Betsy Bird's Blog, page 70

Kwame Alexander + Marc Tyler Nobleman + A Web Series for Kids. I Talk Songbook with MTN

This is interesting. Two men. Both involved in the children’s literature world, but one working primarily in picture books, many about comic book creators and the other making television shows, penning Caldecott and Newbery Award winners, etc. Put ’em both together and you get . . . Songbook.

Or, put another way, here’s the press release from Marc himself:

Thanks to friend/fellow author Kwame Alexander and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, I am honored to ann...

“… A relationship of reciprocity with the Earth.” Diana Sudyka Discusses Her New Picture Book, Little Land

Have I mentioned before that I live in a magical land full of children’s book creators? No, it’s not Amherst, MA (though that region’s propensity for luring people in is a bit eerie). Evanston, Illinois isn’t known for much outside of Northwestern University, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find a plethora of talent. Caldecott Honor winners like Cozbi A. Cabrera, international stars like Jeff Garrett and Junko Yokota, talents like Jarrett Dapier, and even former librarians that get whole awar...

Abecedarian Movement and Dance: A Q&A with Corinna Luyken About ABC and You and Me!

Do bloggers have interview bucket lists? I kinda do. Not one that I’ve ever written it down but on occasion someone will offer me the chance to ask an author or illustrator of children’s books some questions and I’ll think, “AHA! I knew I was missing someone!” That’s how I felt when I was given the chance to speak with Corinna Luyken anyway.

But interview subjects are one thing. Whatever book it is that they’re promoting, that’s gotta be pretty special as well. As it happens, I’ve a sweet sp...

Sydney Taylor Book Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Mari Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

I am so pleased and honored to bring to you today a post as part of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour of 2023. And to make matters even better, the person that I was allowed to host today is none other than the fantastic, amazing, one-of-a-kind, singular Mari Lowe.

Remember back in April of 2022 when I reviewed the remarkable middle grade novel Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk? Do you remember how I said it was one of the best books of the year? How it should win ALL the things? Welp, I am plea...

Sydney Taylor Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Marie Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

I am so pleased and honored to bring to you today a post as part of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour of 2023. And to make matters even better, the person that I was allowed to host today is none other than the fantastic, amazing, one-of-a-kind, singular Mari Lowe.

Remember back in April of 2022 when I reviewed the remarkable middle grade novel Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk? Do you remember how I said it was one of the best books of the year? How it should win ALL the things? Welp, I am plea...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Who’s In Rabbit’s House by Verna Aardema, ill. Leo and Diane Dillon

In our current era, it is worth considering the legacy of folks like Verna Aardema. Kate and I are no children’s literature academics, but we decide as laymen to take into account Aardema’s history and how it does or does not stand out after all these years. Having already done Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by this same trio (Aardema, Dillon, & Dillon) we return to their works with this 1977 take on a classic Masai tale. Considering its year and the appropriation by a white creator of...

Jump Into this Guest Post by Shadra Strickland About Her Latest Book: Jump In!

Been a while since I had a guest post on this blog. I get a fair number of asks, but I don’t usually say yes to the requests. Not unless the person is talking about a book that I happen to already like quite a lot. So when Alexa Higbee of Bloomsbury asked if perhaps I’d be interested in a post from Shadra Strickland regarding her newest picture book Jump In!, I jumped on the offer.

Just to give you a sense of the book, here’s my own description of it, written not that long ago:

“Ticktack,...

Poems As Picture Books: Zetta Elliott Discusses the Upcoming A Song for Juneteenth

Well, the Newbery and Caldecott Awards for 2023 have been established, so now it’s time to start a whole new year with a whole new set of books, wouldn’t you say? And I can think of no better way to begin than with a book brought to us by none other than the great and good Zetta Elliott.

I attempted to find a way to briefly introduce you to Zetta here, but found the task insurmountable. Simply put, she’s just done too much darn stuff. You find her full biography on her website where, amongs...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Will Spring Be Early? Or Will Spring Be Late? by Crockett Johnson

Granted, today is the day the Newbery/Caldecott announcements appear. Still this blog goes on! And considering the fact that (A) Groundhog Day is this week and yet (B) We have never done a Groundhog Day episode, that gave us the impetus to tackle a groundhogian classic. But which one? With all the choices we decided to pluck out this title by the guy who brought us Harold and the Purple Crayon. Like that book it indulges in a limited color palette and Johnson’s characteristic drawing style. ...

Review of the Day: The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

The Tree and the River
By Aaron Becker
Candlewick Press
$18.99
ISBN: 9781536223293
Ages 3-9
On shelves March 14th

Entropy!

Not a lot of picture books out there on the subject. Not a lot of picture books out there covering the rise and fall of whole civilizations either, but here we are. Or, rather, here Aaron Becker is. In the world of 21st century picture book creators, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Never before have more people created more picture books for the American market...