SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

January 16, 2015 by Betsy Bird

Morning Mailbag: Changes, Rarities, and Surprises

January 16, 2015 by Betsy Bird   5 comments

In a given day I dive through gobs of mail.  Boxes of books from publishers for myself, my current co-workers, my former co-workers, this blog, you name it.  And since I pay attention to what’s being buzzed, I notice oddities.  In this new series I’ll show you some of the more interesting fare.  The items being published for kids that it’s possible you haven’t heard about yet.

I keep this book on my desk at all times.  It amuses me.  Deeply.  If ever I am feeling down or out, all I need to do is to look at this “boyfriend” flip-a-book where you construct “the perfect guy” ala Frankenstein by flipping through different eyes and hair and smiles.  It’s so shameless that it perks me up instantly.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

I wouldn’t have recognized her if I hadn’t read the titles.  Oh, Leila Roy, whatever will you think?

Latino heroine in a middle grade fantasy novel.  Honestly, is there any more you need me to say? This I took home.

And just in case my kids need to experience magic mushrooms without any real chemical influence . . . .

Voila!  New Herve Tullet board books from Phaidon!  My daughter is addicted to this series.  She “reads” them to herself all the time.  When she finds out that there are more, I expect her to do the three-year-old equivalent of a happy freak out.

And finally . . .

It’s a good thing I’m not going to ALA Midwinter later this month.  I’d probably just lollygag around the Eerdmans booth next to this book asking passersby “Don’t YOU think this looks like Roger Sutton?”  The truth of the matter is that the book is a Belgian import, so if Roger really was the inspiration then his influence is far vaster than we ever suspected.

That was fun!  I’ll try to keep it up regularly.  Just a spot of color on a dreary Friday for you.

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Announcing the Stinetinglers Winner! The Kettle's Dark Secret by Clara J.

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Bologna Presentations: IBBY Doing the Good Work That Needs to Be Done, Worldwide

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Sydney Taylor Book Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Mari Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

The Top Ten Most Disappointing Edibles and Potables of Children's Literature

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Announcing the 2023 Newbery/Caldecott/YMA Pre-Game Show!

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

U.S. Gov: ‘All Books Must Have Round Corners’

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Swim Team

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Write What You Know. Read What You Don’t, a guest post by Lauren Thoman

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Ask Jason Reynolds Anything!

Three Gentle Fantasy Series for 'My Father's Dragon' Fans | Read-Alikes

Good Divorce Books: How to Identify Helpful Titles and Ones that Miss the Mark

EveryLibrary Launches New Resources to Fight Censorship, Track Legislation

Under Pressure: Survey Provides Insight into Librarians' Job Satisfaction

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    January 16, 2015 at 8:59 am

    I have a feeling that I’m right with Leila Roy about those Anastasia covers. I love Anastasia Krupnik, and she is NOT an emaciated, yellow-tressed nincompoop. I would have thought Lois Lowry’s publishers would have more respect for her than to foist such an awful cover off on her–because let’s face it, Lois Lowry is the real thing and an American cultural treasure.

  2. tanita says

    January 16, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    …yes, EMACIATED was the word. That girl doesn’t look like she has the intestinal fortitude to be snarky, much less have agency to do something about the people who worked her nerves.

    *sigh*
    I know we have to move with the times, but I don’t think it’s ever time to make a title character completely unrecognizable.

    Also, I *do* think that’s Roger Sutton. Those Belgians, THEY KNOW.

  3. Cecilia says

    January 16, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    Yeah those covers are ridiculous. But Lois Lowry’s foreword at the beginning is absolutely hilarious and wonderful.

  4. Even in Australia says

    January 18, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    OMG, the Anastasia covers!! But somehow I like them better than some others which have a weird sexy-nerd vibe going on. I couldn’t figure out how to paste the photo, but it’s the one on the bottom here: http://eveninaustraliakidlit.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-is-for-anastasia.html. And now apparently I have to check out the new ones just for the foreword!

Trackbacks

  1. EBYR All Over: January 23, 2015 | Eerdlings says:
    January 23, 2015 at 10:12 am

    […] Is Reading a Book was featured in the “Morning Mailbag” on Betsy Bird’s blog, A Fuse 8 Production. Betsy says the Roger in the book looks a […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023