Publisher Preview: Tapioca Stories (Spring & Fall 2026)
If you'd like titles from Spanish-speaking countries that AREN'T Spain, Tapioca's kind of the only game in town. Check out three highly original, one-of-a-kind tales in this vein.
Recent Posts
Heist + World Cup = “an unforgiving deadline”: It’s a Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy Q&A with Angela Cervantes
When you discover an unsolved 1983 heist of a World Cup Trophy, what do you do? If you're Angela Cervantes, you write a middle grade mystery. Today with talk with her about her well-timed latest.
Puffins and Pufflings Without Puffery: A Discussion with the Teams Behind PUFFLINGS FLY FREE and PUFFINS!
I have the pleasure of speaking on camera with Colleen Paeff and Linda Ólafsdóttir of PUFFLINGS FLY FREE with Maria Gianferrari and Maris Wicks of PUFFINS to discuss Iceland, how these books complement one another, the Northern Lights, and much much more.
ADVERTISEMENT
Trending Posts
ADVERTISEMENT
Book Reviews
Review of the Day: Twelve Daring Grays by Nora Nickum, ill. Elly MacKay
Illustrator Elly MacKay’s incredible cut paper artistry and Nora Nickum’s smart text highlight the risk, the bravery, and the ingenuity of massive creatures facing a difficult world.
Review of the Day: The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko
You want a hilarious middle grade full of action, social commentary, a Black girl heroine with wits, smarts, and humor, and an alternate world scarily close to our own? This way please.
Review of the Day: While We’re Here by Anne Wynter, ill. Micha Archer
Thoughts on gatekeeping, children's books, diverse voices, and how you can create a picture book that somehow, remarkably, gets everything right, all at once.
More Recent Posts
Just Your Average Cosmic Struggle with Humanity at Stake: A QUETZAL’S LABYRINTH Talk with Karla Valenti
Valenti discusses her fall release. Such highlights of this talk include a discussion of how the Aztec myths were distorted by the Spanish, using Katherine Rundell's books as mentor texts, and why the Greek Gods get all the attention.
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Sheep in a Jeep and Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw, ill. Margot Apple
Today, Kate and I delve into two of the most notable of the sheep books to truly declare whether they deserve a bit of classic status to keep them in the mix, or if they should be discounted and lost to the sands of time.
Review of the Day: Twelve Daring Grays by Nora Nickum, ill. Elly MacKay
Illustrator Elly MacKay’s incredible cut paper artistry and Nora Nickum’s smart text highlight the risk, the bravery, and the ingenuity of massive creatures facing a difficult world.
ADVERTISEMENT
Publisher Preview: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Preview (Fall 2026)
Oblivious bears, pumas, salamanders, Jesus, and the occasional cyclops populate today's jam-packed preview. Take a gander. You might see something you like.
Controlling How it Blooms and Bleeds: An Intensive Kyle Lukoff & Priscilla Tey Talk about The Vicious Cycle
I'll tell it to you straight. This discussion of an upcoming title reads more like an intensive course of picture book making than your average Q&A. And you get to read it for free, you lucky ducks!
Publisher Preview: North South (Fall 2026)
Hope you like books about dogs! And old men who float. And proto-bios, wordless fables, sneaky jackals, and the occasional chopped toe. Here's what's on offer in the autumn.
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd
New Zealand is the focus of our discussion today. That and the wide range of doggos you can find in this kiwi classic. But will Americans love it just as much?
From the Archives (2010)
Follow This Blog
Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.
Recent Comments
Jun 10, 2026
Betsy Bird on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Sheep in a Jeep and Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw, ill. Margot Apple
"Noted and noted!! ..."
Jun 8, 2026
Laura Roettiger on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Sheep in a Jeep and Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw, ill. Margot Apple
"Sheep in a Jeep! I’m sure I have that book in a box in the basement which means it’s moved 7 times with me! Definite ..."
Jun 8, 2026
Ms. Yingling on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Sheep in a Jeep and Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw, ill. Margot Apple
"I vote for raising Shaw and Apple's SHEEP IN A JEEP to icon status, and must go find a copy of SHEEP IN A SHOP immediate ..."
Jun 4, 2026
Laura Roettiger on Publisher Preview: North South (Fall 2026)
"So many delightful choices here! A Trophy for the Jackal, Same Time Next Week?, and Fancy Dogs are all going on my list ..."
Jun 4, 2026
Betsy Bird on Publisher Preview: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Preview (Fall 2026)
"Blast. Clearly not. Thank you! ..."
Jun 4, 2026
Daniel Meyer on Publisher Preview: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Preview (Fall 2026)
"I thought I was the only one who made the Greta Gerwig/Gina Gershon mistake. ..."
Jun 3, 2026
Patricia Toht on Controlling How it Blooms and Bleeds: An Intensive Kyle Lukoff & Priscilla Tey Talk about The Vicious Cycle
"Wow! Fascinating interview! As you say, Betsy, this is like a seminar on picture book production. Thank you! ..."
Jun 1, 2026
Daniel Meyer on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd
"If I move to New Zealand, it will be mostly for political reasons, but also because I love the title of this book. ..."
May 30, 2026
Robin H Currie on Publisher Spotlight Preview (Fall 2026/Winter 2027): Do Re Mi Books, Messy Press, & Medicine Wheel Publishing
"Thanks for the update on smaller presses. I think they need our support and encouragement. ..."
May 29, 2026
Jenny Arch on Don’t Skip the Thought: A Rialto Discussion with Kate Milford
"I've loved all of Kate Milford's books since first reading GREENGLASS HOUSE in 2014! I'd love to know more about the "ol ..."
May 28, 2026
Rachel Barry on Review of the Day: While We’re Here by Anne Wynter, ill. Micha Archer
"Your review led me to the buy button on Bookshop. What a beautiful book. ..."
May 26, 2026
Meg Diskin on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Wedding Procession of the Rag Doll & the Broom Handle and Who Was In It by Carl Sandburg, ill. Harriet Pincus
"I have no idea what a potato pan is or was, but it was definitely a thing. My grandfather, who loved word play, used to ..."
ADVERTISEMENT