Betsy Bird's Blog, page 99

Review of the Day: Out of the Shadows by Fiona Robinson

Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie
By Fiona Robinson
Abrams Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781419740855
$18.99
Ages 4-8
On shelves February 8, 2022

I would be the first person to admit that I have no clue how an author goes about writing a biography in a picture book format. When you sit down and think it through, the very idea is ludicrous. An entire human life reduced to a mere 48-pages (at most)? The very nature of the endeavor reeks of hubris. When ...

The Wolf Hollow Sequel Is Nigh! An Interview and Cover Reveal with Lauren Wolk

*sniff sniff*

Smell that? That’s the smell of the ALA Youth Media Awards just around the corner. On January 24th we’ll find out once and for all which books in 2022 got the big time medals. But BEFORE that happens, why don’t we talk to a previous Newbery Honor winner?

The first time I read a book by Lauren Wolk, I was unprepared. The second time I read a book by Lauren Wolk, I thought I was prepared. I was wrong. The third time I read a book by Lauren Wolkd, I knew I wasn’t prepared, I wa...

You Want a Cover Reveal? Howzabout an ALAN GRATZ Cover Reveal AND Excerpt?

All right, all right. Let’s have some fun. I’m feeling antsy. Today, I don’t just want to do a cover reveal. I don’t just want to do an author interview. No, my dears, I want it all. I want the trifecta. The ultra-rare cover reveal/author interview/novel excerpt. That’s right, baby! It’s a threefer day, and we’re shooting for the moon!

My guest today, if you failed to read the headline, is none other than bestselling author Alan Gratz. You may be aware that he’s topped the charts in the past ...

Cover Reveal: Myra and the Drawing Drama by Rosemary Rivera, ill. Mario J. Menjivar

Most of the time I’m asked to do a Cover Reveal on this site I’ll pair it with an interview of some sort. Might be an interview with the author or the illustrator. Might be an interview with their editor. Whatever the case, I like a little text to go along with the books. Particularly if you haven’t heard of the creators before.

Today.. I got nothing. Nothing but the cover of a picture book that I happen to find absolutely fascinating. A book that’s so strange and interesting that I have diff...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Let’s Get a Pup, Said Kate by Bob Graham

Maybe I figured that this would be an easy win with Kate since her name is already in the title. So far, I have failed to locate Kate’s request of an older picture book classic that contains anyone wearing a mohawk. Perhaps this comes as a close second? And as I say in the episode, the art in this book suggests so much backstory. We discuss inappropriate bidet designs, the first appearance of birth control pills in a picture book, faux Birks, and more.

Listen to the whole show here ...

Party Animals in the House Tonight: An Interview and Cover Reveal with Katherine Battersby

The week’s not over yet, folks! I don’t always post on Fridays but today we have a return visit from non other than Katherine Battersby. You may recall the last time she was here and we got a load of her Cranky Chicken. Welp, we’ve got a sequel on our hands and a couple questions to go with it . . .

Betsy Bird: Welcome back! And welcome back Cranky Chicken. I’ve gotta ask, but were you always planning on a sequel for CC? And can I call Cranky Chicken “CC”? So many questions.

Kather...

Cover Reveal: A is for Bee by Ellen Heck

Let’s do something a little different today.

By now the term “cover reveal” shouldn’t strike you as particularly different or interesting. You’ve seen them before. Generally speaking a blog of some sort will display an upcoming cover or book jacket of a work and you are expected to ooh and aah over it. If you were anticipating this book then, yes, that makes a certain amount of sense. But what if the book is wholly unknown to you? What if you’re completely unfamiliar with that author/artist? ...

In Memorium: Remembering Those Lost in 2021

I’ve been writing Obituary posts for a number of years now, and I can say with certainty that in no year have I seen as many notable, unforgettable, downright amazing names as I saw pass away in 2021. This past year was a gut-punch to the children’s literature community. Here is every author and illustrator of books pertaining to children’s literature I knew of throughout the year, in the order in which they left us. If I’ve forgotten anyone, please let me know:

Mitsumasa Anno

March 20...

Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round: An Interview with Debut Author Interview with Kathlyn J. Kirkwood

We’re starting this year out with an interviewing bang! And what better way than with a smidgen of nonfiction? Not just any nonfiction either. A debut memoir for kids!

When Kathlyn J. Kirkwood reached out to me about interviewing her about her brand new book (out today!) I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Coming at us from the Versify imprint of Harper Collins, this is probably the best way to describe it:

“This brilliant memoir-in-verse tells the moving story of how a nation learned to ce...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester, ill. Lynn Munsinger

Happy New Year! It’s a new year, but the same old blog, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Today we kick off with a book that I describe on this episode as, “Handed to me in the good faith that we wouldn’t like it.” A friend alerted me to that old 1999 picture book Hooway for Wodney Wat. Published before bullying became the issue in our schools that it is today, my friend said that this title may not have aged particularly well in the intervening 23 years. Or, as we say at one point, “If ...