038 - Betsy Bird: Where are the Funny Female Writers?

12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast · Sep 24, 2026 · 54m

Can you be a funny female picture book writer and get published?

Uber-librarian Betsy Bird and Julie Hedlund talk about the challenges of being a funny female—even in today's market.

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

Why it's difficult for women to get past the gatekeepers with funny and/or subversive picture books

What you're no longer seeing in the book deals at this time

Challenges for marginalized creators

Advice for taking risks

The difficulty with the appeal of humor

What's expected of women writing humor

Are things getting better for women?

How the literacy crisis is…