Teen Librarian Toolbox
February 22, 2024 by Betsy Bird
Today I review a book that truly exemplifies one of those key moments in a child’s life, fated to be forgotten. I also interview its author.
February 18, 2023 by Betsy Bird
The idea of taking an autobiography and turning it into a series of found-verse poems not only breaks with convention, it opens up an entire world of possibility when dealing with firsthand accounts from history. A triumphant tale of enslavement, education, and ultimate freedom, all true, all as you’ve never seen it before.
October 7, 2022 by Betsy Bird
Today I’m talking about a book with gangsters, Monopoly, a misunderstood hero, young love, boardwalks, and creaming someone in the face with a pack of coins.
January 5, 2021 by Betsy Bird
"I do not think that young readers are too tender for tough topics." I talk with Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper about their nonfiction picture book on the Tulsa Race Massacre.
April 19, 2020 by Betsy Bird
If we are talking about events that change us all and that we must collectively heal from (whether literally or figuratively) then this book might be precisely what we need. Because this isn’t just a book about something that happened a quarter of a century ago. It’s a book that is meant to help you learn how to heal and recover and hope in the face of the horrendous. Give it a go.
February 21, 2018 by Betsy Bird
Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes and Friendship By Irene Latham & Charles Waters Illustrated by Sean Qualls & Selina Alko Carolrhoda Books (a division of Lerner) $17.99 ISBN: 978-1-5124-0442-5 Ages 6 and up On shelves now For a long time, maybe as long as children’s books have been published in America, […]
ADVERTISEMENT
March 31, 2016 by Betsy Bird
Don’t Call Me Grandma By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon Carolrhoda Books (a division of Lerner) $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-4677-4208-5 Ages 4-7 On shelves now. In 2016 a picture book won a Newbery Award. Which is to say, a picture book was declared the best-written work for children between the ages of 0-14. After […]
May 27, 2014 by Betsy Bird
Lest we grow complacent in our maternity leave, I’ve quite a few librarian previews just ah-waiting postings. And what better way to begin than with Lerner Books here? Everyone’s favorite Minnesotan publisher came to town in the guise of Lindsay Matvick. We ate pizza. We talked shop. We heard about what Lerner has on offer […]
November 11, 2013 by Betsy Bird
Sometimes you just want to get your hands on some reliable nonfiction. The other day I was in the office and we’d spread out the vast quantities of nonfiction samples we’d been sent from a variety of publishers (all of whom shall remain nameless). And while some things were okay and other things were tolerable, […]
August 21, 2013 by Betsy Bird
Rifka Takes a Bow By Betty Rosenberg Perlov Illustrated by Cosei Kawa Kar-Ben Publishing (a division of Lerner) $17.95 ISBN: 978-0-7613-8127-3 Ages 4-8 On shelves now. History is written by the winners, they say. I’m going to lump personal history into that too. As far as I can tell, if you live long enough to […]
Teen Librarian Toolbox
by Riley Jensen
Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.