Bethany Barton
American author and illustrator
Bethany Barton
Author & Illustrator Bethany Barton
Born 1982 (age 41–42) Chicago, Illinois Pen name bethany bARTon Occupation Author, illustrator, artist Period 2006-present Genre Children's picture books Spouse Michael Barton www .bethanybarton .com
Bethany Barton is an author and illustrator of children's books,[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] as well as an Emmy-nominated Propmaster[ 4] for film & TV. Barton's books combine colorful illustrations, humor, science communication and storytelling that aims to make STEAM -related topics enjoyable for kids.[ 5]
Career
Barton's 2015 book I’m Trying To Love Spiders (Viking/Penguin) garnered numerous awards and starred reviews, including the 2016 Children's Book Council's Children's Choice Award 3rd/4th Grade Book of The Year.[ 6] [ 7] Her 2017 book Give Bees A Chance (Viking/Penguin) was a 2017 SCIBA Award finalist,[ 8] was listed in Scripps National Spelling Bee “Great Words, Great Works,”[ 9] and was featured in the New York Times.[ 10] Her books have been translated into four languages.[ 11] Her 2019 book, I'm Trying to Love Math , was named an Amazon Best Book of 2019[ 12] and I'm Trying To Love Rocks (Viking/Penguin), hit stores in June 2020 with starred reviews.[ 13] [ 14] [ 15] I'm Trying To Love Germs (Viking/Penguin) was published in November 2023 with School Library Journal calling it "a first purchase for any collection" in a starred review.[ 16]
As well as illustrating her own stories, Barton has illustrated for other authors, including Todd Hasak-Lowy 's middle grade novel 33 Minutes (Simon & Schuster).[ 17] She often spends several weeks of the year touring; doing school visits, speaking to authors and educators, and sharing her stories and creativity with young readers at schools and libraries across the globe.[ 18] [ 19] [ 20]
Bethany Barton on The Muppets set in 2015
Barton's career includes work in the art, prop, and set decoration departments for film & TV. In 2023, she was nominated for a Children's & Family Emmy in the category of Puppet Design & Styling for her work on The Muppets Mayhem .[ 21] Notable projects include ABC Network's The Muppets , The Middle , Westworld , Obi-Wan Kenobi , The Muppets Mayhem , and Black-ish , as well as movies like Bumblebee , and various commercials.[ 22] [ 23] She is represented by Writers House LLC.[ 24]
In 2023, Bethany became a co-founder of the non-profit DopaMind, an organization created to "help young people navigate tech in the digital age."[ 25] [ 26]
Books
I'm Trying To Love Germs , 2023, Viking/Penguin [ 27]
I'm Trying To Love Garbage , 2021, Viking/Penguin[ 28]
I'm Trying To Love Rocks , 2020, Viking/Penguin[ 13]
I'm Trying To Love Math , 2019, Viking/Penguin[ 29]
Give Bees A Chance , 2017, Viking/Penguin[ 30]
I'm Trying To Love Spiders , 2015, Viking/Penguin[ 31]
33 Minutes , 2013, by Todd Hasak-Lowy, illust. Bethany Barton, ISBN 1442445009 [ 32] [ 33]
This Monster Cannot Wait , 2013, Dial Books For Young Readers (Penguin), ISBN 0803737793 [ 34] [ 35]
This Monster Needs A Haircut , 2012, Dial Books For Young Readers (Penguin ), ISBN 0803737335 [ 36]
Awards
2016 Children's Choice Awards 3rd/4th Grade Book of the Year [ 7]
2017 Beehive Book Award (Children's Literature Association of Utah)[ 37]
2016-2017 Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Maryland Association of School Librarians)[ 38]
2017 Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Kentucky Association of School Librarians)[ 39]
2018 Surrey Schools Narrative Non-Fiction Book of The Year (British Columbia)[ 40]
Amazon Best Book of 2020[ 12]
2022 Oregon State Literacy Association’s Patricia Gallagher Children’s Choice Book Award[ 41]
Nominations
2017 SCIBA (Southern California Independent Booksellers Association) Book Award Finalist[ 8]
2017-2018 South Carolina Picture Book Award[ 42]
2016-2017 Charter Oak Children's Book Award[ 43]
2017 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award[ 44]
2017-2018 North Carolina Children's Book Award[ 45]
2017-2018 Show Me Readers Award (Missouri Association of School Librarians)[ 46]
2018 Monarch Award (Illinois School Library Media Association)[ 47]
2018 Garden State Book Award[ 48]
2019 Beehive Book Award (Children's Literature Association of Utah)[ 49]
2021 Beehive Informational Book Awards (Children's Literature Association of Utah)[ 50]
2022 Magnolia Book Award (Mississippi Children's Museum )[ 51]
2023 North Carolina Children's Book Award[ 52]
References
^ "I'm Trying to Love Spiders" . Publishers Weekly (Book review). April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
^ Labrise, Megan (July 8, 2015). "Bethany Barton" . Kirkus Reviews . Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023 .
^ "Books For Kids" . Columbus Parent . January 25, 2016. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021.
^ "2023 Children's & Family Emmy Awards – Ceremony Info – The Emmys" . theemmys.tv . Retrieved November 19, 2023 .
^ "Bethany Barton" . Penguin Classroom - Penguin Books . Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 .
^ Hulick, Jeannette (October 2015). "I'm Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton (review)" . The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books . 69 (2): 76–77. doi :10.1353/bcc.2015.0796 – via Project MUSE .
^ a b "2016 Winners and Finalists" . Children's Book Council . Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2019 . Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year Finalists - Winner - I'm Trying To Love Spiders - By: Bethany Barton
^ a b "Book Awards FINALISTS" . Southern California Independent Booksellers Association . Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019 .
^ "2019 Great Words, Great Works" (PDF) . Scripps National Spelling Bee . Archived (PDF) from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2019 . Great Works for Second Grade: .... Give Bees a Chance, Bethany Barton...
^ La Ferla, Ruth (June 30, 2017). "Children's Primers Court the Littlest Radicals" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2019 .
^ "bethany bARTon on Instagram: "Look what came in the mail! Two of my books are now in Chinese! Level Up! Achievement Unlocked! Somebody pinch me! . . . . #kidlit…" " . Instagram . July 17, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2019 .
^ a b "Best nonfiction children's books of 2020" . www.amazon.com . Retrieved March 5, 2023 .
^ a b "I'm Trying to Love Rocks by Bethany Barton" . Penguin Random House . Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
^ "I'm Trying to Love Rocks - By Bethany Barton" . Kirkus Reviews (Book review). March 14, 2020. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
^ McConnel, Jen (May 1, 2020). "I'm Trying To Love Rocks by Bethany Barton" . School Library Journal (Book review). Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ Tanner, Debbie (May 1, 2023). "I'm Trying to Love Germs by Bethany Barton" . School Library Journal (Book review). Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ Hasak-Lowy, Todd (2017). 33 Minutes . New York: Aladdin Paperbacks . ISBN 9781481489959 . OCLC 983468063 .
^ "California: Los Angeles County | L.A. Writers Day 2018" . Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators . Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "Elementary School Library - Book Week 2018" . Concordia International School Shanghai . Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "Artist/Author/Illustrator Bethany Barton caught us in her web!" (Video clip of presentation). Camp Read Smore. February 12, 2016. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via YouTube .
^ "The 2nd Annual Children's & Family Nominees! – The Emmys" . theemmys.tv . November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 .
^ "Young writers honored at recognition event" . Riverside County Office of Education . May 16, 2013. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016.
^ "Bethany Barton" . IMDb . Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "Bethany Barton" . Writers House Art . September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "DopaMind" . DopaMind . Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "Board of Directors" . DopaMind . Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024 . Bethany Barton, Co-Founder & Treasurer
^ "I'm Trying to Love Germs by Bethany Barton" . Penguin Random House . Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "I'm Trying to Love Garbage by Bethany Barton" . Penguin Random House . Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "I'm Trying to Love Math by Bethany Barton" . Penguin Random House . Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton" . Penguin Random House . Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "I'm Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton" . Kirkus Reviews (Book review). March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
^ "33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowy" . Publishers Weekly (Book review). December 10, 2012. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023 .
^ Kitchel, Jennifer (June 24, 2013). "When a friendship falls apart" . BookPage (Book review). Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
^ Sutton, Roger; Grabarek, Daryl, eds. (2014). The Common Core in Grades K-3: Top Nonfiction Titles from School Library Journal and The Horn Book Magazine . Rowman & Littlefield . p. 136. ISBN 978-1-4422-4406-1 . OCLC 892699588 . OL 28551835M – via Google Books .
^ "The Picturebook Shelf" . Children's Bookwatch . 23 (7). Midwest Book Review . July 2013. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023 .
^ "This Monster Needs a Haircut by Bethany Barton" . Publishers Weekly (Book review). May 28, 2012. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023 .
^ "2017 Beehive Book Awards Winners" . Utah Beehive Book Awards . Children's Literature Association of Utah. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award - Past Winners" . Maryland Association of School Librarians . Archived from the original on February 10, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "KBA Winner's Circle - Past Winners - 2017" . Kentucky Association of School Librarians . Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "Surrey Schools' Narrative Nonfiction Book of the Year" . Surrey Schools' . Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via Google Sites . And the 2018 winner is...I'm Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton
^ "Patricia Gallagher Children's Choice Book Award - Previous Patricia Gallagher Award Nominees and Winners" . Oregon State Literacy Association . Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "2017-2018 South Carolina Book Award Nominees" (PDF) . South Carolina Association of School Libraries . Archived (PDF) from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024 .
^ "Past Nominees - 2016–2017 Nominees" . Charter Oak Children's Book Award. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via Google Sites .
^ "2017 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Nominees" (PDF) . Washington Library Association . p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024 .
^ "2017 Results and Materials" . North Carolina Children's Book Award . Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2019 .
^ "2017-2017 Show Me Award Nominees" (PDF) . Missouri Association of School Librarians . Archived (PDF) from the original on June 16, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024 .
^ "2018 Monarch Award Master List" (PDF) . Association of Illinois School Library Educators . Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024 .
^ "Garden State Children's Book Awards" . New Jersey Library Association . Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via Facebook .
^ "Beehive Book Awards 2019 Nominees" . Utah Beehive Book Awards . Children's Literature Association of Utah. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "Book Kits for the 2021 Beehive Book Awards Informational Book Nominees" (PDF) . Utah Beehive Book Awards . Children's Literature Association of Utah. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024 .
^ Barton, Bethany. "Magnolia Book Awards - 2022 Nominated Books" (PDF) . Mississippi Children's Museum . Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024 .
^ "2023 Results and Materials" . North Carolina Children's Book Award . Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
External links