Were you aware that ghosts are the hot trend of 2025? Not sure what that says about the state of the world today, but it does give me an excuse to talk to the creator of the ghost with the most.| A Fuse #8 Production
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global CelebrityBy Nicholas DayIllustrated by Brett HelquistRandom House Studio (and imprint of Random House Children’s Books)$22.99ISBN: 9780593643846Ages 9-12On shelves September 5th I sense that we are on the brink of something. I’ve sensed it for a while. Do you remember […]| A Fuse #8 Production
Is there life on Mars? Who cares! It's the Moon we're focusing on today, in this ribald conversation about one of my (already) favorite middle grades of 2026.| A Fuse #8 Production
Drawing On Walls is the kind of book that you wish other writers of children’s nonfiction would read. A story that justifies its very existence by justifying the very existence of its subject.| A Fuse #8 Production
Look, I don’t see much of a point in beating around the bush. You read the title of this post. You know what the deal is. Our dear, beloved, Dan Santat, Caldecott Award-winner, nice feller, and man-about-town, has the kickoff to a new graphic novel series coming out in 2026. It’s called Sashimi (ISBN: 9781250359995 and out April 14, 2026 ). It’s hilarious. And, yes, you’re going to want to read it the minute it comes out. Your kids? They will love it. Adults everywhere? They’ll stea...| A Fuse #8 Production
I had an amusing moment recently. I was speaking on my podcast the other day about being a bit of a “nonfiction stickler”. This made it into the show notes of the episode and when someone brought the post up in Google, they got one of those annoying AI related questions… about “the nonfiction stickler”. I found this amusing. As the official Nonfiction Stickler, I have certain things I loathe in children’s works of nonfiction. Things like faux dialogue and unsubstantiated sources. | A Fuse #8 Production
Proof positive that sometimes the best books for kids come from the unlikeliest of sources about the unlikeliest of people.| A Fuse #8 Production
Today's book is best described as beautiful, weirdly touching, and utterly original. “Swish Zing Tizzle-ting POOF!”| A Fuse #8 Production
A global disaster on an epic scale all thanks to a single volcanic eruption? It's not science fiction, it's history, and today I get to grill Nicholas Day about his deep dive into the world of 1816.| A Fuse #8 Production
Arms! Tentacles! Real estate in the board book format! I'm talking with two picture book-turned-board book creators about how you create a title for the littlest of readers.| A Fuse #8 Production
Today’s conversation is one that I’ve been looking forward to for some time. Richard Michelson is an old friend. If ever you’ve been to the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA, it would behoove you to also check out the R. Michelson Gallery in nearby Northampton. There, located in an old bank, you will find perhaps the finest gallery of fine children’s illustration available to you anywhere in the continental United States. | A Fuse #8 Production
Earlier this month I did a post on this site called And Now Some Books I’m REALLY Excited For in 2025 in which I mentioned some of the children’s books I was most looking forward to in the coming year. Now I can confess to you that there were a couple books I really and truly wanted to mention and couldn’t. Why? Because I hadn’t done the cover reveals for them yet! | A Fuse #8 Production
Add a great text and art from an illustrious artist and you’ve got on your hands a librarian biography that’s a cut above the rest. A book that surpasses its form. A tale worth telling.| A Fuse #8 Production
The kids are going to come here for the kooky aliens, but the whole reason the book works is because at its core this is a picture book about a kind of kindness we should all strive for in our lives.| A Fuse #8 Production
Debut creator Cherry Mo takes a well-loved idea and renders it bright, shiny, and new in this vibrant take on a tale as old as lunchtime.| A Fuse #8 Production
Happy Father's Day! We're highlighting my favorite daddy book of 2024 and talking about it (though I do get a little distracted by these creators' killer headshots).| A Fuse #8 Production
I hope you're ready for A LOT of science and nature books today, because this is definitely my longest list to date. Full of incredible titles!| A Fuse #8 Production
Behold! A list of baby board books, preschooler board books, and board books that are either reprints or adapted picture books. Enjoy them all!| A Fuse #8 Production