Betsy Bird's Blog, page 297
January 9, 2014
Newbery / Caldecott 2014: Final Prediction Edition
Ho ha! So yesterday I met with the good folks of SLJ to discuss a Newbery/Caldecott related . . . something. I can say no more at this time, but be prepared for a big time announcement on this blog soon.
But FIRST! It is at last time for my final Newbery/Caldecott/what have you predictions. The books have been percolating in my brain and by this time I’ve read most (I won’t say all since there might be a Moon Over Manifest winner lurking somewhere out there) of the contenders. I’ve seen the Mo...
January 8, 2014
Baby, Remember My Name: Picture Book Gems of Years Past
At the end of any given year you’ll see the occasional article or blog posting that talks about the forgotten gems of a given year. But what about those books that came out two, three, even ten years ago and yet remain unheralded? I’ve been reviewing books for kids for over ten years now, and when I look at the list of books I’ve reviewed I see titles that I still love and adore now, just as much as I did when they first came out.
So with this in mind I combed through my inordinately long list...
January 6, 2014
Review of the Day: Have You Seen My Dragon? by Steve Light
Have You Seen My Dragon?
By Steve Light
Candlewick Press
$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6648-4
Ages 2-6
On shelves April 8th
When I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan I would get this little thrill every time my city appeared in a children’s book. Which is to say, every time it was mentioned in Horton Hatches the Egg. Honestly, for all that it had a cool name it really didn’t come up anywhere else. New York kids must be rather jaded in this regard. Anytime a city book is set somewhere other than Manhatta...
January 4, 2014
Fusenews: Book Baths and Far Side – What More Could You Want in Life?
Huh! Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. In spite of the sheer swaths of time I’ve had since I completed my last Fusenews, I am surprisingly bereft of information for you this week. Whodathunkit? Ah well. NYC was recently hit with a bit of the old snowstorm, so while we stare mournfully at the unshovelled sidewalks in front of our homes, let me recount in the briefest of briefs the situation of the world as it stands.
First off, The 2013 Cybils Finalists have been announced! I’ve panned through the...
January 2, 2014
Press Release Fun: DiCamillo Named New National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature
as the New National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, 2014-2015
Via New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/books/kate-dicamillo-to-be-ambassador-of-young-peoples-literature.html?hpw&rref=books&_r=0
Via PW:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Kate...
January 1, 2014
Review of the Day: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild
By Peter Brown
Little, Brown and Company
$18.00
ISBN: 978-0-316-20063-9
Ages 3-7
On shelves now.
Here’s a fun exercise to liven up a gloomy day. Find yourself a copy of the picture bookMr. Tiger Goes Wild. Now turn to the publication page. It’s the green one opposite the title page at the beginning of the book. Now scroll down until you find the Library of Congress subject headings for this title. The very first one reads, “Self-actualization (Psychology)”. I am no cataloge...
Review of the Day: Journey by Aaron Becker
Journey
By Aaron Becker
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6053-6
$15.99
Ages 3-8
On shelves now.
I’ve encountered something new and exciting at this late stage of the game. For years I’ve been reviewing picture books written for children. Working with them on almost a day-to-day basis as a children’s librarian, I did not doubt that my experience helped me to separate out the wheat from the chaff (so to speak). Then I had my own kiddo and together we were able to plumb the depths of the board b...
Review of the Day: The Other Side of Free by Krista Russell
The Other Side of Free
By Krista Russell
Peachtree Publishers
$16.95
ISBN: 978-1-56145-710-6
Ages 9-12
On shelves now
Have you ever read the adult bookHow I Became a Famous Novelist? Bear with me for a second here, I know what I’m doing. You see, in the title the author decides that he wants to become a New York Times bestseller. In the course of his quest he runs across a variety of different authors who embody a variety of different types of novels. His own aunt decides she wants to be a chi...
December 31, 2013
Do Nations Have an Illustrative Style?
What does the fox truly say? That it ain’t from around these here parts.
I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to the art found in children’s picture books and those particular styles favored by artists in one nation or another. All this began when I recentlyreviewed of Wild by Emily Hughes. In the review I made the following statement: “A British/Hawaiian author/illustrator, Emily Hughes’ art is fascinating to look at, partly because it’s so incredibly European. It’s something about the ey...
December 29, 2013
Video Sunday: Ninjas, Snow Queens, and Faux Flash Mobs
Shout-out to my buddy Haddon Kime. The man wrote the music and lyrics for a new musical version of The Snow Queen now playing at theSan Jose Repertory Theatre with dreams of Broadway. Years ago he created the opening music and words for my now long dead podcast. It’s great seeing his star on the rise. This past Christmas we discussed various children’s versions of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, including this year’s by Bagram Ibatoulline (which he hadn’t seen) and Breadcrumbs (which he thi...
