The end of October looms and so our last spooky picture book falls under consideration this week. As I mention on the episode, we’ve strayed a bit from the classic book path. Don’t worry. Kate suggested that for our next episode we should do something that’s “bad”. I have an idea. Let’s see if I […]
You might be saying to yourself, “Old Betsy Bird is doing quite a few cover reveals these days — is she phoning it in?” To which I would reply, “But today’s it’s the frigging sequel to Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot!!! I was gonna say no to that? I’m not made of stone!” Which isn’t […]
The Wild Robot By Peter Brown Little, Brown & Company $16.99 ISBN: 978-0-316-38199-4 Ages 9-12 On shelves now There are far fewer robot middle grade books out there than you might expect. This is probably because, as a general rule, robots fall into the Data from Star Trek trap. Their sole purpose in any narrative […]
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild By Peter Brown Little, Brown and Company $18.00 ISBN: 978-0-316-20063-9 Ages 3-7 On shelves now. Here’s a fun exercise to liven up a gloomy day. Find yourself a copy of the picture book Mr. Tiger Goes Wild. Now turn to the publication page. It’s the green one opposite the title page at […]
It is WAY too late in the day for me to be only starting a Fusenews post now. All right, guys. Looks like we’re gonna have to do today double quick time. Sorry, but I’ve a ticking time bomb in the other room (sometimes also known as “my daughter”) and I gotsta gets to bed […]
Creepy Carrots! By Aaron Reynolds Illustrated by Peter Brown Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers $16.99 ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3 Ages 4-8 On shelves now A children’s librarian is half media specialist, half psychic. It isn’t enough to have to know the books in your collection. You have to know what that pint-sized patron standing before […]
Must . . . steal . . . this . . . idea . . . . NOW! David Maybury, for those of us on this side of the pond, dubs himself a “Children’s Book Commentator” and has a swell blog worth discovering. New life goal: To become him. Achockablog, words do not suffice to […]
Somewhere along the way I completely missed this Percy Jackson video in which everyone from Brian Selznick to a moustachioed Eoin Colfer (when did that happen?) chat it up. Video #2 contains a bit of advice that John Rocco actually had to contend with when he made the jacket for The Lightening Thief: “Green covers […]
Previews, previews! Lovely little previews! And we find ourselves back at the Yale Club, across the street from Grand Central Station, and a whopping 10 minutes away, on foot, from my library. There are advantages to living on a tiny island, I tell ya. As per usual, Little Brown pulled out all the stops for […]
I always find it interesting to watch how different author/illustrators confront audiences. Writing children’s books means, to some extent, that you’ve signed on to be a performer for children. So what technique suits you best? Do you have to rely on a chicken costume, or can you be relaxed and natural with your audience? This […]
The Curious Garden By Peter Brown Little, Brown and Company $16.99 ISBN: 978-0-316-01547-9 Ages 4-8 On shelves now. They say that children’s books are inherently didactic. Particularly those of the picture book variety. There’s an idea that you can’t tell a story to a child without including some of your own personal values in the […]
Recent Comments