Betsy Bird

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 Production and schmoozed as no one had ever schmoozed before. The result? Betsy is the author of numerous books for kids (and books for adults about children's books) including POP! GOES THE NURSERY RHYME, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi. Betsy Bird is the Collection Development Manager of Evanston, IL. You can follow Betsy on the podcast Fuse 8 n' Kate (where she and her sister try to figure out what makes a picture book a "classic").