Betsy Bird's Blog, page 40
March 26, 2024
Sexuality Educators Writing for the Youngest of Readers: A Q&A with Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller on All About Penises, Vulvas, and Vaginas
Well, y’know. Gotta keep you on your toes.
The title of today’s post (which is bound to get me loads of unwanted spam in 3…. 2…. 1…) isn’t there to shock or get you in trouble at work. It’s just that sexuality educators Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller have two new books out next month about our bodies for kids. The pair are nationally recognized sex educators who have presented over 1,000 programs on sexuality topics at universities, businesses, high schools, national conferences, churches, ...
March 25, 2024
The House Before Falling Into the Sea: A Q&A with Ann Suk Wang & Hanna Cha
When it comes to books published in 2024, I refuse to choose favorites. That said, I feel no qualms about bestowing a potential award for Best Historical Fiction Picture Book Title, because this year it is definitely going to the just published The House Before Falling Into the Sea. Lotta things to love here. First, there’s the mystery behind the name. Next, the fact that it was created by newly minted Caldecott Honor winner Hanna Cha and debut picture book author Ann Suk Wang. But better than a...
March 24, 2024
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, ill. David Small
Spring has sprungeth! Not that you’d know it looking at Illinois right now, of course, but we’re getting close to sunnier days. To celebrate, we’ve decided to equinox the heck out of this latest podcast episode (I still say it can be a verb). Somehow we’ve never done this particular Caldecott Honor winner before, so we’re going to right a great wrong. We talk epistolary picture books, how clean 1936 New York City alleyways were (we’d love to hear your opinions on needles), Groucho Marx, and ...
March 21, 2024
Review of the Day: Black Girl You Are Atlas by Ren��e Watson, ill. Ekua Holmes
When I read a book for kids, I want that aha moment. That bright and shining ZING that hits you mid-page, mid-sentence. It���s when you���re going along, doing what you do, and suddenly there���s this notion in your brain. ���Hey. Wait a minute��� this is really good.��� A beat. ���No, I mean really REALLY good!!��� And the...
March 20, 2024
Noodles from Noodles from Noodles: A Q&A with Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang About Noodles on a Bicycle Interview
First and foremost, I would like you to look at this colorized photograph from 1935:
No, it is not a fake. It has not be altered or amended or changed in any way apart from the colorization. That man is delivering soba noodles around town on a bike. He is not an outlier either. For a long time, it was common to see guys like this biking around Japan with perfectly balanced noodles just like this. And so, naturally, on August 27th of this year, you will get to see this upcoming book by Kyo ...
March 19, 2024
Cover Reveal Time! The Fan Brothers Talk Barnaby Unboxed
I just can’t say no to a Fan brother.
If you were in my shoes and someone came up to you and offered you the chance to not only premiere the cover of the latest picture book by The Fan brothers AND interview them as well, could you possibly say no? No, my friend, it would be out of your hands by that point. Beyond your ken. Pointless to resist. And so, hearing that on September 3rd we will witness the glorious unveiling of Barnaby Unboxed! (a sequel to the horrendously talented The Barnabus P...
March 18, 2024
The Young Ambassador of Poetry Returns: A Q&A with Micha Archer on What’s New, Daniel?
Sometimes on this site I feature author or illustrators that I have discussed in some capacity multiple times. And then sometimes I have a chat with someone with whom I have never spoken before. Today’s post falls into the latter category.
In my library, each new Micha Archer book is held aloft like some holy tablet when it arrives on our shelves. My children’s librarians venerate her work. I would not be overstating the case if I were to say that she is, without a doubt, vastly beloved. Her...
March 17, 2024
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: There’s No Such Thing As a Dragon by Jack Kent
It’s the Year of the Dragon and yet so far we’ve done precisely ZERO dragon books so far. That ends today with our first consideration of Jack Kent. The cartoonist turned picture book author/illustrator may have come to the form late in life, but he cast some indelible images in his time. Surprisingly, this turns out to be one of our more divisive books. We ask what the “Children’s Book Clinic” once was, discuss songs stuck in our heads, and talk musical bread.
Listen to the whole show��...
March 14, 2024
Evanston Public Library Names the 2023 Blueberry Award Winners!
One and all, it gives me the deepest of pleasure to announce that the 2023 Blueberry Award winners have at long last been announced.
But what, you may ask, is a Blueberry Award? Why, my friends, it is only the nation’s most prominent award for those children’s books produced in a given year that strengthen kids��� connections with nature and fosters action for the planet. That’s all! And since there is no official award from the American Library Association to fill that void, my library...
March 13, 2024
Myrick Publisher Preview: Spring 2024 – Udon and What On Earth Books
Small publishers abound and that’s why it’s always fun to see who’s out there with interesting original books in 2024. We’re continuing our series thanks, in large part, to Myrick Marketing. Be sure to read previous installments of this series. Part One here, Part Two here, Part Three here, Part Four here, Part Five here, and Part Six here.
Giga Town: A Guide to Manga Iconography by Fumiyo Kouno
ISBN: 9781772943085
On shelves September 3, 2024
You ever get the sense that there...
