Betsy Bird
@fuse8.bsky.social
Blog about kids books? You bet (A Fuse #8 Production). Library degree? You know it. Books for kids? Five. Books for adults about kidlit? Two. Podcasts about kids books? One (Fuse 8 n’ Kate). Having fun! https://afuse8production.slj.com
This book works its way into the fissures and cracks of children's gray matter, affecting their reading preferences for, potentially, their entire life. For that to happen, you need something a little weird, and special. You need a book like this. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/09/r...
Review of the Day: The House With Nobody In It by Jon Klassen
This book works its way into the fissures and cracks of children's gray matter, affecting their reading preferences for, potentially, their entire life. For that to happen, you need something a little...
afuse8production.slj.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:12 PM
This book works its way into the fissures and cracks of children's gray matter, affecting their reading preferences for, potentially, their entire life. For that to happen, you need something a little weird, and special. You need a book like this. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/09/r...
"How do I acknowledge the harm without letting it dominate the story or overshadow the light? How can I stay truthful about the past while keeping the focus on queer joy?" Learn the answers to these questions in this glorious cover reveal and Q&A. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/08/c...
Cover Reveal and Q&A: A Place to Dance by Eric Rosswood with Richard Lamberty, and illustrated by Vincent Chen
afuse8production.slj.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:12 PM
"How do I acknowledge the harm without letting it dominate the story or overshadow the light? How can I stay truthful about the past while keeping the focus on queer joy?" Learn the answers to these questions in this glorious cover reveal and Q&A. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/08/c...
Today we turn again to the small publishers, seeing what they have coming out. Get ready for books from Beaming Books, Eternal Tree Books, NSTA Kids, and Shout Mouse Press. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/07/p...
Publisher Spotlight Spring/Summer 2026 Preview!
Today we turn again to the small publishers, seeing what they have coming out. Get ready for books from Beaming Books, Eternal Tree Books, NSTA Kids, and Shout Mouse Press
afuse8production.slj.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Today we turn again to the small publishers, seeing what they have coming out. Get ready for books from Beaming Books, Eternal Tree Books, NSTA Kids, and Shout Mouse Press. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/07/p...
With absolutely ZERO experience ever deciding a Sibert Medal or honorees, but with a full-blooded appreciation for informational books for kids in all their glory, here's what I'm loving right now and what I think has a fightin' chance. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/06/s...
Sibert 2026 Predictions! It’s Nonfiction, Man.
With absolutely ZERO experience ever deciding a Sibert Medal or honorees, but with a full-blooded appreciation for informational books for kids in all their glory, here's what I'm loving right now and...
afuse8production.slj.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:14 PM
With absolutely ZERO experience ever deciding a Sibert Medal or honorees, but with a full-blooded appreciation for informational books for kids in all their glory, here's what I'm loving right now and what I think has a fightin' chance. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/06/s...
Today on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast, since the Vietnamese new year of Tet occurs in Jan/Fe, I took that as permission to tackle this fascinating 2003 publication. We go over Tet, bananas, embroidery, and what a "leather mouse" might be. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/05/f...
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Dietz Shea, Cynthia Weill, Tô Ngọc Trang, and Phạm Viêt Đình
Since the Vietnamese new year of Tet occurs in January/February, I took that as permission to finally tackle this fascinating 2003 publication. We go over our past predictions and resolutions, Tet, ba...
afuse8production.slj.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Today on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast, since the Vietnamese new year of Tet occurs in Jan/Fe, I took that as permission to tackle this fascinating 2003 publication. We go over Tet, bananas, embroidery, and what a "leather mouse" might be. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/05/f...
Some lived here in the States and some abroad, but we do our best to remember the creators of books that have made changes to the minds, hearts, and general beings of children worldwide. #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/02/i...
In Memoriam: Remembering Those Lost in 2025
Some lived here in the States and some abroad, but we do our best to remember the creators of books that have made changes to the minds, hearts, and general beings of children worldwide.
afuse8production.slj.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Some lived here in the States and some abroad, but we do our best to remember the creators of books that have made changes to the minds, hearts, and general beings of children worldwide. #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/02/i...
Reposted by Betsy Bird
The most amazing book blogging feat of the year concludes in fitting fashion, with a fantastic list of the best picture books of the year.
Day #31: 31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Picture Books. End with a bang! Only a small number of all the picture books published in a given year make this list. See what I think stands out as unforgettable & thanks for reading all month! #kidlit #31Days31Lists 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/31/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Picture Books
Only a small number of all the picture books published in a given year make this list. See what I think stands out as truly unforgettable.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The most amazing book blogging feat of the year concludes in fitting fashion, with a fantastic list of the best picture books of the year.
Day #31: 31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Picture Books. End with a bang! Only a small number of all the picture books published in a given year make this list. See what I think stands out as unforgettable & thanks for reading all month! #kidlit #31Days31Lists 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/31/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Picture Books
Only a small number of all the picture books published in a given year make this list. See what I think stands out as truly unforgettable.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Day #31: 31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Picture Books. End with a bang! Only a small number of all the picture books published in a given year make this list. See what I think stands out as unforgettable & thanks for reading all month! #kidlit #31Days31Lists 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/31/3...
Reposted by Betsy Bird
For the past few months, I've been really struggling to find books I can fall in love with, especially #middlegrade. Betsy Bird seems to have shared all the wonderful books I've missed, right here. Now I've got my reading to close out 2025 and to carry me happily into 2026. 💖 #kidlit 📚 👍🏼
Day #30: 31 Days, 31 Lists - Middle Grade Fiction. These are the books that will worm their ways into the crannies and crevices of your children's gray matter, affecting their thoughts, their brains, their lives. #kidlit #31Days31Lists 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/30/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Middle Grade Fiction
Our penultimate post!! These are the books that will worm their ways into the crannies and crevices of your children's gray matter, affecting their thoughts, their brains, their lives. If you're comfo...
afuse8production.slj.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
For the past few months, I've been really struggling to find books I can fall in love with, especially #middlegrade. Betsy Bird seems to have shared all the wonderful books I've missed, right here. Now I've got my reading to close out 2025 and to carry me happily into 2026. 💖 #kidlit 📚 👍🏼
Day #30: 31 Days, 31 Lists - Middle Grade Fiction. These are the books that will worm their ways into the crannies and crevices of your children's gray matter, affecting their thoughts, their brains, their lives. #kidlit #31Days31Lists 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/30/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Middle Grade Fiction
Our penultimate post!! These are the books that will worm their ways into the crannies and crevices of your children's gray matter, affecting their thoughts, their brains, their lives. If you're comfo...
afuse8production.slj.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Day #30: 31 Days, 31 Lists - Middle Grade Fiction. These are the books that will worm their ways into the crannies and crevices of your children's gray matter, affecting their thoughts, their brains, their lives. #kidlit #31Days31Lists 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/30/3...
Reposted by Betsy Bird
Surreal. I use this nonfiction list every year to find mentor texts and to learn how to do nonfiction well. And now our book is on this list. Can't get over this!
Day #28: 31 Days, 31 Lists: The creme de la creme! The top of the pops! These are the title you won't be able to forget, no matter how the years roll by. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/28/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Nonfiction Picture Books
The creme de la creme! The top of the pops! These are the title you won't be able to forget, no matter how the years roll by.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Surreal. I use this nonfiction list every year to find mentor texts and to learn how to do nonfiction well. And now our book is on this list. Can't get over this!
Day #29: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Nonfiction Books for Older Readers. Forget the picture books. Older nonfiction, that nebulous but ultimately satisfying genre, is where the action is. This list today just proves it. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/29/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Nonfiction Books for Older Readers
Forget the picture books. Older nonfiction, that nebulous but ultimately satisfying genre, is where the action is. This list today just proves it.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Day #29: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Nonfiction Books for Older Readers. Forget the picture books. Older nonfiction, that nebulous but ultimately satisfying genre, is where the action is. This list today just proves it. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/29/3...
Day #28: 31 Days, 31 Lists: The creme de la creme! The top of the pops! These are the title you won't be able to forget, no matter how the years roll by. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/28/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Nonfiction Picture Books
The creme de la creme! The top of the pops! These are the title you won't be able to forget, no matter how the years roll by.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Day #28: 31 Days, 31 Lists: The creme de la creme! The top of the pops! These are the title you won't be able to forget, no matter how the years roll by. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/28/3...
Day #27: 31 Days, 31 Lists: Blueberry Award Contenders (Celebrating the Environment). Today's list contains an appreciation of nature, a rallying cry for climate action, and titles that promote climate stewardship. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/27/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Blueberry Award Contenders (Celebrating the Environment)
Today's list contains an appreciation of nature, a rallying cry for climate action, and titles that promote climate stewardship.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Day #27: 31 Days, 31 Lists: Blueberry Award Contenders (Celebrating the Environment). Today's list contains an appreciation of nature, a rallying cry for climate action, and titles that promote climate stewardship. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/27/3...
Reposted by Betsy Bird
have a merry Christmas or else
December 26, 2025 at 4:21 AM
have a merry Christmas or else
Reposted by Betsy Bird
I’m in a movie! The BEST movie about picture books ever made. And now you can finally see it!
December 26, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Day #26: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Unique Biographies for Kids. If you're looking for proof that we are in a Golden Age of Children's Literature, look no further than this list. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/26/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Unique Biographies for Kids
If you're looking for proof that we are in a Golden Age of Children's Literature, look no further than this list.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Day #26: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Unique Biographies for Kids. If you're looking for proof that we are in a Golden Age of Children's Literature, look no further than this list. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/26/3...
Day #25: 31 Days, 31 Lists: Science and Nature Books for Kids. Merry Christmas! How about celebrating the season with science? I mean... it's good for what ails ya. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/25/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Science & Nature Books for Kids
Merry Christmas! How about celebrating the season with science? I mean... it's good for what ails ya.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Day #25: 31 Days, 31 Lists: Science and Nature Books for Kids. Merry Christmas! How about celebrating the season with science? I mean... it's good for what ails ya. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/25/3...
Day #24: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 American History Books for Kids. The truth can always be presented to children. You just need to have the brains and the guts to know how to do it well. These books have both. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/24/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 American History Books for Kids
The truth can always be presented to children. You just need to have the brains and the guts to know how to do it well. These books have both.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Day #24: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 American History Books for Kids. The truth can always be presented to children. You just need to have the brains and the guts to know how to do it well. These books have both. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/24/3...
Day #23: 31 Days, 31 Lists - Informational Fiction for Kids. Today, I honor those books that are unafraid to use the best of both the fictional and nonfictional world together in one glorious mix. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/23/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Informational Fiction for Kids
Today, I honor those books that are unafraid to use the best of both the fictional and nonfictional world together in one glorious mix.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Day #23: 31 Days, 31 Lists - Informational Fiction for Kids. Today, I honor those books that are unafraid to use the best of both the fictional and nonfictional world together in one glorious mix. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/23/3...
On the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast, it's a Christmas book! It's a Hanukkah book! It's a Christmas AND a Hanukkah book! But how does it stand up after all these years? #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/22/f...
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco
It's a Christmas book! It's a Hanukkah book! It's a Christmas AND a Hanukkah book! But how does it stand up after all these years?
afuse8production.slj.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:36 PM
On the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast, it's a Christmas book! It's a Hanukkah book! It's a Christmas AND a Hanukkah book! But how does it stand up after all these years? #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/22/f...
Day #22: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Fantasies for Kids. A fine and fancy list of fantastical tales of all ages and stripes. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/22/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Fantasy Books for Kids
A fine and fancy list of fantasies of all ages and stripes
afuse8production.slj.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Day #22: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Fantasies for Kids. A fine and fancy list of fantastical tales of all ages and stripes. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/22/3...
Day #21: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Science Fiction Books for Kids. If you're a fan of robots, post-apocalyptic floods, aliens, and more, then you've come to the right place. #31days31lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/21/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Science Fiction Books for Kids
If you're a fan of robots, post-apocalyptic floods, aliens, and more, you've come to the right place.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Day #21: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Science Fiction Books for Kids. If you're a fan of robots, post-apocalyptic floods, aliens, and more, then you've come to the right place. #31days31lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/21/3...
Hey, folks! My teen wants to enter writing competitions. Any you would recommend?
December 20, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Hey, folks! My teen wants to enter writing competitions. Any you would recommend?
Day #20: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Funny Books for Older Kids. Hijinks ensue. You have been warned. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/20/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Funny Books for Older Kids
Hijinks ensue. You have been warned.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Day #20: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2025 Funny Books for Older Kids. Hijinks ensue. You have been warned. #31Days31Lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/20/3...