Writing Humor in Unfunny Times
Join author and uber-librarian Betsy Bird for a talk on what makes picture books funny.
Betsy shares a brief history of humorous picture books, reveals what made those books work, and what's changed over the years. Enjoy the extensive list of funny picture books, including what books kids find funny, what books adults find
funny, and what books everyone finds funny.
If you've seen Betsy speak before, you know this is an energetic boost in your creative arm. If you haven't seen Betsy speak before, you are in for a treat!
"Betsy is so refreshing! I feel like I am sitting
on a magic carpet as a kindergartener!
" - Kristi B.
Your Instructor
Betsy Bird is the Collection Development Manager of
Evanston Public Library and the former Youth Materials Specialist of New
York Public Library. Her children's literature blog A Fuse #8 Production is hosted by School Library Journal, and she reviews regularly for Kirkus and occasionally for The New York Times. Betsy is the author of two picture books (Giant Dance Party and The Great Santa Stakeout), co-author of the very adult Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature, and editor of the middle grade anthology of hilarious female writers Funny Girl. You can find Betsy either hosting the Story Seeds Podcast, where kids are paired with authors to create stories together, or the podcast Fuse 8 n' Kate where
she and her sister debate which picture books deserve to be classics.
Betsy's next project will be a middle grade novel with David Small
called Long Road to the Circus, on shelves Fall 2021.
Course Curriculum
Frequently Asked Questions
"I FINALLY got to watch Betsy Bird webinar, and now I have about 20 books on my "must-read" list, plus a few think I'll have to buy. I also paused in the middle to revise a manuscript I hadn't touched in a while because I think I finally figured out what was missing."
- Joy Parkhurst