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A Levine Querido Publisher Preview (Fall 2024)
A bevy of beauties is revealed with this very stellar peek at what's coming out for us in the fall.
Recent Posts
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Tentacles and a Mullet: A Saki Tanaka Interview About the Ethereal BETWEEN WORDS
A deep dive with an artist that knows a thing or two about what happens when a child moves to a new place without knowing the language there.
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Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Apple Pie Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong, ill. Margaret Chodos-Irvine
We take a quintessential Independence Day title and put it under a spotlight to see how it has aged.
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Book Reviews
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Review of the Day: The Noisy Puddle by Linda Booth Sweeney, ill. Miki Sato
Engaging, rhyming, keeping its text and subject matter appropriate for lower grades, this pops visually on the page, and contains ample backmatter to support everything it says. It is, in short, a book one cannot miss.
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Review of the Day: Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf by Deke Moulton
This isn’t just A werewolf book for kids. It is THE werewolf book for kids.
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Review of the Day: The Spaceman by Randy Cecil
Quiet, unassuming, delightful, funny, and with just enough science fiction in there, I’m just gonna say it: I love this book. You know who else is going to love this book? Kids.
More Recent Posts
The Perfect Conduit for Stories: Amy Hest & Erin Stead Discuss Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing
Amy Hest and Erin E. Stead talk up their latest title and how they're "still on the kids' side" when it comes to creating their books.
From Grumpiness to Love: An Emma Full of Wonders Interview with Elisha Cooper
Elisha Cooper joins us to day to talk about baby goats, grouchiness, occasional rants, the beauty of a successful picture book, and so much more.
Publisher Preview: Transit Children’s Editions (Fall 2024)
Transit Children's Editions reveals to us their upcoming fall season (with a hint of Spring 2025). Get ready for books that look NOTHING like what we usually see on the U.S. market.
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Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Baby, Come Out! by Fran Manushkin, ill. Ronald Himler
Considering the heat, Betsy offers Kate two choices featuring nude protagonists to consider. Kate opts for the baby. A wise choice.
Review of the Day: The Noisy Puddle by Linda Booth Sweeney, ill. Miki Sato
Engaging, rhyming, keeping its text and subject matter appropriate for lower grades, this pops visually on the page, and contains ample backmatter to support everything it says. It is, in short, a book one cannot miss.
Guest Post: Author Jan Carr and Illustrator Kris Mukai Discuss the Buddy and Bea Series
An author and an illustrator talk through their Buddy and Bea series. They discuss animation vs. illustration, oil-and-water personalities, and the reality of getting stuck between urinals.
“Tell the truth. Always”. A Juneteenth Interview with Sandra Headen on Warrior On the Mound
Just in time for Juneteenth we discuss a work of historical fiction with its author and get the inside scoop on her influences, upcoming titles, and more!
From the Archives (2010)
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Jul 3, 2024
Betsy Bird on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Apple Pie Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong, ill. Margaret Chodos-Irvine
"Oo! Updated news is always a good thing. Thanks for directing us to your new site (though, as I say on the episode) I do ..."
Jul 3, 2024
Janet Dawson on Newbery/Caldecott 2025: Summer Prediction Edition
"I agree, and also The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko, which has a very similar storyline. ..."
Jul 3, 2024
Shannon on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Apple Pie Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong, ill. Margaret Chodos-Irvine
"Oh, I always love it when the creators reach out. Take care, Janet (+ Betsy and Kate). ..."
Jul 3, 2024
Janet Wong on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Apple Pie Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong, ill. Margaret Chodos-Irvine
"How thrilling to see this — thanks so much for the Independence Day shout-out! Please point colleagues to my newer web ..."
Jul 2, 2024
Judy Weymouth on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Apple Pie Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong, ill. Margaret Chodos-Irvine
"Referring to "Kate's favorite passage" and " I love the different ways you can read this" I offer my thoughts. In the p ..."
Jun 30, 2024
Judy Weymouth on The Perfect Conduit for Stories: Amy Hest & Erin Stead Discuss Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing
"One of my most favorite picture books is A STORY FOR BEAR (2018), Thank you, Erin, for helping me understand why. "I thi ..."
Jun 28, 2024
Judy Weymouth on Guest Post: Author Jan Carr and Illustrator Kris Mukai Discuss the Buddy and Bea Series
"I read all three books yesterday afternoon and found them to be absolutely delightful. Living with a cat and a Certified ..."
Jun 26, 2024
Judy Weymouth on From Grumpiness to Love: An Emma Full of Wonders Interview with Elisha Cooper
"Betsy, you are completely forgiven for your "old-dog-death" expectations and in return I wish to be forgiven for my assu ..."
Jun 26, 2024
Avery Fischer Udagawa on Publisher Preview: Transit Children’s Editions (Fall 2024)
"Thank you for this! The Claire Lebourg titles are translated from the French, if you can pop that in there. I love t ..."
Jun 25, 2024
Judy Weymouth on Publisher Preview: Transit Children’s Editions (Fall 2024)
"Absolutely, these are definitely NOT like anything I've read recently . . . or EVER! I've made note of all the publicati ..."
Jun 24, 2024
Judy Weymouth on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Baby, Come Out! by Fran Manushkin, ill. Ronald Himler
"Dearest Betsy, What a way to begin a cool, rainy Monday morning. I've been at the computer for some time following le ..."
Jun 23, 2024
Jan Carr on Guest Post: Author Jan Carr and Illustrator Kris Mukai Discuss the Buddy and Bea Series
"Wow! Thank you so much, Judy! I hope you and the kids at your Maine library enjoy them. Happy Reading! And I send all of ..."
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