Travis Jonker has built The Ultimate Caldecott Database. Yes, it includes the Medal and Honor winners since 1938, but it’s also a searchable resource with: Illustrator demographics, Artistic mediums, Publisher information, Page/word counts, and more.
100scopenotes.com/2026/04/16/t...

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Possum Magic by Mem Fox, ill. Julie Vivas - A Fuse #8 Production Put today's two creators together and you have yourself a fascinating tale of a new picture book author attempting to create something wholly Australian for the picture book buying public. Oz Listener...

A new picture book author once attempted to create something wholly Australian for the picture book buying public. Oz Listeners Beware: We do some truly regrettable Australian accents in the course of today's @fuse8nkate.bsky.social episode: #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/20/f...

Publisher Spotlight Spring/Summer 2026 Preview (Part Five): Pajama Press, Post Wave, Tiger Tales, and Walker Books - A Fuse #8 Production We do a final dive into books being released in the earlier part of 2026. Pluck out your favorites!

We do a final dive into books being released in the earlier part of 2026. Pluck out your favs! Books from @pajamapress.bsky.social, @postwavebooks.bsky.social, @tigertalesbooks.bsky.social & @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social c/o @pubspotlight.bsky.social #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/17/p...

Had you asked me to guess, I would have guessed wrong.

Okay, that was a legit surprise.

Heartdrum, the Native Voices Imprint, Turns Five: We Talk with Curator Cynthia Leitich Smith and Editor Rosemary Brosnan - A Fuse #8 Production 30 books. 74 stars. Loads of awards. We're talking today with the creators of the Heartdrum imprint to find out how they did it (and continue to do it) so well.

30 books. 74 stars. Loads of awards. We’re talking today with the founders of the Heartdrum imprint to find out how they did it (and continue to do it) so well. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/16/h...

A "glimpse of the unseen self through the medium of motion." Helen Yoon Discusses Donutrina in the Nutcracker Sweet - A Fuse #8 Production "...maybe I'm the medium. Less creator, more conduit; a host body for the two-centuries-old Nutcracker virus." Turns out, Helen Yoon may be the greatest interview subject I've featured to date. Y'all,...

"...maybe I'm the medium. Less creator, more conduit; a host body for the two-centuries-old Nutcracker virus." Turns out, Helen Yoon may be the greatest interview subject I've featured to date. Y'all, you GOTTA read this! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/15/a...

I know it not. Thank you!

Secret Agent Men (and Women!): A Double Crossed Q&A with Rebecca E.F. Barone - A Fuse #8 Production "I’ll read anything that’s a good story! We use stories as a way of making sense of and understanding the world around us, and I’d argue that’s as much the point of fiction as it is of nonfiction." Re...

"I’ll read anything that’s a good story! We use stories as a way of making sense of and understanding the world around us, and I’d argue that’s as much the point of fiction as it is of nonfiction." @rebeccaefbarone.bsky.social on her spy thriller. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/14/s...

What they said!! We were floored and honored.

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day - A Fuse #8 Production How many times has this poor dog been placed in a position of power? We aim to answer that, and many many other questions, as we consider this 41-year-old book.

How many times has this poor dog been placed in a position of power? We aim to answer that, and many many other questions, as we consider this 41-year-old book on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/13/f...

Review of the Day: You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This by Aaron Starmer, ill. Jaime Zollars - A Fuse #8 Production If you want your child to read books that they’ll forget in a month’s time, hand them pablum. If you want them to think, rethink, and return to a book for the rest of their life? This is what you give...

If you want your child to read books that they’ll forget in a month’s time, hand them pablum. If you want them to think, rethink, and return to a book for the rest of their life? This is what you give. I review @aaronstarmer.bsky.social #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/12/r...

Upcoming events. April 26th, Books of Wonder, New York City, NY with Josh Gondelman. April 28th, The Book Stall, Winnetka, IL with Betsy Bird. RSVP at the link in bio!

Two big book release events coming up in April!

New York City with @joshgondelman.bsky.social and Winnetka, IL with @fuse8.bsky.social.

Come out if you're in either area!

RSVP at the link in bio!

"When you are little in front of a big world, how do you make changes for the well-being of everybody?" Yuyi Morales asks the big questions today in a guest post that I am honored to host. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/09/t...

Holding Their Systems Together: Katy Duffield and Hannah Salyer Discuss Their Upcoming WE ARE THE KEYSTONES - A Fuse #8 Production "...a brilliant tapestry rich with images and lots of atmosphere." That's the kind of informational picture book we're discussing with its author and illustrator today. If you want guidelines on how t...

"...a brilliant tapestry rich with images and lots of atmosphere." That's the kind of informational picture book we're discussing with its author and illustrator today. If you want guidelines on how to write such a book, then you need to read this. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/08/h...

Cover Reveal: WINNIE-THE-POOH: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL - A Fuse #8 Production Just in time for the 100th anniversary of that silly old bear we've yet another adaptation of the original work on the horizon. And this one? A beauty.

Just in time for the 100th anniversary of that silly old bear we've yet another adaptation of the original work on the horizon by @joesutphin.bsky.social & Kevan Chandler. And this one? A beauty. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/08/c...

Baltimore! Come see us! This weekend! Side note: Is not my illustrator brilliant? I lucky.

No Conditions for Care: A Talk with Larissa Theule About The Sweater - A Fuse #8 Production I tell you, if I have to wear a sweater to work today, then I'm doggone gonna talk about the best sweater-related book of 2026.

I tell you, if I have to wear a sweater to work today, then I'm doggone gonna talk about the best sweater-related book of 2026. A discussion with @larissatheule.bsky.social about The Sweater: #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/07/n...

Keep Your Head on a Swivel: An Endless Game Interview with J.D. Amato - A Fuse #8 Production "...there was a palpable 90s dream of kids building their own societies and sorting things out on their own." Join us for an interview today with the creator of a comic that brings to vibrant life tha...

"...there was a palpable 90s dream of kids building their own societies and sorting things out on their own." Join us for an interview today with @jd-amato.bsky.social, the creator of a comic that brings to vibrant life that feeling all over again. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/06/e...

Day 5 of #Kidlithahaweek - If It Played in Paris, Will It Play in Peoria with Besty Bird @fuse8.bsky.social @brittanypomales.bsky.social www.brittanypomales.com/2026/04/04/k... #kidlit #writingcommunity #humor #funnyinternationalchildrensbooks

Thank you. I initially wrote “All flowers are idiots,” but I thought that was pretty unfair to a goodly chunk of them. Marigolds in particular seem especially bright.

Review of the Day: Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes - A Fuse #8 Production False spring finally gets its day in the sun. An aid for any parent or caregiver faced with that look of betrayal on their child’s face when they encounter an Easter Egg hunt covered in a foot of snow...

False spring finally gets its day in the sun. An aid for any parent or caregiver faced with that look of betrayal on their child’s face when they encounter an Easter Egg hunt covered in a foot of snowfall. I review the latest from Kevin Henkes #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/03/r...

Do! Do!

"... expansive, visual, and alive for today’s young readers." It's Poetry Month So We're Talking Melodies of the Weary Blues with Shamar Knight-Justice - A Fuse #8 Production "Good poetry does not just sound pretty. It tells the truth and reaches you whether you are ready for it or not, and Hughes has always had that kind of staying power." Happy April! We love Poetry Mont...

"Good poetry does not just sound pretty. It tells the truth and reaches you whether you are ready for it or not, and Hughes has always had that kind of staying power." Happy April! We love Poetry Month and we love today's book. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/02/e...

The funniest part of this was the term “final posthumous.” Stop filling my head with delicious lies, Jonker!

CLICK! Photographers Make Picture Books: A Discussion with Leonard Marcus and a Team of Featured Photographers - A Fuse #8 Production "I think we all have experienced the outsider status of being an illustrator whose work is photographic." Meet a slew of talented photographers, alongside a featured interview with curator/academic Le...

"I think we all have experienced the outsider status of being an illustrator whose work is photographic." Meet a slew of talented photographers, alongside a featured interview with curator/academic Leonard Marcus himself! #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2026/04/01/c...

Thank you, Betsy Bird @fuse8.bsky.social, for including Bing's Cherries in your Caldecott predictions! I agree that Julia's illustrations are amazing!

Meet the Outstanding Comics Award and All That It Entails: A Talk with Jennie Law - A Fuse #8 Production ALA gives out comics awards now? How did that happen? How do you join? And what books are they awarding? We speak to the Chair of the GNCRT to find out all the answers to all these questions.

Spoke w @fuse8.bsky.social about the Outstanding Comics Award with a shout out to @schweizercomics.bsky.social for our beautiful award seals! Thanks, Betsy! afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/31/m...

Meet the Outstanding Comics Award and All That It Entails: A Talk with Jennie Law - A Fuse #8 Production ALA gives out comics awards now? How did that happen? How do you join? And what books are they awarding? We speak to the Chair of the GNCRT to find out all the answers to all these questions.

ALA gives out comics awards now? How did that happen? How do you join? And what books are they awarding? We speak to the Chair of the GNCRT to find out all the answers to all these questions. #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/31/m...

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Max's Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells - A Fuse #8 Production "A chocolate chicken is not a thing." And yet here we are. Somehow we've not seen this particular Easter book on this podcast before. How will it fare amongst the pantheon of Max books?

"A chocolate chicken is not a thing." And yet here we are. Somehow we've not seen this particular Easter book on the @fuse8nkate.bsky.social podcast before. How will it fare amongst the pantheon of Max books? #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/30/f...