Betsy Bird's Blog, page 289

Press Release Fun – Peter Sis: Cartography of the Mind

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mary Van Akin

(646) 307-5210 | Mary.VanAkin@macmillan.com

Czech Center New York Presents Exhibition of the Work of Acclaimed Artist, Illustrator, Author, and Filmmaker Peter Sís

Peter Sís: Cartography of the Mind

Peter Sís: Cartography of the Mind on View May 8 through September 2, 2014

Media Preview and Opening Reception

Wednesday, May 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Czech Center New York at the Bohemian National Hall

321 E 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021

Some fifty works by the inter...

Fusenews: Never Forget

Morning, folks! I do believe my comments feature is busted at the moment, so please don’t be alarmed if you can’t get anything to go through. It’s frustrating for me as well. Feels like an echo chamber in here. Hm.

Well, as you may have heard, A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy will not be continuing here on the SLJ blog network. Liz Burns posted her final post just this past Friday. But fear not! This is not the end of Tea Cozy as we know it. Liz has a new site so update those bookmarks and...

Video Sunday: Met the ghost of David Wiesner at the Hotel Paradise . . .

Here we are in the glory of spring. With all the beauty just ah-popping outdoors, what better time to sequester ourselves inside to watch mad videos about children’s literature related affairs?

So first and foremost, you may have seen me make mention of the fact that I had a podcasting-related Children’s Literary Salon last weekend. My Lit Salons are monthly gatherings of children’s literature enthusiasts who come to the main branch of NYPL to watch me finagle different topics out of incredibl...

Press Release Fun: A Virtual Book Swap on Summer Reading

Remember back in January when I hosted the ALA Media Awards Pre-Game / Post-Game Show with my partner in crime Lori Ess? Well, the dynamic duo/gruesome twosome is back, baby! Thanks to the good people of Scholastic, Lori and I are tackling summer reading. Granted, we’re doing it in a typing/chat like setting and not live video, but you’ll get our customary repartee, I should think.

So save that date!!

How do we feel about participating in this? Something along these lines:

Hope to see you there!...

Review of the Day: The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

The Most Magnificent Thing

By Ashley Spires

Kids Can Press

$16.95

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Ages 3-7

On shelves now

I was at a conference of math enthusiasts the other day to discuss kids and the state of math related children’s books. Not my usual scene but I was open to it. Despite what some might fear, the day was thoroughly fascinating and the mathematicians in attendance made many fine and salient points that I had never thought to consider. At one point they took it upon themselves to corr...

Librarian Preview: Penguin Books (Summer 2014)

There is a certain element of mystery that accompanies each and every librarian preview here in New York City. When the larger publishers gather the librarians to their proverbial bosom, those same librarians walk in with just one question in your mind: How long is this going to take? If you’re lucky you’ll be out by lunchtime. But with Penguin beginning their preview by providing lunch, the day was rendered simply more mysterious. Fortunately the answer to the puzzle lay on our seats. Each l...

World Book Night and a Proper Celebration of the Day of Shakespeare’s Birth

In terms of folks who share my birthday today, it’s a mixed bag. On the one hand I got Shakespeare. So . . . y’know. That’s nice. By the same token 4/23 was the reported date of the death of Cervantes. On the other hand, I share my birthday with President James Buchanan. Oog. But then I also got Shirley Temple and Vladimir Nabokov. Now THERE is a pairing for you!

So if we’re going to do this correctly we need to have something properly Shakespearean to celebrate today. I suggest that you head...

Press Release Fun: The Paddle8 Victory Academy Auction of Children’s Book Art

I don’t always blog the auctions I see online, but sometimes the cause is good and the timing is right. Recently the right good honorable LeUyen Pham emailed me about an auction of children’s book art that sounds, in a word, fan-freaking-tastic. Said she:

Fellow illustrator and artist-who’s-work-i-totally-love CARSON ELLIS has put together an online auction of some incredible artists! Please please please go online and make a bid for some of these pieces! The artist list reads like a who’s-who...

Review of the Day: The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza by James Kochalka

The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza

By James Kochalka

First Second (an imprint of Roaring Brook)

$17.99

ISBN: 978-1626721036

Ages 7-11

On shelves now

James Kochalka has always had a penchant for the outright silly. If nothing else his Johnny Boo series of books have said as much. He’s not afraid to go for the obvious gag, but at the same time his sheer willingness to get ridiculous sort of becomes his strength. I picked up The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza uncertain if it would be honest...

Press Release Fun: The Snow Queen joins the New York Musical Theatre Festival

You know when you make a friend who works in a different field than you and then, in time, your mutual interests come together? Years ago my friend Katie married a talented composer by the name of Haddon Kime. Haddon was kind enough to create the opening music of my short lived podcast and then that was that. Now years have passed and the man behind the music and lyrics of the kick arse punk rock version of The Snow Queen (good timing with Frozen and all, eh?) is coming to the New York Musica...