Betsy Bird's Blog, page 232

Review of the Day: The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat

The Cookie Fiasco
By Dan Santat
Additional Art by Mo Willems
Hyperion Books for Children (an imprint of Disney)
$9.99
ISBN: 978-1484726365
Ages 3-6
On shelves now

See, this is tricky. Very tricky indeed. On the one hand, as a reviewer of children’s books, not bound to any single periodical, I have the freedom to select any book I wish. As such, I like to highlight books that haven’t gotten a lot of attention. Imports, books from small presses, books that get lost in the ginormous publis...

And now . . .

In honor of the historic night yesterday, I give you the following. See if you can spot the theme.

Chaos Unleashed: What Picture Books Tell Us When They Go Completely Bonkers

I’ve been thinking a lot about chaos lately.

I don’t know if it’s the state of the world today, the upcoming election, or just the fact that I live in a house with a two-year-old and a five-year-old, but in this atmosphere a woman’s thoughts turn to the power of complete and utter anarchy. That’s been on my mind thanks, in large part, to some classic book rereleases I’ve been enjoying this year. Older picture books. Classic picture books. Picture books that give no outward indication of the f...

Cover Reveal: One Shadow On the Wall by Leah Henderson

So often a cover reveal is just that. A reveal. Here’s your cover, batta bing, badda boom.

Today is different.

Today, we’re shaking things up a tad. But a little backstory first.

About half a year ago I had the pleasure of speaking at the MD/DE/WVSCBWI Conference in Frederick, Maryland. I like doing SCBWI Conferences. The people there are open and fun and often have these great ideas I don’t see elsewhere. I do about one a year, and this one was particularly lovely. In the course of things I...

Press Release Fun: 90-Second Newbery Film Festival Open for Submissions

It only comes but once a year. But when it comes, boy howdy is it cool!

The press release below reveals everything you need to know, but I just wanted to add that the new website with its searchable capabilities is awesome. Plus, I just saw this adorable El Deafo video and had to share:

Awwwww.

Now make your own!

Contact: James Kennedy
Phone:773-351-7452
Email:kennedyjames@gmail.com
Website:http://www.90secondnewbery.com
Online PDF for social sharing:http://bit.ly/2dONfEe

FOR IMMEDIATE REL...

Review of the Day: Grandmother Fish by Jonathan Tweet

Grandmother Fish: A Child’s First Book of Evolution
By Jonathan Tweet
Illustrated by Karen Lewis
Feiwel and Friends (an imprint of Macmillan)
$17.99
ISBN: 978-1250113238
Ages 3-6
On shelves now

Travel back with me through the Earth’s history, back into the farthest reaches of time when the sand we walk today was still rock and the oceans of an entirely salination. Back back back we go to, oh about 13 years ago, I’d say. I was a library grad student, and had just come to the shocking rea...

Celebrating Tomi Ungerer in Style (Artists Need Apply)

Oh, where to begin.

So the other day, I got to thinking that my kids have had an insufficient dosage of Tomi Ungerer in their daily diets. Ungerer, if you are unfamiliar with him, has always been the enfant terrible of children’s literature. Having dared to publish children’s books for kids at the same time as his wildly erotic adult art for (obviously) adults, he was run out on a rail from the States, though he continued to make his books. The only story of his I’d ever read the children is...

Fusenews: Moominlatte

Good morning! I’d like to begin today by thanking the good people of Foundation 65 for allowing me to moderate a panel discussion last night with Duncan Tonatiuh, Grace Lin, Matt de la Pena, Janice Harrington, and Steve Sheinkin. Foundation 65 has created this cool program where these authors are visiting every single child in the Evanston, IL public school system this week. I helped kick it off, which was lovely. In this image you’ll see me in a rare moment of not lolling all over the podium...

What Steven Universe Tells Us About Children’s Books and Libraries in Pop Culture

I’ve grown a bit fond of the Cartoon Network show Steven Universe lately. Coming to it a bit late (I believe we’re on season 4 now, yes?) it took a Pop Culture Happy Hour episode to explain to me why the series was as groundbreaking and important as it was. This is advantage of having a five-year-old. When something like this comes up you can pretend you’re watching a new series for them when, in fact, you’re just curious for yourself. If you’re unfamiliar with Steven Universe I’ll try to su...

Press Release Fun: Important Ivy & Bean Announcement (and a 6-inch protective layer of lard)

Naturally you know what tomorrow is.

You don’t? Doggone calendars. You’d think they’d have the wherewithal to remember that October 21st is Ivy & Bean Day. And now here’s the interesting part. You heard it here first, folks, but Ivy & Bean are going to have . . . AN ELEVENTH BOOK!!

Don’t believe me? Hear it from Ms. Annie Barrows herself:

When I finished Ivy and Bean Take the Case, the tenth book in the series, I figured it was time to take a break from my girls. Why? Because ten books are a...