Betsy Bird's Blog, page 197

The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant: Fuse 8 n’ Kate Transcription

This week Kate and I didn’t release a new episode of our podcast. In lieu of that, she’s typed up a transcript of our Babar episode, for those of you that would prefer our banter in written form. Here then is the episode in full. Many thanks, indeed, to Kate for doing the dirty work of writing this all down:

 

(THEME SONG)
Two sisters lived on separate sides of the States
One in NYC and the other L.A.
They both moved to Chicago and decided to stay
Now here’s their playful podcast packed with...

Cover Reveal: Sweep by Jonathan Auxier

“Frog and Toad on rooftops.”

Now that I have your attention . . .

The funny thing about the children’s book author Jonathan Auxier (you may remember him from his Peter Nimble stories, or perhaps from his deliciously creepy The Night Gardener) is that I knew him personally before he was a writer for kids. Back then he was friends with my husband, Matt Bird, and the two would discuss movies and screenplays and storytelling as a whole for hours upon hours. Jonathan, however, always had a fascina...

The Art of the Book Title: Picture Book Edition

When you think of the truly great picture books of all time, you realize pretty quickly that like all things famous, in order to achieve greatness the right parts had to be the right place at the right time. You have to have great art, marvelous writing (if, indeed, you have any writing at all), memorable characters, the works. One element of the book that may have been entirely out of the creators’ control, however, is the book’s title. Though many writers have kept the original titles they...

Dudes! Raffi! The Interview.

I have been more descriptive in my titles in the past, but seriously. Dudes! Raffi! I just friggin’ interviewed Raffi!

If this news and name mean nothing to you then you’re undoubtedly younger than I. There was a time, oh best beloved, when the only name that came to mind when you mentioned “children’s music” was Raffi. He didn’t have a TV show, probably due to the fact that he abhors marketing to kids. Yet somehow the man managed to become the preeminent children’s entertainer for decades. S...

Cover Reveal: Winnie’s Great War by Lindsay Mattick and Josh Greenhut, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Let us play a game. Think of all the picture books that have won the Caldecott Award over the years. Not the Honors, mind you. The Gold. The Big Kahuna. Are you picturing them? Good. Now, separate out all the Nonfiction winners. This would be easier to do if we were talking about the NonFictionphobic Newberys, but it can be done. I count eight to nine (though we could have a marvelous debate about some of the older titles, I’m sure).

Now. Of the eight or nine Nonfiction titles, how many have...

Review of the Day: The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

The Book of Boy
By Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr
Greenwillow (an imprint of Harper Collins)
$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-06-268620-6
Ages 9-12
On shelves now

When you think about it, many authors of children must have something they’re afraid to write. Some book or idea or concept that tempts them but that they wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot-pole. Religion is probably right up there on some people’s lists, regardless of the denomination. Is there a way to incorporate it...

Announcing the Top 100 Board Books Poll!

If you will be so good as to look over to the right-hand side of my blog here, you’ll notice that the top two links listed in the sidebar are two “Top 100 Polls”. What does that mean? Well, about six years ago I announced a challenge to my readers. I wanted them to personally rate their Top 10 picture books and children’s novels. After doing so they’d rate them, from one to ten, with ten being the book they least liked and number one being the one they admired the most. They sent me their res...

It’s All In the Wrinkle in Timing: Changes Are Afoot!

I figured it out. If this whole librarianship ship doesn’t pan out for me (I’ve held down various library jobs for 14 years but nothing in this life is certain) I’ve decided on my back-up career: Film critic of children’s books-to-movies. Granted, I’ve no film background (aside from being married to Matt) but I’ve noticed that there’s a great big gaping hole in the market for this kind of a reviewer. Critics of children’s films may exist, but how many specialize? Nope. I’m settled. It’s the p...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf & Robert Lawson

Our longest episode yet! That’s not a selling point, is it? Well, I found it notable. As it turns out, I had a LOT to say about this book. Kate had a LOT to opine about this book. Together we just got to ah-gabbin’ and lost track of time. And along the way we learn that someone with a retainer may have a very hard time saying the words “pacifist” and “pacifism”. Let’s all say “passive pacifism” together now three times fast!

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through i...

Review of the Day: It’s Springtime, Mr. Squirrel! by Sebastian Meschenmoser

It’s Springtime, Mr. Squirrel!
By Sebastian Meschenmoser
Translated by David Henry Wilson
NorthSouth Books
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4310-3
$18.95
Ages 4-7
On shelves now.

There is an old joke here in America regarding the Germans and their sense of humor. Mainly, that they haven’t got one. I’ve heard everything from Patton Oswalt routines to old commercials that state loudly, and for the record, that the Germans, for all their charms, are a humorless crew devoid of even a shred of hilarity. I...