other, this book (though I’ll confess I believe his work on Jazzmatazz never get...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi

This week we decided that scatological was the way to go. And so, we are pleased to announce that this is honestly the first Nonfiction picture book we’ve done on the show. Thinking about it, this may well be the most famous Nonfiction picture book in America. I’d be interested in hearing your alternative suggestions. We get to talk about all SORTS of stuff too. Square wombat poop. Poor printing jobs on the book. And then there’s that mystery animal that we simply could not identify. We might...

Review of the Day: Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Harbor Me
By Jacqueline Woodson
Nancy Paulsen Books (an imprint of Penguin)
$17.99
ISBN: 978-0-399-25252-5
Ages 9-12
On shelves August 28th

A good book, whether it’s written for a nine-year-old, a nineteen-year-old, or a ninety-year-old can tilt your perspective, if only momentarily. Consider the concept of the “happy ending” and what it’s supposed to resemble. What does a real happy ending actually entail in real life? In children’s books, many times the ending of a given story is happ...

The Top 100 Board Books Poll Countdown: #60-51

I don’t like to pick favorites but the ten books featured on the list today might well be my favorite board book run of this series. I mean, where else are you going to find animals of the Native Northwest, imports, picture book adaptations, high contrast titles, and books with removable components?

The list:

 

#60 – Jane Foster’s ABC by Jane Foster (2015)

 

“Simple text, but sophisticated in illustration and concept. Also love the cities (especially the Washington DC one—being on the outski...