Betsy Bird

Jeanne Birdsall’s Triumphant Return: A Talk About The Library of Unruly Treasures Got a-hankering for more Penderwicks? Then get the next best thing! Jeanne Birdsall has an all new book out and it involves libraries, fairies, and terrible terrible parents.

Got a-hankering for more Penderwicks? Then get the next best thing! Jeanne Birdsall has an all new book out and it involves libraries, fairies, and terrible terrible parents. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/08/01/j...

Darn tootin’.

The Best Book He’s Ever Written? Dan Gutman Talks The Picasso Curse So Dan writes me the other day, and he tells me that he has this new book called The Picasso Curse out September 2nd and,

So @dangutmanbooks.bsky.social writes me the other day, and he tells me that he has this new book called The Picasso Curse out Sept 2nd and, "I think it’s the best thing I ever wrote." And if you're an intrepid reporter like me? That's a scoop. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/31/t...

Unexpected Jolts of Children’s Literature While normally this feature looks at adult books about children's literature, today we're featuring children's authors that also write books for adults. Just watch out for the pen names!

While normally this feature looks at adult books about children's literature, today we're featuring children's authors that also write books for adults. Just watch out for those pen names! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/30/u...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse, ill. Jon J. Muth Today's book features everything from

Today's book on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast features everything from "drooping lupines" to a "hot rump of a melon." In the heat of summer we consider how well this Hesse/Muth combo has aged and how it would fare if published today. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/28/f...

Oh, no.

Three generations of nerds bow their heads and weep.

Behind the Scenes of a Picture-Book Partnership | Kirkus Reviews Award-winning creators Brian Floca and Sydney Smith discuss their unique collaboration on ‘Island Storm.’

Two dudes wrote a pretty great picture book. I interviewed the dudes. A good time was had by all. I just wish I hadn't had to cut down the word count. www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-fea...

Agreed. Looks like we finally have a graphic novel Newbery contender for this year.

Dan Santat Has a New Graphic Novel Series! We Have the Cover Here Today! And a Q&A! Can You Tell I’m Excited?!?!

"After publishing A First Time for Everything I’ll admit I was a little burned out and wanted to shift back into doing something silly and appealing to kids." @dansantat.bsky.social discusses his latest (very silly) graphic novel series. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/24/d...

Yes, thank you, Sara!!

Yes, we covered this recently.

Publisher Preview: Tapioca Stories (Fall 2025) Today we dip a toe into three upcoming picture book translations, as beautiful and different from one another as can be.

Today we dip a toe into three upcoming picture book translations from Tapioca Stories, as beautiful and different from one another as can be. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/23/p...

Milkwood: Spaces, Retreats, and Their Place in Children’s Literary History What role does a retreat for enthusiasts of children's literature play in the full pantheon of history? I speculate (and show cute photos of ducks).

What role does a retreat for enthusiasts of children's literature play in the full pantheon of history? I speculate (and show cute photos of ducks). #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/22/m...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Duck on a Bike by David Shannon We finally do one of my most reliable storytime readalouds. Where would I be without Duck, his antics, and the array of animal sounds this book lets you indulge in?

We finally do one of my most reliable storytime readalouds on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast. Where would I be without Duck, his antics, and the array of animal sounds this book lets you indulge in? #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/21/f...

"I wrote rock criticism for grown-ups for, like, 30 years. But for some reason, everything I had been really struggling to say throughout that time came out much more naturally and colorfully here than it ever did before."-Jay Ruttenberg 🎶

Looking forward to hearing @fuse8.bsky.social and Drew Beckmeyer talk at 12:55. And I'm moderating the Strangers in a New Land panel at 3:50, talking to @rajanilarocca.bsky.social, Elizabeth Brown, and Jenan Matari! #PictureBookPalooza

A Foolish Interview for a Foolish Biography: Wolverton Hill (a.k.a. Barry Wolverton) Talks Lear

"He is everything in the shape of fun!" High praise for one of our first children's book creators. I discuss Edward Lear with Barry Wolverton, and how he encouraged us to play. NOT to conform. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/17/a...

Myrick Marketing Publishing Preview of nubeOcho and Pajama Press (Summer/Fall 2025 & Winter 2026)(Part Three) The big guys may have all the money, but they sure as heck don't have books like these.

The big guys may have all the money, but they sure as heck don't have books like these. A preview of titles in Fall from @nubeocho.bsky.social & @pajamapress.bsky.social thanks to @pubspotlight.bsky.social #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/16/m...

Gabba Gabba: We Accept That This Book Is Strangely Superior. A Q&A with Jay Ruttenberg and Lucinda Schreiber Proof positive that sometimes the best books for kids come from the unlikeliest of sources about the unlikeliest of people.

Proof positive that sometimes the best books for kids come from the unlikeliest of sources about the unlikeliest of people. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/15/g...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack, ill. Jerry Pinkney In tackling our first Patricia McKissack title we consider how well this introduces segregation for kids (and whether or not Tricia Ann makes it home again!).

In tackling our first Patricia McKissack title on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast we consider how well this introduces segregation for kids (and worry about Tricia Ann making it home safe and sound again!). #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/14/f...

Oh yes! Thank you!!

Review of the Day: This is Orange by Rachel Poliquin, ill. Julie Morstad The subtitle is spot on. This is a field trip through one color, and like every good field trip it leaves you seeing your world with new eyes once you’re done. Beautiful and necessary.

The subtitle is spot on. This is a field trip through one color, and like every good field trip it leaves you seeing your world with new eyes once you’re done. Beautiful and necessary. afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/11/r...

Indigenous Resistance and Resilience: A Trickster Shadow Q&A with Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley Nanaboozhoo stories, Carl Jung’s ideas on dream psychology, and struggles with depression and anxiety all inform this stunning (and fun) picture book of the ultimate rez dog trickster.

Nanaboozhoo stories, Carl Jung’s ideas on dream psychology, and struggles with depression and anxiety all inform this stunning (and fun) picture book of the ultimate rez dog trickster. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/10/i...

World Premiere Video for a Brand New Amos McGee! With Special Q&A with Erin E. Stead A video and discussion! Erin discusses how she and Phil work together, how they have

A video and discussion! @erinstead.bsky.social discusses how she and Phil work together, how they have "the world's nicest fans", and why she can never show the corners of a room in an Amos book. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/08/w...

Ah! I missed you! Hope to see you at a future on then!

World Premiere Video for a Brand New Amos McGee! With Special Q&A with Erin E. Stead A video and discussion! Erin discusses how she and Phil work together, how they have

A video and discussion! @erinstead.bsky.social discusses how she and Phil work together, how they have "the world's nicest fans", and why she can never show the corners of a room in an Amos book. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/08/w...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt I won't lie. This may be my favorite Fuse 8 n' Kate episode in years. We've never done this 1940s classic, and now it's time to determine precisely why.

I won't lie. This may be my favorite @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast episode in years. We've never done this 1940s classic, and now it's time to determine precisely why. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/07/f...

Fun Fact: The more deranged I look, the better the ALA.

Review of the Day: Freya and the Snake by Fredrik Sonck, ill. Jenny Lucander Finnish in origin, today's book discusses a rather universal moment: When a trusted and beloved parent chooses a child’s safety over that of an animal’s.

Finnish in origin, today's book from @kidscanpress.bsky.social discusses a rather universal moment: When a trusted and beloved parent prioritizes a child’s safety over that of an animal’s. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/04/r...

Publisher Preview: Creative Editions (Fall 2025) Newly returned from the American Library Association Annual Conference in Philly, I turn my attention to Creative Editions and the swell titles they've planned for the fall.

Newly returned from the American Library Association Annual Conference in Philly, I turn my attention to @thecreativecompany.bsky.social and the swell titles they've planned for the fall. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/03/p...