Politics in Practice
September 27, 2023 by Betsy Bird
“Make no more clouds. I have drawn the rainbow here.” Attend the tale of Bea Wolf, and a better comic for kids you're unlikely to find anywhere.
November 18, 2022 by Betsy Bird
Shuna’s JourneyBy Hayao MiyazakiTranslated by Alex Dudok de Wit$27.99ISBN: 9781250846525Ages 9-12On shelves now In the pantheon of Miyazaki fans you have to rate yourself on a kind of scale. There are, after all, folks out there that make veritable pilgrimages to places like the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka in suburban Tokyo or the café Kodama in […]
July 22, 2022 by Betsy Bird
Balancing its messaging with great storytelling, character development, and the magic trick of making a mother character both the antagonist and loving, Frizzy is a roller coaster ride of emotions in a single, simple, quick to read little package.
October 12, 2019 by Betsy Bird
Don’t be surprised then if you detect a note of longing in the eyes of the kids that read this book. Thick with adventure, chock full of awe and beauty, this is what they mean when they say comics are an art unto themselves. The finest of the fine. Questing done right.
October 19, 2018 by Betsy Bird
Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths By Graham Annable First Second (an imprint of Roaring Brook Press) $17.99 ISBN: 978-1-62672-561-4 Ages 6-10 On shelves now To quote the wise words of MC Scat Kat, “opposites attract”. Particularly when those opposites are best buddies. The idea of the carefree soul, untethered by earthly woes, […]
June 6, 2017 by Betsy Bird
Real Friends By Shannon Hale Artwork by LeUyen Pham Color by Jane Poole First Second (an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan) $12.99 ISBN: 978-1-62672-785-4 Ages 9-12 On shelves now. The autobiography assignment. I don’t pretend to know precisely why teachers give it out or what they hope child readers will get out of it. […]
ADVERTISEMENT
September 8, 2016 by Betsy Bird
This blog has spoiled me beyond all hope or recognition. Over the years I’ve used it to find nannies, to get books re-published, and now it has solved a mystery that lay dormant for years. Back in November of 2009 I decided I wanted to track down a book from my childhood. Writing stumpers into […]
February 2, 2016 by Betsy Bird
So First Second comes to me and says it’s their 10th anniversary. Happy anniversary, sez I. They ask if I want to participate in the celebration by doing so kind of a post. My mind is a bit blank but I give it a think. Then I came up with the idea of the following […]
January 6, 2016 by Betsy Bird
If you know me then you know I’ve a certain weakness for comics, graphic novels, graphic comics, and comic novels (?). You draw it, I like it. And every once in a while, First Second will offer me a little jacket to reveal in some manner. It seems timely that with the announcement about the […]
October 20, 2015 by Betsy Bird
Human Body Theater By Maris Wicks First Second (a imprint of Roaring Brook and division of Macmillan) $14.99 ISBN: 978-1-59643-929-0 Ages 9-12 On shelves now. I gotta come clean with you. Skeletons? I’ve got a thing for them. Not a “thing” as in I find them attractive, but rather a “thing” as in I find […]
Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.