Good Comics for Kids
August 25, 2025 by Betsy Bird
"They don't just give a gatefold to anyone these days." We tackle our second author/illustrator Eric Carle title and discover there's a lot to love in this engineering marvel of a picture book.
June 21, 2021 by Betsy Bird
We're back! And just in time to honor Eric Carle with a brand new book. What better one to do than the one that's been banned several times around the country? We talk nudity, sassy suns (or lack thereof), and Kate selects a new potential tattoo. Listen in!
May 27, 2021 by Betsy Bird
In honor of two legendary picture book giants, Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert.
March 1, 2021 by Betsy Bird
It's Eric Carle's first illustrated picture book! We view it through the lens of post-McCarthyism and Kate discusses what's really going on with the Black Sheep.
July 24, 2017 by Betsy Bird
Oh. We’re churning them out now. We’ve got a rhythm. We’ve got a beat. And now we’re going to start rip-roaring through our books. This week’s podcast episode (found here or on iTunes under “Kate n’ Fuse 8”) was a good one too. I decided to finally crack one of the Top Ten books that […]
October 20, 2013 by Betsy Bird
All right. Me stuff off the bat. I was recently asked to moderate a panel of authors for the Children’s Media Association. The panel consisted of Ame Dyckman, Joanne Levy, Katherine Longshore, Elisa Ludwig, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, and Sarvenaz Tash. During the course of the evening it was suggested that we perform a Giant Dance […]
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October 4, 2013 by Betsy Bird
Oh, so very much has gone on this week! Where to begin? What to do? Well, for starters, NYPL released a handy dandy list to accompany their current exhibit The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter. I helped make said list, which is officially called 100 Great Children’s Books, 100 Years. So, two things. […]
April 21, 2013 by Betsy Bird
Admittedly I’ve been a bad blogger. How long has it been since I did a Video Sunday? Well, you can just bet that this one will be extra good to make up for it. To be perfectly frank, nonfiction book trailers don’t usually look as good as the one I’m about to show you. When […]
November 16, 2012 by Betsy Bird
Okay, let’s do this thing. I’ve had a remarkably busy week and I’m itching to discuss it alongside all the other newsworthy schtoof floating about in the atmosphere. First up . . . That Linda Epstein gal, that Linda Epstain gal, I do I LIKE that Linda Epstein gal (can you tell I’ve been reading […]
June 28, 2012 by Betsy Bird
#2 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1979) 258 points One of the very few pictures books that is just perfect – language appropriate, interactive, a great story, a counting exercise and a science lesson all rolled together. – Pat Vasilik Carle is a genius, pure and simple. Is there a 5 year old […]
Politics in Practice
by John Chrastka
100 Scope Notes
by Travis Jonker
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