Want to start your own children's book magazine? Why not talk to someone who has? SHELF is a remarkable new addition to periodical collections everywhere, and we talk to its founder. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/11/06/p...

Just in time for Native American Heritage Month we've a preview of Diné cartoonist, zinester, and librarian @jooliefiveash.bsky.social's upcoming graphic novel debut! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/11/05/a...

Folks, I think it's fair to say that the Persian myths on your library shelves are in serious need of an upgrade. Happily, one is here, and we're talking about it today. I talk with Ryan Bani Tahmaseb about the rather gorgeous PERSIAN MYTHOLOGY #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/11/04/g...

"Then she was smoked, delicately. She was delicately smoked. Delicately smoked was she." Like it when your picture book protagonists are killed off halfway through a book? Then you're gonna LOVE today's book on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/11/03/f...

Visit a land that's more like, "a tale from folklore, rather than in a magical fictional setting." We talk Pumpkin Kings (and their living wards) with Steven Banbury. #kidlit #halloween 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/31/h...

You lucky ducks. You're getting an extra special sneak peek of Evanston Public Library's illustrious year end list of some of the best children's books of 2025. Enjoy! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/29/a...

Would you like to hear a story? A true one? One told by Laurie Halse Anderson? Discover the tale of how Abigail Adams inoculated her family against smallpox, and see the repackage of Anderson's Fever 1793. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/28/c...

Oh no! It's a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Situation! We tackle our first Dav Pilkey on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast and stumble on an overly familiar trope. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/27/f...

Memory and nostalgia in a Hmong home in St. Paul fuels this enticing picture book. I talk with the creators to learn more about nostalgia and the role architecture plays in our memories. 📚👍 #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/23/t...

This season, we're seeing books about Nowruz and architectural spiders, reluctant frogs and inadvertently heroic wolves. It's all here! Come look! 📚👍 #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/22/p...

As Jeff Kinney's 20th Wimpy Kid book comes out today I reminisce about his early days and then we chat about buses, bookstores, and more. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/21/t...

In our latest consideration for Halloween, on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast we discuss the difficulty of saying the term "anapestic tetrameter" aloud and (I won't lie) we may use the term "badonkadonk" more than once. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/20/f...

I’ve noticed something about Daniel Nayeri. With every middle grade novel for kids that he writes he gets a little bit funnier. A little bit faster. And this latest title? It’s a little bit one of the best books of the year. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/17/r...

"... this time, the picture book format chose me. Picture books break down BIG feelings and ideas in quick, easy ways. The format helped me break down my big feelings." A talk with @torreymaldonado.bsky.social! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/16/a...

Join us for a FREE #Webinar on Nov. 5th! Hosted by Betsy Bird (@fuse8.bsky.social), five publishers will chat about their forthcoming books! Register here: ow.ly/Os3J50XbchX%... P.S. All participants will be entered for a #BookGiveaway 🎉 #IndieKidsBookBuzz #NewBooks #KidLit #BookSky #BookWebinar

In need of a picker upper? How about a book for kids that documents how Field Museum scientists do fieldwork to save the Amazon rainforest? A talk and a trailer premiere with @jenswanbooks.bsky.social #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/15/b...

Do you want a dog loving story chock full of authentic Aztec myths and a healthy dose of humor? Then are you in luck today! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/14/t...

Attempts to wrench veggies off vines is the focus of today's autumnal @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast entry. We discuss pumpkin sex, vampire fashion wear, and why one might want to garden in their socks. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/13/f...

"I was gobsmacked by the new research of awe—how it can change the way you think and feel, lessening our anxieties and making us more generous and kind. And I knew I had to write a book for kids..." A talk with @chanastiefel.bsky.social & Susan Gal #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/09/a...

Today we consider a slew of Spring 2026 titles coming from @ebyrbooks.bsky.social. Anti-fascism, myths, philosophical considerations of silence, seasons, and more! Some real beauties are in here! 📚👍 #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/08/e...

Yet another preview of books via @pubspotlight.bsky.social from small publishers! Today we examine sign language board books, Harriet Tubman's life told in poems, and so much more including (naturally) the robot revolution. 📚👍 #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/07/m...

Today we are discussing our fourth abecedarian picture book on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast and our second Gorey. This is a "cult classic" picture book, best beloved by older children who read it and felt like they were getting away with something. 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/06/f...

people give a lot more good faith to weird-looking indie comics than they do to weird-looking kids’ comics. there is an assumption of skill & intentionality when the comic has grownup themes. my hot take is that i think this is annoying sometimes

Sometimes you need to watch out for the quiet books. They know how to sneak up on you. I review Our Lake by Angie Kang. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/03/r...

"I live in a sea of lemon trees." In a time when Mexicans and Mexican-American suffer at the hands of our government, I talk with María Dolores Águila about this National Book Award nominee and a historical moment of one injustice rectified. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/02/d...

Jennifer L. Holm and I discuss her latest book and talk Boxcar Children, the lies people tell their kids and, of course, what the xenotransplantation in the book has to do with Mary Roach’s latest title. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/01/o...

An icon gets his picture book bio day in the sun. @alicefayeduncan.bsky.social joins us today to talk about her latest creation and to reveal its cover too. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/30/t...

🎶 Take a look, it's in a book 🎶 🥹 After nearly 20 years... Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course... new books! Make sure to follow the rainbow 📚🌈 #FollowTheRainbow

With Robert Munsch in the news lately, we thought it an opportune time to visit one of his lesser known titles. And, to be perfectly frank, one of our new favorites. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/29/f...

"His uncompromising approach to making art, his refusal to back away from his principles and political engagement." The time has never been better to learn more about Tomi Ungerer (or to join this cool symposium). #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/26/a...

Open doors and hospitality is the name of the game today as we talk about the agency of turning the page in a book with two renowned picture book creators, @kyomaclear.bsky.social & Julie Morstad. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/25/c...

Did you see @fuse8.bsky.social's SLJ article and accompanying post about tackling complicated topics in NF for kids? They *can* carry heavy things -- it's up to authors to find the right way to hand those to them. #TLSkyChat afuse8production.slj.com/2025/08/27/t...

Nefarious bluebirds, hilarious waterfowl, historical comics and more in our latest preview of some of the smaller publishers. A look at @toonbooks.bsky.social, @tigertalesbooks.bsky.social & @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social from @pubspotlight.bsky.social #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/24/m...

A dog's true best friend stars in its own show in this ludicrous and wonderful picture book readaloud. I interview its creator Jordan Morris (dog lovers - this one's for you). #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/23/h...

Delighted to contribute to this article. I got to talk about CROWN, but honestly this is a very good list in and of itself. The readalikes are particularly choice. Well done, Slate! slate.com/culture/2025...

Just in time for her 20th anniversary, Kate & I tackle the fanciest nanciest gal in picture bookdom on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast. WILL Kate think she's a brat? IS this the first book we've done with glitter on the cover? Find out! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/22/f...

This came out early in the year, but I'd like to remind you to give it a close look. Highly sophisticated art with an incredible batch of storytelling. @galegalligan.bsky.social's greatest is here. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/20/r...

Come for the wacky promotional video for one of the greatest graphic novels of 2025. Stay for the celebrity picture book cameo at the very end. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/19/c...

It may be a one-of-a-kind picture book, at least in the history of American publishing. A picture book about a mayoral candidate put out by a major publisher? How did this happen? #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/18/n...

Fall prediction time! Our penultimate prediction post before final considerations. Here are the titles I think have the best show at the two major literary awards. Do you agree? Disagree? Find out! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/17/2...

I'm so so so so excited! I haven't been to one of these in years and now it's in my backyard? WHOOPIE!! www.ala.org/news/2025/09...

Stunning cover reveal and Q&A for A HOME ON THE PAGE by @kaokaliayang.bsky.social and Seo Kim! This incredible book is coming in February 2026.

Seems to me the more books we can devise that confront racism, the better. But how do you confront a hate crime in a picture book? Today's title does precisely that. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/16/t...

Our first Rosemary Wells on the podcast? How is this even possible? On @fuse8nkate.bsky.social we meet Max & Ruby for the first time and have a LOT to say on the matter. Particularly about 1980s malls. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/15/f...

A childhood manuscript makes good. ND Stevenson discusses the origins of his debut mg fantasy while I fall over myself to get you to read it. This discussion is delightful. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/11/n...

Tomi Ungerer fans take note of Blunderbus!! in person event w/ Aria Ungerer, Susan Hirschman, Steve Heller, Lisa Brown @fuse8.bsky.social Jon Agee, Maria Russo, Philip Nel, Kate Feiffer & others www.rabbitholekc.org/blunderbuss

Is it too early to start calling Caldecott 2027 contenders? That's not an idle question since today we're talking to Steven Weinberg about a book that, honestly? You're going to need to see this thing. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/10/a...

A picture book character returns to us in a middle grade novel. Though it's not out until March 2026, we talk with @carolelindstrom.bsky.social about her new foray into older fiction for kids. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/09/c...

"Horrendously honest" is not a term I usually use but can you imagine writing an entire picture book about your own parenting fails? That's another level. On the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast we discuss My Daddy is a Monster... Sometimes. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/08/f...

Dissected tongues, fruit trends, space microbes, and more all appear in this remarkable preview of some of our very favorite small publishers all thanks to @pubspotlight.bsky.social #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/09/05/m...