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 Materials 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 with School Library Journal and that led to reviewing for Kirkus and podcasting with her sister about picture books at Fuse 8 n' Kate (where they try to figure out which ones deserve to be "classics"). Betsy is the author of numerous picture books including "POP! Goes the Nursery Rhyme" as well as an anthology of some of the most hilarious women writing for kids today called "Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever," and her first middle grade novel for kids "Long Road to the Circus", illustrated by Caldecott award winner David Small. Betsy Bird is now the Collection Development Manager of Evanston, IL. Stop by. We'll have lunch. It'll be nice.