Betsy Bird's Blog, page 266

Press Release Fun: The Kids Author Carnival Returns!

Here in New York there’s a Teen Authors Festival that makes the rounds once a year. Inspired by David Levithan’s style, a Kids Author Carnival was created. It’s now in its second year. Check out that line-up!

KIDS AUTHOR CARNIVAL 2015

The 2nd annual Kids Author Carnival will take place at the Jefferson Market branch of the New York Public Library on Saturday, May 30, 2015. The event begins at 6:00 pm and lasts until 8:30 pm. Doors open at 5:30pm.

Last year, the inaugural Kids Author Carniv...

Video Sunday: From Argentina to Germany, It’s a Worldwide Trip!

Happy Easter, folks! Tis a bonny Easter Video Sunday . . . . not really. One of these videos does show a bunny at one point, though. Can YOU find it? The answer is at the end of this post.

First up, my co-writer Jules Danielson was in town recently and managed to get herself on national television while here. I’ve been in New York for 11 years and haven’t managed such a thing once. So well done to her! She’s the second person in this video to stuff their mouth full o’ Peeps. It’ll make sense...

Of Bunnies and Blood

Morning, folks! I’ve two spring-like things to draw your attention to today. Nothing particularly heavy or consequential. Just light, airy, early April tidbits.

First up, New York Public Library is doing a wonderful 30 Days of Poetry feature where every day of the month a different staff member reads a selection from one of their favorite poems. Today’s reader? Myself! I take a piece out of my favorite poem by Ogden Nash “Don’t Cry, Darling, It’s Blood All Right”, the full text of which you c...

The Rise in Latino Children’s Literature: A 2015 Accounting

So we need diverse books, which at this point in the proceedings shouldn’t really be news to much of anyone. You know it. I know it. But ascertaining progress can be tricky in these matters. Anyone who works in publishing knows that it takes years and years for books to reach publication. Read through any copy of PW Children’s Bookshelf and you’ll have the enormously satisfying experience of noting all the diverse authors being announced there. Yet it will take some time before their books hi...

And All Our April Fool’s of Yesterday

It sort of defeats the purpose to write a post that reminds folks that it’s April Fool’s Day in the post’s very title, doesn’t it? I guess I can’t go about claiming wild and wacky things, like Peter Sieruta used to. Remember his 2012 post on “Selznick syndrome” or 2011′s Charlie Sheen Lands Children’s Book Deal or 2009′s Graveyard Book to Be Stripped of Newbery, or (my personal favorite) his 2008 Ramona piece de resistance? No? Then go read them. The man knew from pranks.

This year pranking i...

Review of the Day: Red by Michael Hall

Red: A Crayon’s Story
By Michael Hall
Greenwillow (an imprint of Harper Collins)
$17.99
ISBN: 978-0062252074
Ages 3-6
On shelves now

Almost since their very conception children’s books were meant to teach and inform on the one hand, and to inform one’s moral fiber on the other. Why who can forget that catchy little 1730 ditty from The Childe’s Guide that read, “The idle Fool / Is whipt at School”? It’s got a beat and you can dance to it! And as the centuries have passed children’s books...

Fusenews: In which I find the barest hint of an excuse to post a Rex Stout cover

I’ve been watching The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt recently. So far the resident husband and I have only made it through two episodes, but I was pleased as punch when I learned that the plot twist in storyline #2 hinged on a Baby-Sitter’s Club novel. Specifically Babysitter’s Club Mystery No. 12: Dawn and the Surfer Ghost. Peter Lerangis, was this one of yours? Here’s a breakdown of the book’s plot with a healthy dose of snark, in case you’re interested. And now a subject that is near and de...

Review of the Day: Tricky Vic by Greg Pizzoli

Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
By Greg Pizzoli
Viking (an imprint of Penguin Group USA)
$17.99
ISBN: 978-0-670-01652-5
Ages 8-11
On shelves now

I was listening to a favorite podcast of mine the other day when the panelists began discussing the difference between heist films and con man films. A heist film is one where the entire movie is a build-up to a great and fabulous heist. Ocean’s 11 and that sort of thing. In the children’s book world t...

Walking and Talking with . . . Andrew Smith

That’s right.

Andrew Smith.

And it’s fantastic. The latest in Steve Sheinkin’s series “Walking and Talking”.

Enjoy it.

Big time thanks to Steve for putting these together and for this one in particular.

Previous editions of this series include:

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

Where the Wild Books Are: Addressing the State of Global Publishing in America

It’s amazing what a blog post can do. About a year or so ago I wrote some thoughts about picture books created in other countries, and how they are received when they are brought to American shores. I’ve a great deal of experience with librarians considering some types of illustrations too “weird” to promote to children and parents and it rankles. Likewise, there are many publishers that eschew a certain kind of look that comes with picture books from other countries. My blog post sparked som...