Betsy Bird

Ooo! Could be!

Prelude to a lifelong love of physical books … we can all dream and hope!

“Another big attraction to board books that I didn’t mention earlier is that they are really great objects themselves. They’re solid and geometrically clean and satisfying to hold and touch.”

- Jon Klassen

Part TWO of our cover reveal, now with more @cpark.bsky.social! Go to @fuse8.bsky.social's cover reveal/interview to see what Chris had to say about working on this book!

afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/04/t...

MANY thanks to CP Natalie Mitchell Design for making this brilliant video for me!

Today we've immortal girls, sneaky weasels, irresistible futons, and tigers with a penchant for sweets. It's @cuentodeluz.bsky.social, Floris Books & @geckopress.bsky.social in a @pubspotlight.bsky.social preview! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/06/p...

Of Capricious Kings and Other Things: A Philip Stead/Taylor Norman Conversation About A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic - A Fuse #8 Production "This book has 24 morals, each sandwiched between two small goat icons." If the editor of the book is selling it that way, who am I to come up with anything better? A conversation between author and e...

"This book has 24 morals, each sandwiched between two small goat icons." If the editor of the book is selling it that way, who am I to come up with anything better? A conversation between author and editor. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/05/o...

Awww. No one ever notices my tags.

It was my pleasure! Glorious book.

This Q&A and Cover Reveal Has Nine Lives: We're Talking The New Cat with Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic - A Fuse #8 Production 2026 may officially be The Year of the Horse, but in the picture book world it seems a lot more like The Year of the Cat. Take a gander at what may be one of the coolest (and most touching) feline con...

2026 may officially be The Year of the Horse, but in the picture book world it seems a lot more like The Year of the Cat. Take a gander at what may be one of the coolest feline contributions to kidlit as I talk to @grubreport.bsky.social #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/04/t...

Liminal: An Every Space (Conversation) Between Naseem Hrab and John Martz - A Fuse #8 Production Often authors and illustrators are kept separate during the process of making a picture book. Today, we bring you an argument for collaboration in the form of a guest interview.

Often authors and illustrators are kept separate during the process of making a picture book. Today, we bring you an argument for collaboration in the form of a guest interview between Naseem Hrab & @johnmartz.bsky.social #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/03/l...

Alright y’all! Time for Kidlit Haha Week GUESS WHO.

This PB author twisted a nursery rhyme into one of the best read alouds of 2025.

Who could it be?
Comment your guesses below.

Well worth it. Unlike anything I’ve seen before.

Review of the Day: The Muéganos by Jaque Jours Jours adeptly takes an incredibly silly idea and manages to make it poignant and universal in one fell swoop. This is a story about breaking a family apart, but in the best way possible.

Author Jaque Jours adeptly takes an incredibly silly idea and manages to make it poignant and universal in one fell swoop. This is a story about breaking a family apart, but in the best way possible. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/27/r...

This was so cool. Can’t thank you enough for finding it!

Accessing a “powerful lens beyond the dominant Anglophone market.” Discover USBBY with President Susan Polos Susan and I have an honest discussion about the necessity of, and challenges facing, international books for children on the American market today.

Today Susan Polos of @usbby.bsky.social and I have an honest discussion about the necessity of, and challenges facing, international books for children on the American market today. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/26/a...

Accessing a “powerful lens beyond the dominant Anglophone market.” Discover USBBY with President Susan Polos Susan and I have an honest discussion about the necessity of, and challenges facing, international books for children on the American market today.

Today Susan Polos of @usbby.bsky.social and I have an honest discussion about the necessity of, and challenges facing, international books for children on the American market today. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/26/a...

If you have the means, please donate to the Trans Continental Pipeline right now. They are a Colorado based org that helps trans people relocate and they are overwhelmed with requests. Colorado borders Kansas, and TCP has the infrastructure to help get people out.

tcpipeline.org

It’s a Belgian Cover Reveal Day! A Talk with Leo Timmers About Kiki & Me Today I reveal the cover of one of the truly great picture books of 2026. I also get to talk to Leo Timmers and ask him about his painting process (something I've wondered about for years).

Today I reveal the cover of one of the truly great picture books of 2026. I also get to talk to Leo Timmers and ask him about his painting process (something I've wondered about for years). #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/25/i...

Book cover of Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme superimposed with the butterfly logo for the Monarch Award. Cover shows an upset secretary bird in a purple turtleneck gesturing at a smiling weasel in pink overalls.

Woohoo! Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme's been nominated for the 2027 Monarch Award (sponsored by the Association of Illinois School Library Educators)! Putting it alongside some excellent company (I'm Sorry You Got Mad, Ursula Upside Down +). @fuse8.bsky.social @unionsquarekids.bsky.social

The Unlikely Tale of Chase & Finnegan – Get Yer Excerpt and Q&A Right Here (Not Necessarily In That Order) Jasmine Warga has always specialized in giving voice to the voiceless. We discuss her latest (and most adorable) title to date and even feature an excerpt for your perusal.

Jasmine Warga has always specialized in giving voice to the voiceless. We discuss her latest (and most adorable) title to date and even feature an excerpt for your perusal. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/24/t...

It’s Our 400th Episode! Fuse 8 n’ Kate Welcomes Colby Sharp and Travis Jonker from The Yarn to Discuss The Invention of Hugo Cabret What truly makes a picture book? If a Caldecott committee deems it so, is that enough? We asked our guests for a

What truly makes a picture book? If a Caldecott committee deems it so, is that enough? We asked our guests @colbysharp.bsky.social & @100scopenotes.bsky.social for a "big book" and they delivered! A special book for our 400th episode! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/23/i...

Your Jon Klassen, or, What’s Up With All the Board Books? We talk today with the often imitated (and never replicated) Jon Klassen about why, precisely, he's been so drawn to the board book form recently (and what it has to give).

We talk today with the often imitated (and never replicated) Jon Klassen about why, precisely, he's been so drawn to the board book form recently (and what it has to give). #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/20/y...

And Where the Sendak Isn’t: A Where the Wild Horses Are Cover Reveal and Q&A with Amy Alznauer

We debut Amy Alznauer's mg novel and have a marvelous talk about Deaf culture, horses, and stumbling on prophetic ideas from your younger self. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/19/a...

Diverse Scholarship and the Islamic Golden Ages: A Q&A with M.O. Yuksel About The Prince of Stars I felt like doing a bit of a dive into a 2025 picture book bio that didn't get nearly enough attention last season. If you don't immediately know the name

I felt like doing a bit of a dive into a 2025 picture book bio that didn't get nearly enough attention last season with @moyuksel.bsky.social. If you don't immediately know the name "Ulugh Beg" consider this your educational platform for the day! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/18/d...

Postie Mousie to the Rescue! A Marty Moose Q&A with Claire Powell Of mice and mail. We discuss an all new early chapter book series with a woman unafraid of maps, typefaces, ADHD, and meticulous ink.

Of mice and mail. We discuss an all new early chapter book series with Claire Powell, a woman unafraid of maps, typefaces, ADHD, and meticulous ink. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/17/p...

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield, ill. Jan Spivey Gilchrist In a dual celebration of Black History Month and Valentine's Day, I figured the logical connection came in the form of Eloise Greenfield's Honey I Love. But which version?

In a dual celebration of Black History Month and Valentine's Day, I figured the logical connection came in the form of Eloise Greenfield's Honey I Love. But which version? We discuss on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast: #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/16/f...

I mention 3 new ones in the review.

Review of the Day: My Bicentennial Summer by G. Neri, ill. Corban Wilkin Neri takes the facts of what happened when his family embarked on the road trip to beat all road trips, and ties that summer during the bicentennial into the state of the country today. Deeply fun, ut...

Neri takes the facts of what happened when his family embarked on the road trip to beat all road trips, and ties that summer during the bicentennial into the state of the country today. Deeply fun, utterly smart, and visually arresting. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/15/r...

Press Release Fun: It’s Time for the 15th Annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival! And now, a word from Mr. James Kennedy...

And now, a word from Mr. James Kennedy . Sure hope you like singing rats! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/14/p...

Guilty Treasures: Girls Just Want to Have Fun, with Grace Lin Podcast Episode · A Good Story Well Told · 02/12/2026 · 1h 4m

You lucky dogs. You didn't know you'd wake up this morning and get a chance to hear @authorgracelin.bsky.social talking about the movie Girls Just Wanna Have Fun with @jonathanauxier.bsky.social & Matt Bird on their podcast, did you? Kick off your weekend right! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...

A Nicholas Day/Corey Tabor Cover Reveal and Q&A? It’s Gotta Be a Look at A Riddle of Eels

"An irony of having so many excellent nonfiction books for children is that it can appear that we already know everything... That’s not true, of course. But it can feel that way." Nicholas Day & Corey Tabor discuss their latest eel-rific book: afuse8production.slj.com/2026/02/13/a...