Heavy Medal
February 6, 2023 by Betsy Bird
There's such creativity behind the presentation of today's book. The play-within-a-play motif sets this apart. The art is extraordinary. And was there every such a goofy frog?
January 31, 2022 by Betsy Bird
In a year of many ALA Award winner "firsts" we look back at a Caldecott Award winner that marked the first time a Black illustrator won the Award two years running. How has it aged? How has it fared? We consider the Dillons' Ashanti to Zulu.
September 27, 2021 by Betsy Bird
We consider this "Seamless amalgam" of the hands of Leo and Diane Dillon and the timeliness of this recent reprint.
November 20, 2017 by Betsy Bird
She’s no household name, though Verna Aardema has been behind some of the most memorable books in the field of children’s literature. And yet, we could easily have a lot of debate about authenticity and appropriation as it relates to her books. Her best known to this day, I would argue, would have to be […]
August 26, 2011 by Betsy Bird
Never Forgotten By Patricia C. McKissack Illustrated by Leon and Diane Dillon Schwartz & Wade $18.99 ISBN: 978-0-375-84384-6 Ages 4 and up On shelves October 11, 2011 The more I read children’s literature the more I come to realize that my favorite books for kids are the ones that can take disparate facts, elements, and […]
January 22, 2011 by Betsy Bird
Oh, it’s too soon to consider 2012 Caldecott/Newbery books, right? Of course it is. Far too soon. Still in the first flush of the announcements regarding the 2011 winners we should do a bit of maxin’ and relaxin’. Enjoy some adult literature. Sip a gimlet and enjoy all that Masterpiece Theater queuing up on our […]
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