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Betsy Bird

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Betsy Bird

Goodreads Author


Born
in Kalamazoo, MI, The United States
Website

Genre

Member Since
July 2007


Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, undisputed center of the universe, Betsy Bird (nee Elizabeth Ramsey) grew up and promptly left Michigan the moment her legs could propel her southward. She didn't get far. Obtaining a B.A. at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana (home of recorded jazz and don't let anyone tell you otherwise) she set her sights on Portland, Oregon. When that didn't pan out it was Minneapolis, Minnesota. Then New York, New York. In the midst of all this she somehow managed to get a library degree and a job at New York Public Library, eventually becoming their Youth Media Specialist (a.k.a. the person who bought all the kids' books for Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx). She created the children's literary blog A Fuse #8 Prod ...more

“… to tell the truth they must create an artifice.” We Discuss Memoirs, Comics, and I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This with Eugene Yelchin

This past weekend I had the great delight in partaking in a Tomi Ungerer Symposium at The Rabbit hOle in Kansas City. If you’re unfamiliar with the location, it’s essentially the world’s first interactive picture book museum (and a lot more hands on than you’ll usually find with similar institutions). While tooling about its bookstore I happened to notice the book The Genius Under the Table pr

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Published on November 20, 2025 21:00
Average rating: 3.85 · 4,071 ratings · 882 reviews · 11 distinct worksSimilar authors
Funny Girl

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3.70 avg rating — 1,253 ratings — published 2017 — 5 editions
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The Great Santa Stakeout

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3.93 avg rating — 637 ratings — published 2019 — 2 editions
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Wild Things! Acts of Mischi...

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3.98 avg rating — 609 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions
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Giant Dance Party

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3.67 avg rating — 464 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions
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Long Road to the Circus

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3.99 avg rating — 361 ratings — published 2021 — 5 editions
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Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme

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4.29 avg rating — 294 ratings2 editions
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Born Reading: Bringing Up B...

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3.78 avg rating — 301 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions
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The Winged Girl of Knossos

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3.66 avg rating — 99 ratings — published 1933 — 7 editions
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Children's Literature Gems:...

3.92 avg rating — 73 ratings — published 2009 — 6 editions
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Equine & Equestrian Photogr...

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More books by Betsy Bird…
History Smashers:...
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by Kate Messner (Goodreads Author)
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Severe and Unusua...
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by Jessie Ann Foley (Goodreads Author)
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Betsy’s Recent Updates

Betsy Bird wrote a new blog post

“… to tell the truth they must create an artifice.” We Discuss Memoirs, Comics, and I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This with Eugene Yelchin



This past weekend I had the great delight in partaking in a Tomi Ungerer Symposium at The Rabbit hOle in Kansas City. If you’re unfamiliar with the l Read more of this blog post »
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History Smashers by Kate Messner
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An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros and Magic by Sarah J. Mendonca
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Severe and Unusual Weather by Jessie Ann Foley
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Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna
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Let’s Get Together by Brandy Colbert
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Let’s Get Together by Brandy Colbert
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The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri
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Daniel Nayeri keeps getting away with murder. Where other authors follow the beaten path and churn out respectable, comprehensible, perfectly decent works of historical fiction, Nayeri has this tendency to sort of pad in before blowing up assumptions ...more
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A Little Too Haunted by Justine Pucella Winans
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More of Betsy's books…
Quotes by Betsy Bird  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“the sound of its own fart, is almost”
Betsy Bird, Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever.

“Matthew and Logan”
Betsy Bird, Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever.

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Comments (showing 1-15)    post a comment »
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message 15: by Valerie

Valerie Betsy, thanks for sharing your friendship.

Val
www.valeriemarchini.blogspot.com


Christine Hatfield thanks for being my friend


message 13: by Steven

Steven Stickler Thanks for the friendship. Love your reviews!


message 12: by Betsy

Betsy Unfortunately it's a little late for Halloween reviews now. Do you still want to send it to me? Pretty much at this point I wouldn't be able to review it, though I could always suggest it to NYPL for their collection.

Let me know what you prefer,

Elizabeth


message 11: by Stella

Stella Sure! We hope to sell copies before and after Halloween. I sent you a message but I'm not sure you received it. Would you like me to send you a copy? If so, could you give me an address? Sorry to sound a little dense. Since I've never asked anybody to review a book before, I'm not sure exactly what I do.

Stella

Elizabeth wrote: "Well, my general rule is that I review things originally published in the current year for kids between 0-12. So your book would certainly count. However, I'm not sure at this point if I could get ..."


message 10: by Betsy

Betsy Well, my general rule is that I review things originally published in the current year for kids between 0-12. So your book would certainly count. However, I'm not sure at this point if I could get it in, in time for Halloween. If you're still interested, though, let me know.


Stella Just wondered if you'd be interested in reviewing our book, An Eyeball In My Garden? It's an anthology of Halloween poems by 14 members of The Poets' Garage. I realize you probably already have enough to review so if you can't that's okay.

Stella Michel


message 8: by Betsy

Betsy Oh! That usually means I've reviewed it for Kirkus or TimeOut Kids New York or The New York Times or MultiCultural Review. You can always ask me where a particular review is and I'll let you know.


message 7: by Joel

Joel Simon Hi. When one of the books you post says that it has been professionally reviewed, how do we find the text of the review?


Victoria Simcox Hi Elizabeth, thanks for friending me. Have a wonderful holiday season. Victoria Simcox ") www.themagicwarble.com


message 5: by Betsy

Betsy Mighty kind of you to say, Daniel. I'm inclined in that direction, but I've a non-fiction library-related title to finish before I can delve completely into the fiction I love. Thanks for the compliment!


Daniel
I've read the book reviews of over 1,500 people here at goodreads and your book reviews, Elizabeth, of children's books, are the most comprehensive that I have seen so far. You must write some books Elizabeth.


message 3: by Betsy

Betsy Yay, books! I'm much worse in person too. Poor up-and-coming children's picture book author Leeza Hernandez spent something like $175 when I visited a bookstore with her. I'm terrible that way. Thanks for taking my recommendations to heart.


message 2: by Betsy (last edited Aug 25, 2016 12:06PM)

Betsy Ha! Mine is named Basil and he's far more popular with the kids in my library than I am. Best damn puppet they make as far as I'm concerned.


message 1: by Sarah (last edited Aug 25, 2016 12:06PM)

Sarah I have that same mouse puppet! I named mine Franklin. ;)


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