Good Comics for Kids
Posts by Betsy Bird
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.
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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.
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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?
Don’t Skip the Thought: A Rialto Discussion with Kate Milford
A magical defunct theme park? Living carousel creatures? Automaton birds? Mental health issues? I talk to Kate Milford today about her latest.
Publisher Spotlight Preview (Fall 2026/Winter 2027): Do Re Mi Books, Messy Press, & Medicine Wheel Publishing
Today, we're going to zero in instead on the l'il guys. The small publishers that produce rare, wild, interesting, strange books for kids. The kinds of books that upset expectations.
“Don’t scream if you meet a Cow.” A Bike Is Not Just a Bike Q&A with Brenna Jeanneret
"Don’t use bicycle slang. Leave that to the boys." We have a ribald and wonderful conversation with Brenna Jeanneret about her latest picture book, bikes and all.
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