Betsy Bird's Blog, page 209
October 26, 2017
Unexpected Jolts of Children’s Literature: Gashlycrumb Bums
It’s that time again! Time to peek over the shoulders of adult authors to see how what they’re plundering from the children’s literature world for their own books. You’d be surprised how often this kind of stuff comes up. Here’s the most recent batch of books with a toe in the kidlit pool.
Bucket’s List by Gary Blackwood
Do not adjust your set. The author of this amusing murder mystery caper is indeed the same Gary Blackwood behind such fine and notable books as The Shakespeare Stealer an...
October 23, 2017
Fusenews: Hello, Ms. Champeen!
We start with the Me Stuff, and then it’s all downhill from there, as they say.
First up, I’m slated to be in NYC this weekend! *enter noisemaker sound here* Yup! It’s Bookfest time at the Bank Street College of Education and this guy is gonna lead a discussion on humor with Jon Scieszka, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Carmen Agra Deedy. Can’t make it? Have no fear! The whole kerschmozzle is going to be livestreamed with Kidlit TV starting at 9:30 EST on Saturday. I’ll be the one with the face...
October 22, 2017
Spooky, October-Infused Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt and Tony DiTerlizzi
At first it was difficult to come up with good Halloween-appropriate picture books. And then someone reminded me of this book. That I didn’t think of it myself is just a crying shame. What a perfect book to do for October! It is now officially the oldest text we’ve done on the podcast, if not the oldest book. And best of all, this is Kate’s favorite book so far! Who knew? All it took was a little devouring of the protagonist. I guess I should have seen it coming.
Listen to the whole show here...
October 20, 2017
Review of the Day: Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers
Her Right Foot
By Dave Eggers
Illustrated by Shawn Harris
Chronicle Books
$19.99
ISBN: 978-1-4521-6281-2
Ages 6 and up.
Consider your country, America. Consider what our teachers have been charged to do. Facing a future where the children of America are inadequate in the realm of nonfiction, our educators have been told to get them to read more factual fare. And slowly, not overnight but within just a few years, nonfiction trade publications for kids have become more and more interestin...
October 18, 2017
Cover Reveal: How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk, ill. Sara Palacios
We’re taking a lovely, leisurely stroll in the park when you turn to me and say, “Betsy, why don’t you write more about coding on your blog?” And I shuffle my feet a bit, maybe kicking a stray acorn. I avoid eye contact with you as I mumble something indistinct about it being scary and confusing and sort of like math but not like math (or is it math?). And you’re quiet listening to me ramble on but I can feel you getting impatient, and with good reason. We’re looking at a world in which women...
October 16, 2017
Walking and Talking with . . . Elizabeth Wein!
I’m not supposed to have favorites. Periodically Steve Sheinkin will pop up like a magical elf and offer me one of his magnificent Walking and Talking comic series for my blog, and I always thank him profusely, loving each and every one individually. Today’s is different. I’m not sure quite why. I think it has a lot to do with hearing what it’s like for a fiction writer to feel an obligation to her real world subjects not to put false thoughts into their heads. Wein is operating with a great...
October 15, 2017
Spooky, October-Infused Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag ft. James Kennedy
It’s time for the sweetest little tale of kitty cannibalism ever to grace our gentle bookshelves! And best of all, this very special episode of the podcast comes with a very special guest! Yes indeed we poached James Kennedy, author of The Order of Odd-Fish and creator of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival to take a trip over from my husband’s podcast (The Secrets of Story) to join us in the basement instead. If you’ve ever wanted to know what I keep down there (mwah-ha-ha!) or have ever th...
October 12, 2017
Announcing the Danziger Awards for Hilarious Kids Books
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
I don’t know about you but I’m tired of hearing myself whine. Every time there’s a cool sounding award for humor given out to an adult book you can count on hearing me pipe up. “Wah wah, no funny book awards for kids, wah wah, when’s that gonna change?”
But Betsy, you say wisely, aren’t you forgetting the Sid Fleischman Humor Award as given out by SCBWI?
Nope. I am well aware of that worthy award. But you are aware that it can only...
October 10, 2017
Fusenews: The Owl Who Gives No Hoots
Good morning to you. While I’m off traipsing about the Illinois Library Association conference in bee-auteous Tinley, IL, why don’t you settle down for an informal smattering of Fusenews. Good for what ails ya.
ok, let’s talk about Dr. Seuss says Grace Lin. Ms. Lin faced the full wrath of the masses when she dared to impugn the honor of the Little House books on a PBS website. Now she considers the recent controversy of the Dr. Seuss mural at the Dr. Seuss Museum. Did you miss that one...
Review of the Day: Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson
Last Day on Mars
By Kevin Emerson
Walden Pond Press (an imprint of Harper Collins)
$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-06-230671-5
Ages 9 and up
On shelves now
I’ll often get what I’d call reference interview questions from the internet as a whole. They come in via Twitter, Goodreads, personal emails, my website, my blog, you name it. In one recent case a parent told me that her 10-year-old son had recently devoured the rather adult The Martian by Andy Weir. She wondered if I had any recommendations for...
