Fuse 8 n' Kate

What's that? You've never heard of this particular Dr. Seuss book? Well, you're definitely not alone. If one were to rank Seuss titles from best known to least, there is no doubt in my mind that Solla Sollew would be right there at the bottom. But is there any chance that this 1965 publication might have something to say about the baby boomer generation, Vietnam, escapism, and even stories like Pippin and Candide? This week our special guest is none other than Betsy's very own husband Matt Bird. You may be familiar with his podcast with author James Kennedy the Secrets of Story podcast OR his podcast with his brother Steve Bird the Marvel Reread Club OR from his books The Secrets of Story and The Secrets of Character. He's unafraid to make a whole slew of claims about this book, so buckle up for a mighty strange ride. For the full Show Notes: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/04/15/fuse-8-n-kate-i-had-trouble-getting-to-solla-sollew/

April is National Autism Acceptance Month, so Kate asked Betsy to bring her an appropriate book. Our usual rule is that we only consider books that are 20+ years old. The trouble is that most of the best books on the topic of the autistic spectrum were created within the last two decades. So we're cheating a bit this week and going with something produced in 2005 (a whole year too early, by our usual standards). And rather than go the direct route, we are selecting a book that has been embraced by autistic child readers as containing an autistic character, even if she was not originally conceived of in that matter. In this episode we celebrate the rare four-alphabet-combo (most picture books are lucky to get just one), discuss what kind of grocery story provides (amongst other things) opossum, and Betsy's undying love and affection for Uncle Murray. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/04/08/fuse-8-n-kate-bad-kitty-by-nick-bruel/

What makes an appropriate April Fool's post? How about a book that FOOLED its own art directors, editors, publicists, etc. by including copulation? I'd say that counts! In fact, you might say that Trina Schart Hyman was the ultimate April Fool's picture book creator! She snuck insults of book reviewers onto gravestones. She managed to get the missionary position into a Howard Pyle book. She even made her ex-girlfriend the evil queen in her version of Snow White (while she made herself one of the seven dwarfs). But going back to that case where doing the wild thing made an appearance of the margins of a table in a picture book, Betsy has been hoping to do King Stork with Kate for years. And let us say, it doesn't disappoint. It's just as weird, sexist, strange, and funny as you'd expect. Think The Twelve Dancing Princesses meet Tam Lin. For the full Show Notes, please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/04/01/fuse-8-n-kate-king-stork-by-howard-pyle-ill-trina-schart-hyman

Spring has sprungeth! Not that you'd know it looking at Illinois right now, of course, but we're getting close to sunnier days. To celebrate, we've decided to equinox the heck out of this latest podcast episode (I still say it can be a verb). Somehow we've never done this particular Caldecott Honor winner before, so we're going to right a great wrong. We talk epistolary picture books, how clean 1936 New York City alleyways were (we'd love to hear your opinions on needles), Groucho Marx, and more. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/03/25/fuse-8-n-kate-the-gardener-by-sarah-stewart-ill-david-small/

It's the Year of the Dragon and yet so far we've done precisely ZERO dragon books so far. That ends today with our first consideration of Jack Kent. The cartoonist turned picture book author/illustrator may have come to the form late in life, but he cast some indelible images in his time. Surprisingly, this turns out to be one of our more divisive books. We ask what the "Children's Book Clinic" once was, discuss songs stuck in our heads, and talk musical bread. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/03/18/fuse-8-n-kate-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-dragon-by-jack-kent/

If you want something Irish, this book fulfills that desire tenfold. Now, for those of you who listen to the Fuse 8 n' Kate podcast regularly, you'll know that Kate likes three particular things in her picture books: 1. Ireland. 2. Strong women. 3. Lotsa details in the art. With that in mind, is it surprising that she adored this? In this episode we discuss Little Shop of Horrors, the fact that single men have a hard time determining the ages of small children, and why this should really have been called Oona MacCoul and Her Baby Man. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/03/11/fuse-8-n-kate-finn-maccoul-and-his-fearless-wife-by-robert-byrd/

No stranger to controversy, we dive deep into one of Tomi Ungerer's more peculiar picture books. It's all about the consumption of children, but that's not why we get icked out by this particular title. Turns out, it has an ending grosser than anything involving the consumption of kids. Sadly, Betsy was not able to give Kate the blood and guts in a picture book that she so desperately required. In Betsy's defense, she remembered a lot more bloody knives than we see on these pages. Certainly Ungerer was happy to place blood in some of his other stories, but this particular time the violence was more implied than anything else. In this episode we discuss food, food, and more food (guess we were hungry). Show Notes: For the full show notes to this episode please go here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/03/04/fuse-8-n-kate-zeraldas-ogre-by-tomi-ungerer/

Originally released in 2003, Skippyjon Jones is a fascinating study of a picture book that was controversial prior to the rise of We Need Diverse Books. When first it came out, the book received loads of praise and awards ... and then loads of controversy. While still in print today, we identify the probable reasons why this book doesn't have a Netflix show, a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a live-action film, etc. Let's just say there may be a reason why the last book in this series came out in 2014. We discuss what may be one of the oddest Kirkus Reviews ever written, the name "Siamese cats", and why the book is trying to keep the hero "out of the closet". You can find the full Show Notes for the episode here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/02/26/fuse-8-n-kate-skippyjon-jones-by-judy-schachner/

Deep in the heart of February, it's not uncommon for folks to start yearning for warmer days and summer nights. While shivering in Illinois, Kate and Betsy dip into some early award-winning Udry and Sendak. Why did Sendak win a Caldecott Honor for this title? We deign to find out. There are ghosts and giants and a cat with a face Kate would tattoo on her arm tomorrow, if she could. There are also long discussions of how precisely these four children of approximately the same age are all related to one another. Enjoy! For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/02/19/fuse-8-n-kate-the-moon-jumpers-by-janice-may-udry-ill-maurice-sendak/

It's officially the 25th anniversary of No, David! by David Shannon and in celebration Betsy decided to do the second "David" book in the series. Having previously done No, David! before, Betsy figured that the sequel was the right way to go with today's episode. Kate, for her part, experiences a curious form of amnesia, capable of remembering the recording of Shannon's A Bad Case of Stripes, but not the first David book. In that sense she's the perfect person to read this book, unencumbered by memories of its predecessor. For the full Show Notes, please visit here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/02/12/fuse-8-n-kate-david-goes-to-school-by-david-shannon/

"There are fish literally everywhere in this book!" We meant to do an Ed Young title a little closer to his death last year, but life interfered. As a result Betsy has been sitting on this particular copy of Yeh-Shen for a couple months now (sorry, library). You can imagine Betsy's utter delight as she discovers that, like Lon-Po Po, Ed Young hid one particular animal on these pages: Fish! Betsy has way too much fun finding the fishies in these pages, and Kate dives deep into this particular telling. We misidentify Disney songs, and discuss "tattered creatures", and kings that neg. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/01/29/fuse-8-n-kate-yeh-shen-by-ai-ling-louie-ill-ed-young/

It's rare that we do a picture book from Betsy's old Top 100 Picture Books Poll from back in 2012, but today's the day, we guess. This book came in at #96 and reading it today we were surprised at how well it had aged in spite of its 1972 publication date. You probably know Bernard Waber best as the creator of Lyle, Lyle Crocodile. Today we're talking about Joe the Button Pusher, the Irish Republican Army, and where folks stand on the whole teddy bear issue. For the full show notes please find them here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/01/22/fuse-8-n-kate-ira-sleeps-over-by-bernard-waber/

We are so friggin' psyched!! It's not every day that we (A) Celebrate our 300th episode and (B) Have the very first National Ambassador of Young People's Literature JON SCIESZKA as our special guest! We asked Jon what classic picture book he wanted to celebrate, and do you know what he selected? Not one but THREE Grimm Brothers fairy tales. Not the well known ones either. Three short ones. Weird ones. Peculiar ones. Today, we read through the following: - The Straw, the Coal and the Bean - The Three Sluggards - The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage "Some of the Grimm Brothers stories you find are a little gross. These are a little... odd!" That's Jon selling today's stories. Today we talk hyacinth beans, subversive stories about the monarchy, and why Kate keeps using the phrase "Sausage McLovin" repeatedly. This may be one of our goofier episodes but it is WELL worth a listen! For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/01/15/fuse-8-n-kate-our-300th-episode-with-special-guest-star-jon-scieszka

"Ah, Kwame. He's going to get tired of winning Caldecotts one of these days." As track records go, we don't want to brag but the Fuse 8 n' Kate podcast does a particularly good job each and every year of selecting potential winners. Just look at last year's picks. Of the three books we discussed one (Hot Dog) became an Award winner and one (Knight Owl) became an Honor. This year, once more, we've selected three books for discussion. But what's this? Do Kate and Betsy disagree on the final winner? See if you can figure out why we split on our final vote in this year's discussion of Tomfoolery by Michelle Markel, illustrated by Barbara McClintock, There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey, and An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dare Coulter. You can find the full Show Notes here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/01/08/fuse-8-n-kate-2024-caldecott-contenders/

Here we are in a great glorious new year, and what are we doing? We're directing your attention backwards in time to 1998. Heck, technically we're going even farther back in time with one of our rare nonfiction considerations on this podcast. Travel to the late 19th century and meet a controversial figure. Citizen scientist or man who mucks with the scientific record? Only you can judge when you listen to our latest episode on the Caldecott Award winning title Snowflake Bentley. Today we discuss our new year's predictions for 2024, what "woodcut cheek" is in picture books (trust me, it's a thing), whether this early manipulation of photographs was an issue in authenticity, and more. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/01/01/fuse-8-n-kate-snowflake-bentley-by-jacqueline-briggs-martin-ill-mary-azarin/

Hiccups or no hiccups, the podcast must go on! Betsy and Kate strive to once again provide a holiday-related picture book. Now Barbara Cooney was much on our minds since Betsy premiered the cover of an upcoming Barbara Cooney picture book bio coming out in 2024. Today's little book is actually still in print (not always a given) and it's an interesting consideration of the effect of WWI on small town Christmas celebrations. We quote So I Married an Axe Murderer, Christmas Spite (which would be a great name for a book), what a "treat poke" might be, and discuss how often it is that women are doing ALL the work and getting none of the credit. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/12/19/fuse-8-n-kate-the-year-of-the-perfect-christmas-tree-by-gloria-houston-ill-barbara-cooney

Kate challenged Betsy to come up with a Hanukkah classic we hadn't done before and Betsy . . . turned right around and asked social media for their thoughts. And let me tell you, social media had some GOOD suggestions! So many that we're saving a long list to consult next year. The ultimate winner for today was selected because (A) You can trust author Eric A. Kimmel to present an original Hanukkah story every single time and (B) Betsy was already on a Barbara McClintock kick this year thanks to her work on Tomfoolery! Today we step back in time to 1998 when Mr. Kimmel thought it might be interesting to go all Borrowers on us and create a tale of tiny people battling great big kitty cats. Tell us we're not the only ones getting An American Tail vibes from this. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/12/11/fuse-8-n-kate-when-mindy-saved-hanukkah-by-eric-a-kimmel-ill-barbara-mcclintock/(opens in a new tab)

Do you know the mushroom man, the mushroom man, the mushroom man? Well you're about to! Here's a question for you: Is a piece of cultural entertainment a "Christmas" title if the holiday only makes a brief cameo appearance? Is the film Meet Me In St. Louis a Christmas film just because it includes the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"? Likewise, is The Mushroom Man, now being re-released by Tilbury House on this, its thirtieth anniversary, a Christmas book? Maybe yes. Maybe no. What is important is that we all discover it together. This is our very first Barry Moser book, and what a title! If you are looking for a completely charming book about two lonely souls finding one another and forming a lasting friendship, this is the book for you!! For the show notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/12/03/fuse-8-n-kate-the-mushroom-man-by-ethel-pochocki-ill-barry-moser/

Is it just us, or did someone miss a trick by not creating a new version of Stone Soup for the post-lockdown era we currently live in? Sorry, we're just thinking out loud, but after Kate and Betsy read two different versions of Stone Soup this week (one by Marcia Brown and one by Jon J. Muth) it seemed to us that this story is a lovely metaphor for growing connections and community after harrowing times. In the meantime, it was listener Heather D. who suggested that we consider Stone Soup as a potential Thanksgiving title in the first place. She was suggesting the Jon J. Muth, but Betsy's husband expressed shock and horror that we had somehow not done the Marcia Brown version first. Why choose when you can do both? Today we compare and contrast a 1947 version with a 2003 version of the same story. We discuss how war in a region might easily make folks afraid of strangers, how soldiers attack their problem vs. monks, whether or not this is a technical trickster tale, and how that person who just gave salt got away with murder. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/11/19/fuse-8-n-kate-stone-soup-by-marcia-brown-and-jon-j-muth/

For the very first time in the history of this podcast, we have taken a request... from a publisher. That's right! You know as well as we do that there are reprinted picture books coming out all the time. Well, New York Review of Books sort of specializes in that industry. Their Children's Collection division has a tendency to find old and shockingly beautiful titles worth bringing back to life. And this year, in 2023, they decided to do a book that is so lovely, so strange, and so original that when they asked if we might be interested in ever featuring one of their books, we accepted. And so, it may not be the most famous book we've ever done on the show, but we suspect that it may remain one of the most memorable. There are very few interior designer picture books, so we get into the weeds. And the most important thing of all? After you finish reading this you are fully convinced that the illustrator had fun with this book. We sure as heck did. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/11/13/fuse-8-n-kate-need-a-house-call-ms-mouse-by-george-mendoza-ill-doris-susan-smith

"There's no possible way to describe what you feel, when you're talking to your meal." - Into the Woods I've been waiting far far too long to do today's book. It was introduced to Betsy in graduate school, back in 2003, as an ideal storytime title. Today we consider Keiko Kasza's best known book and discuss what the Kool-Aid Man says, whether or not the pig is a classic trickster character, and if it truly is "a cute book about a pig with an adrenaline addiction and an out-of-shape fox." Bonus: Betsy only makes a single reference to the song "What Did the Fox Say", for which she should earn some kind of an award. Show Notes: For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/11/06/fuse-8-n-kate-my-lucky-day-by-keiko-kasza/

Happy Halloween! It's a day of celebration in more than one way. After all, starting today we FINALLY are able to start doing some Yuyi Morales books on our podcast! It's been 20 years since this little number came out and we figured what could be a better title to cap off our 2023 Halloween season than with Ms. Morales's first title? It's still in print but how does it stand up after all these years? Tricking death/the devil is a Halloween classic in folktales, so we found it particularly apropos for the day in question. We debate whether or not Senor Calavera is supposed to be death himself or not and talk about how different this book might be if it were published for the first time today. Maybe not our spookiest picture book of the season, but certainly one of the sweetest. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/10/31/fuse-8-n-kate-just-a-minute-by-yuyi-morales/

Let the record show that Betsy read through a slew of different Halloween-centric picture book titles before she alighted upon one that was appropriate for the season. Who knew that Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola would be the answer to her prayers? Today we consider a book about, at its core, the difficulty of growing more than a single pumpkin in your pumpkin patch. Kate and Betsy, failed pumpkin farmers both, can relate. In today's podcast episode they talk Jawas, rain barrels, hairless leprechauns, and more. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/10/23/fuse-8-n-kate-the-vanishing-pumpkin-by-tony-johnson-ill-tomie-depaola/

Remember when Betsy said to Kate that she wanted to do a certain book for Mother's Day but would settle on doing it for the Halloween season instead? What book could possibly encompass those two holidays? Behold! The rare Mother's Day/Halloween crossover hit! Brought to you by the illustrator best known for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (though he'll always be the winner of the Longest Caldecott Award Speech to us), this is a marvelous combination of love for your mama and downright scares. What could be better? Today we discuss the man who typified the "controlled Jackson Pollock" look. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/10/16/fuse-8-n-kate-monster-mama-by-liz-rosenberg-ill-stephen-gammell/

In spite of the fact that Ed Young recently passed away and, traditionally, when a master of the picture book form passes away, we do one of their books on the show, we decided to keep him on the backburner while we do our first Halloween picture book of the season. And we are VERY excited about this because today's book came out in 2003, which means we can finally do it on this podcast (we have a 20 year rule on books we consider). It wasn't Krosoczka's first picture book but it certainly was early. With its glow-in-the-dark letters on the cover and funny birthday/Halloween premise, we submit to you today Annie Was Warned. It's out-of-print but NOT in our hearts, and we would contest that we should bring it back. Find the complete show notes for this episode here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/10/09/fuse-8-n-kate-annie-was-warned-by-jarrett-j-krosoczka/

Having recently read the new book Ready, Set, Run! The Amazing New York City Marathon by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Jessie Hartland, Betsy was reminded of the old chestnut The Philharmonic Gets Dressed. Then, suddenly, it occurred to her that she and Kate had never ever done this particular book on our podcast. It also appears to be this podcast's first Karla Kuskin and first Marc Simont on the show. Show Notes: For the full show notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/10/02/fuse-8-n-kate-the-philharmonic-gets-dressed-by-karla-kuskin-ill-marc-simont/

It seemed only fitting that since last week's podcast episode dealt so directly with the beginnings of life, why not focus on the end this time around? I'll tell you this much, though. If you'd informed Betsy, prior to this recording, that a 1971 picture book would be one of the best books she ever encountered on death, she would not have believed you. But she probably should have realized something was up when I saw that The Tenth Good Thing About Barney was by Judith Viorst. Today we deep dive into how good a name "Barney" is for a cat, whether the mom is trying to subtly regift her yellow scarf as a dead cat wrap, and whether this family's sodium intake is too high. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/09/18/fuse-8-n-kate-the-tenth-good-thing-about-barney-by-judith-viorst-ill-erik-blegvad/

"Three dudes telling you how babies are made in 1968." The Fuse 8 n' Kate podcast focuses primarily on picture books of the past, but that focus means that we are subject to the past's limitations. Consequently, most of the books we've considered until now have been works of fiction. Well no more! Today we tackle one of our first nonfiction titles, this one dating back to 1968 and, we have no doubt, still circulating in libraries to this day. Yes, it's a book on human reproduction. So how did the denizens of the late 60s handle such a delicate topic for children? With cut paper, of course! We give credit where credit is due and shame where shame is most definitely due in this consideration of one of the more peculiar sex-ed picture books of the past. Buckle up! It's gonna be a bumpy ride. And if you didn't want to hear about paper cut dog penises today, then this may be the episode to skip. For the full episode please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/09/11/fuse-8-n-kate-how-babies-are-made-by-andrew-c-andry-and-steven-schepp-ill-blake-hampton/

Featured today was DRUMMER HOFF. An odd mix of 1960s psychedelia meets Colonial woodcuts, in 1968 it was the ultimate Vietnam War bit of picture book commentary. NOT that the Emberley ever embraced that interpretation, but I am DANG sure the librarians had that in their minds when they selected it for a Caldecott Award. In today's talk we discuss our various interpretations of this book as well as what its ultimate contribution was to children's literature as a whole. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/09/04/fuse-8-n-kate-drummer-hoff-by-barbara-emberley-ill-ed-emberley

Betsy's a child of the Generation X movement and, as such, at some point in her early education, the song "Gonna Die With a Hammer in My Hand", adapted by the folksingers of the 60s, was something she was well and truly familiar with. That said, at no point in her childhood did she ever encounter a single picture book retelling of the legend of John Henry. And though he's one of the great American Tall Tale characters, Kate hadn't even heard of him! This will not stand. So in response to the recent Bookriot piece The 20 Most Influential Picture Books of All Time, we're tackling one of their inclusions. Now we've done many Jerry Pinkney books on our podcast already. We've done Mirandy and Brother Wind, Little Red Riding Hood, and the previous Pinkney/Lester collaboration Sam and the Tigers. Now we're tackling our first tall tale by the duo, and the one that earned at least a Caldecott Honor (though it was beaten by Smoky Night, which has NOT aged particularly well, we must say). For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/08/28/fuse-8-n-kate-john-henry-by-julius-lester-ill-jerry-pinkney/

Considering the fact that the movie of Lyle the Crocodile came out practically a year ago in October of 2022, it may seem a little late to be returning to this particular member of the family Crocodylidae, but what care we? This Lyle title was originally released in 1969. Remember that date. It puts the contents inside in a little bit of context. Today, Kate and Betsy discuss whether or not this lesser known Lyle title falls into the category of "forgotten gem" or "justly unmemorable bit o' fluff". We enjoy Kate's theory that Lyle's enemy in this book should by all rights be The Man in the Yellow Hat and we talk armless nuns, "piles of water," and the fact that the true moral of this story appears halfway through the book. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/08/14/review-of-the-day-lovable-lyle-by-bernard-waber/

Today's discussion centers around whether our featured book bears more of a resemblance to Eloise or Last Stop on Market Street (and not in a good way). By the end of the talk you will come to the conclusion that this may, in fact, be both the most capitalistic and least capitalistic book of all time. Special Bonus: The cruelest Kirkus review we've read aloud on any of our podcast episodes. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/08/09/fuse-8-n-kate-the-table-where-rich-people-sit-by-byrd-baylor-ill-peter-parnall/

When we're not talking about the unrealistic L.A. highway driving times in the Barbie Movie, we're discussing our favorite picture books and whether or not they're classics. I admit that we have done Helen Oxenbury on the podcast relatively recently, but due to its stature in the children's literature world, I felt that his was an egregious gap in our knowledge until now. Think of Farmer Duck as a variation on Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, but with a more revolutionary and less unionization tone. Power to the people (if the "people", in this case, are livestock). Come enjoy the happiest version of Animal Farm to date (now 100% pig free!). For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/07/31/fuse-8-n-kate-farmer-duck-by-martin-waddell-ill-helen-oxenbury/

Believe it or not, Syd Hoff's been in the news quite a lot lately. Not bad for a pronounced children's literature 1930s Communist, eh? You could be forgiven for not knowing a lot about Syd Hoff. Honestly, we'd managed to skate through a significant portion of my life remaining unaware of him apart from the fact that there was some racist stuff at the beginning of the original editions of Danny and the Dinosaur. Now that book series is being turned into a movie series and a book of his early Communist comics (which are, frankly, hilarious) are being reprinted with a new edition of The Ruling Clawss. Seemed to us like a perfectly opportune time to visit the dino in question. Show Notes: For the full show notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/07/24/fuse-8-n-kate-danny-and-the-dinosaur-by-syd-hoff/

Recently Betsy created a post of picture books that belie the idea that all picture book "classics" are by white people. Amongst these were books with Jewish content. But when you sit down and look at those titles you notice that most of these are Hanukkah-related titles. So at the suggestion of Lisa Brown we're doing the very last William Steig picture book that was ever published. This book was released in spring of 2003 and he died in the fall of 2003. Not too shabby. The man was a genius but how does this very last book hold up? We discuss it at length. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/07/17/fuse-8-n-kate-when-everybody-wore-a-hat-by-william-steig

Have you ever wanted to listen to an episode of our podcast but thought to yourself, "This is good, but what would it sound like with more background noise?" At last! Now you have your answer! At the most recent American Library Association Annual Conference in beautiful downtown Chicago, Illinois we bring to you the first LIVE recording of Fuse 8 n' Kate! And what book could be deemed worthy enough of this recording? That would have to be Hippos Go Beserk! by Sandra Boynton, published in 1977. The first of Ms. Boynton's books, the title has since been republished (and re-illustrated) in 2022. Today, we consider the original (Sandra Boynton's first book for children) and its updated edition to determine whether or not it deserves "classic" status or not. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/07/10/fuse-8-n-kate-hippos-go-beserk-by-sandra-boynton-live-from-ala/

We had the honor of recording a guest post earlier in the week with none than the irascible, charming Jerrold Connors! Jerrold is the creator of the massively creative Donut Project which contains hilarity and collage-created donuts. Jerrold is also the creator of what I would call the most interesting picture book biography of James Marshall I've ever seen. But, of course, Jerrold is a longstanding fan of our podcast, so he knew pretty well what kind of recommend. What ensues is an in-depth discussion of elements of a title that have, and notably have not, aged well. Show Notes: For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/06/26/fuse-8-n-kate-weslandia-by-paul-fleischman-ill-kevin-hawkes-with-guest-host-jerrold-connors/

NOT our first Mercer Mayer! Previously we did his book There's a Nightmare in My Closet but it's hardly the man's most famous book/series. Meet Little Critter! At last, he makes his debut on our podcast! The two books we're discussing today originally came out in 1975 and 1983 and then went on to spawn the series we know so well. So once again we have to ask: How come they're moderately well known but not household name known? Interested in how we made these podcasts, by the way? Well, I would like to note that our podcast will be recording at 2:30 CST on Saturday, June 24th in the School Library Journal booth on the ALA Conference floor. If you'd like to hear us do a show, stop by and see us! Show Notes: For the full show notes, please visit us at: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/06/19/fuse-8-n-kate-just-for-you-i-was-so-mad-by-mercer-mayer/

Here on the podcast we are constantly in search of those children's books that represent a variety of backgrounds and identities that have not been sufficiently praised in the past. Today we're dipping into the BBC's list of 100 Greatest Children's Books of All Time and as a result we're doing our first Helen Oxenbury title. Bonus: It's also our first Trish Cooke! This book works as a magnificent readloud as well as a lapsit book. And, as Kate so often requires, the art is packed full with tiny details you might otherwise miss. Woot! Show Notes: For the full Show Notes please visit: fuse-8-n-kate-so-much-by-trish-cooke-ill-helen-oxenbury

In today's podcast Kate expertly cut out the earlier part of the show where I presented a book to her only to find that we'd done it already. 20 minutes later I was back, and the book I had in hand was today's title, Anatole by Eve Titus, illustrated by Paul Galdone. This is our first Titus and our second Galdone (we did The Tailypo for Halloween one year). We talk about why Anatole never reached the same heights of fame as such series as Madeline or Eloise, why this is the less famous of Eve Titus's fictional rodents, and this book's connections to Ratatouille. This is a Post WWII-France where if you want to feed your family you have to create your own job in the marketplace. Some of us can relate. Show Notes:Here's the BBC's 100 Greatest Children's Books of All Time. The very very white list. Many a fine book is on here BUT . . . whaaa? https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230522-the-100-greatest-childrens-books-of-all-time In case you doubt me, there was indeed an Anatole TV series. And its animation was . . . abysmal: https://youtu.be/VTZWuAhUp4g For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/06/05/fuse-8-n-kate-anatole-by-eve-titus-ill-paul-gadone/

Could there be any connection between "Harvey" Potter and "Harry" Potter? No! This delightful picture book was released in 1994, long before the world appearance of the boy wizard. You know how we're always talking about finding classic children's books of the past written by Black creators that exemplify Black Joy? I submit the following for serious consideration. Strange hardly covers it. This book was a marvelous example of the strange and unusual placed in a dull setting. And how about that ending? Here we have a story about someone in middle America going against the norm, facing censors, and coming out triumphant. Sounds like a book we might very much need today. Show Notes: Want to connect to Jerdine Nolen on social media? Find her on Twitter at @jerdinenolen1. Betsy Recommends: The Instagram account @ksrhoads Kate Recommends: The documentary Still, streaming on AppleTV+ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/05/22/fuse-8-n-kate-harvey-potters-balloon-farm-by-jerdine-nolen-ill-mark-buehner

You know what the problem is with Mother's Day picture books? Not enough of them are truly horrifying and scary, that's what. So we must credit listeners Lindsey Foat & Sara Hudson for coming up with today's suggestion. Certainly, Audrey and Don Wood have been on this podcast before. We recall having done King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, The Napping House and even The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear in the past. Now we tackle that universal problem of what to do when your child has been turned into camembert. In short, we talk about the ultimate mama bear story. Let's just say that this book passes the Bechdel-Wallace Test with flying colors and we really hope that someday there will be a Heckedy Peg 2: The Heckoning. Show Notes: Good old Reading Rockets was good enough to find Don and Audrey Wood and interview them about the creation of many of their books, including this one. You may see their talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaWoJ8S18DA&t=2s&pp=ygUYbWVldCBhdWRyZXkgYW5kIGRvbiB3b29k Betsy Recommends: Mrs. Davis, now streaming on Peacock: https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/mrs-davis Kate Recommends: Queen Charlotte, now streaming on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81476183">Queen Charlotte For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/05/15/fuse-8-n-kate-heckedy-peg-by-audrey-wood-ill-don-wood

Hat tip to Nick Bruel (our other other brother from another nother mother) for today's suggestion. He asked if we'd done any Ezra Jack Keats before and we said, "Sure! We did The Snow Day". Then he asked if we'd done Apt. 3 and we had NOT! Plus, Betsy had recently highlighted on her blog the new Keats bio for adults, Becoming Ezra Jack Keats, so this seemed particularly apropos. In this episode we discuss how this book is like Only Murders in the Building, how, from a color-perspective, this book is quite muted, compared to previous titles by Keats like Whistle for Willie, and why you should never follow someone when they ask, "What's the matter - scared?". Show Notes: And here, we are so pleased to show you, is the original 1971 Kirkus review of Apt. 3. It is, as is often the case with this publication, delightful: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ezra-jack-keats/apt-3/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/05/08/fuse-8-n-kate-apt-3-by-ezra-jack-keats/(opens in a new tab)

Kate sez: I want to do a spring book. Betsy sez: Here's a dead bird! With editions created both in 1958 and in 2016, Betsy was lucky to find BOTH editions in her library system. This episode marks our third Margaret Wise Brown book (after Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny), our second Remy Charlip (after Fortunately), and our very first Christian Robinson. Notable for the line, "Have you considered that the bird might smell really really good?" There's not a lot of information to be gleaned from Christian Robinson's version of this tale, but we were able to track down this interview he conducted with Secret Society of Books and it does offer a window into his thought process on this project: https://www.secretsocietyofbooks.com/interview-christian-robinson/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/05/01/fuse-8-n-kate-the-dead-bird-by-margaret-wise-brown-illustrated-by-remy-charlip-and-christian-robinson/(opens in a new tab)

What happens when a designer decides to make picture books? What happens when she goes and gets creative with the illustrations? While remembered for many things, I'd say that this 1983 release is without a doubt the best known of creator Ann Jonas. You may remember it yourself. It's the picture book where you read it one way and then turn it upside down and read it the other. It feels like a dare, and comes off as the number one book Betsy had to produce when she worked as a children's librarian. Countless adults would come up to her saying, "There was this book when I was a kid and it was black and white . . ." They literally didn't have to say anything else after that. We have no doubt that this book blew little minds. It may not be the most plot forward of the picture books out there, but who the HECK cares? Show Notes: We mention a couple books in the course of this podcast. If you like this one, please check out Robo-Sauce by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri or the works of Bruno Munari. Betsy Recommends: The If Books Could Kill podcast Kate Recommends: The morathanenough Instagram account For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/04/24/fuse-8-n-kate-round-trip-by-ann-jonas/

Here at the Fuse 8 n' Kate Podcast, we have a rule. It's a simple one, established since the start of the broadcast. Essentially, we don't like to consider books published until they've been on the market for 20 years or more. It's not exactly a hard and fast rule (we've broken it more than a few times) but it serves as a strong guideline. Today, however, we got mad. Specifically, we got mad at Ron DeSantis and all the horrendous book banners out there who seek to rid the world of books featuring LGBTQIA+ families and children. How best to stick it to the Ron? Why not feature an author that he himself has personally singled out? Today, Betsy decided to pull out a book with a mega-recent publication date: 2019. We do it because not only is the book important, we consider it to be the first truly great trans picture book for kids that will reverberate for the ages. We're talking about this beautiful baby book and all that it entails in this episode of the podcast. Check it out. Show Notes: Here's the video Betsy made for Tiktok that features the earrings she gave to Kate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxPPf64yCs&t=3s Full disclosure, Betsy actually interviewed Kyle about this book back in 2019 before the book even published. She particularly loves this part: "... when I wrote that first page of AIDAN, I hit on three points: his name, his room, and his clothes. And those three points, in that order–name, room, clothes–show up consistently as Aidan is transitioning. Then when the baby enters the picture, the three points invert, and we learn about the baby’s clothes, room, and name, and then Aidan’s anxieties revolve around the clothes, room, and name, keeping that order intact. It’s something that readers might not notice consciously unless they’re looking for it, but is crucial for making the story feel like a picture book instead of a truncated short story." Here is a link to Kyle's 2022 Stonewall speech. It's one of our favorites: http://www.kylelukoff.com/blog-1/2022/6/29/my-stonewall-award-speech-june-27th-2022 For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/04/17/fuse-8-n-kate-when-aidan-became-a-brother-by-kyle-lukoff-ill-kaylani-juanita/

In what may be the most quintessentially "New York" picture book we've done to date (with hints of Where the Wild Things Are in the margins) we confront a 1979 Caldecott Award winner and tackle Betsy's childhood memories of it along the way. Today we discuss a variation on the previously reported upon picture book It Could Always Be Worse, but with an addition of tropical birds, floating islands, and John Tenniel references. Show Notes: For the full Show Notes please visit - https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/04/10/fuse-8-n-kate-by-arthur-yorinks-ill-richard-egielski/

Roy G. Biv, eat your heart out. We're taking a deep dive into a listener suggestion with a trippy dippy 1978 German import from an Italian creator who retired to France! Today we're talking Optimus Prime, The Never Ending Story, rock album covers, and carnivorous flowers/rainbows. If you're into long, languorous moments in picture books where people drown, have I got a book for you!! A pourquoi story done in an utterly original fashion. Show Notes: If you'd like to see even more art from this book you can do so here: https://areaofdesign.com/ul-de-rico/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/04/03/fuse-8-n-kate-the-rainbow-goblins-by-ul-de-rico/(opens in a new tab)

The art of picture books based on animated properties has a long and storied history within the oeuvre of children's literature. We've eschewed doing much in the way of Seuss lately, but due to the fact that we've been doing multiple books where child or child-like characters are approached by members of the medical association, we felt we'd cap everything off with this tale of a boy doing his own thing in the early 50s. That's BOUND to go over well! Along the way we talk about picture books in which kids don't adhere to the norm and are therefore considered ill in some way (Imogene's Antlers comes to mind), as well as teachers that call 2-year-olds in first grade classes "hopeless", packing kids full of pills, and why Gerald needs to keep an eye on his own paychecks. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/03/27/fuse-8-n-kate-gerald-mcboing-boing-by-dr-seuss/

To our amazement we have somehow never done this particular David Shannon book before. Tis possible? Tis! It is, as Kate says, "The trippiest book," which is part of why Betsy respects it. Betsy freaks out over the fact that this came out the same year as No, David (how often does an author/illustrator have two classic books come out in the same year?). Meanwhile Kate freaks out over the creepy guys lurking on this poor girl's lawn. But the important thing? We debate whether or not you can buy lima beans in cans anymore. Your votes on the matter are much needed. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/03/20/fuse-8-n-kate-a-bad-case-of-stripes-by-david-shannon/

This month we'll see the publication of Lisa Brown's wonderful picture book The Hospital Book, which may be the best going-to-the-hospital title for kids out there. Because usually, you have to admit, when people walk into your children's library in search of picture books about going to the hospital, what they get is a title from 1966. We've already covered the problematic George in Curious George and Curious George Takes a Job. This is the seventh and last book that was created by George's original creators. Today we're talking barium, sad little Betsys, and why this book is going to give you flashbacks to the beginning of the movie Nope. Having fun at the hospital without sniffing ether. What a notion! Show Notes: Go here to read an interview with Lisa Brown about The Hospital Book: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/07/20/the-hospital-book-by-lisa-brown-a-cover-reveal-and-interview/ We are referring at the end to this video, by the way. The greatest St. Patrick's Day video of all time: https://youtu.be/OCbuRA_D3KU We mark the passing of Amy Schwartz. Recently we did her Bea and Mr. Jones, a book that stands the test of time. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/03/06/fuse-8-n-kate-curious-george-goes-to-the-hospital-by-margaret--h-a-rey

Since the entire premise of this podcast with Betsy and Kate is to take well-known books and determine whether or not they continue to deserve their "classic" status, it probably behooves them to do a couple books everyone has actually heard of. And since the last book they did was, at best, obscure and, at worst, completely forgotten, they figured today that they should go all in and do something out-and-out famous. To their surprise, they've never tackled a Jan Brett book before. That said, they did have to admit that it's possible that Kate and Betsy are not the world's most impartial critics. You see, their mother instilled in them an appreciation for fiber arts. and can you think of a single illustrator who has ever depicted the knitted stitch better than Ms. Brett? Today, they consider the woman's best-known book and how it has held up over all this time as well as the timeliness of doing a Ukrainian folktale in this day and age. Show Notes: In the course of Betsy's research for this podcast she read a fair number of interviews with Jan Brett about her work on The Mitten. Her favorite? This one with TeachingBooks.net. In it, Jan really leans into the research she did for the title, as well as the Ukrainian ex-patriots who suggested, "I make Nicki's clothes too big for him because his family would have made them by hand and passed them down from father or older brother. He'd wear a belt to make his jacket fit closer around his tummy. The boots, too, might be a little big. He might stuff some newspaper in them or wear an extra pair of socks to make them fit." In that light, this book actually makes so much more sense: https://www.teachingbooks.net/interview.cgi?id=88&a=1 For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/02/20/fuse-8-n-kate-the-mitten-by-jan-brett/(opens in a new tab)

Librarians, if you're anything like Betsy, then, when the time is right, every year you trot out the same dang Valentine's Day books that are in the Holiday section of your library. All the newer books go out first, leaving behind the stuff that came out in, oh say, 1999. This is the rare example of a book that Betsy didn't know bupkiss about. She didn't know anything about the creators or the title itself, so we're just jumping in because a quick read yielded strange thoughts. In today's discussion we talk about eggnog, hamsters, the quality of the education these critters are receiving, and what this book gets right. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/02/13/fuse-8-n-kate-a-valentine-for-norman-noggs-by-valiska-gregory-ill-marsha-winborn/

In our current era, it is worth considering the legacy of folks like Verna Aardema. Kate and Betsy are no children's literature academics, but they decide as laymen to take into account Aardema's history and how it does or does not stand out after all these years. Having already done Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by this same trio (Aardema, Dillon, & Dillon) they return to their works with this 1977 take on a classic Masai tale. Considering its year and the appropriation by a white creator of a specific story, they have a lot of complicated feelings about the book. Even so, there's such creativity behind the presentation of the material. The play-within-a-play motif sets this apart. The art is extraordinary. And was there every such a goofy frog? For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/02/06/fuse-8-n-kate-whos-in-rabbits-house-by-verna-aardema-ill-leo-and-diane-dillon/

Considering the fact that (A) Groundhog Day is this week and yet (B) we have never done a Groundhog Day episode, that gave us the impetus to tackle a groundhogian classic. But which one? With all the choices we decided to pluck out this title by the guy who brought us Harold and the Purple Crayon. Like that book it indulges in a limited color palette and Johnson's characteristic drawing style. As such, prepare for long discussions on precisely what the Groundhog Day rule actually means, larger talks on the role of reality versus positivity in the real world, what makes a good holiday picture book, and why the moral of this story is, "Eat more bacon." Show Notes: Briefly alluded to in the episode, Philip Nel is our resident American scholar and specialist on all things Crockett Johnson. Check him out at his website here: https://philnel.com/ In the course of my research I became fascinated by the 100 mathematical paintings inspired by geometrical principles and mathematical equations by Crockett Johnson. You can see a bunch of them here: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/mathematical-paintings-of-crockett-johnson Do groundhogs hop? Dunno. But they're pretty cute running: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94YGSnCUszs For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/01/30/fuse-8-n-kate-will-spring-be-early-or-will-spring-be-late-by-crockett-johnson/

Hat tip to author/artist Jerrold Connors for realizing, long before we did, that Arnie the Doughnut would hit its 20th anniversary here in 2023. At last we can tackle the story of a sentient pastry and his longing for meaning in a cold, hungry world. Since its initial publication, the book has managed to create sequels, a musical, graphic novel/early chapter books, and more. But will it stand up to Kate's scrutiny? Betsy rants about New York City doughnuts and why they suck, how Arnie both thinks too much and not enough, and roads made of Oklahoma maps. Show Notes: I failed to mention it on the show, but Arnie the Doughnut actually appeared as #90 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll I conducted back in 2012: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2012/05/18/top-100-picture-books-90-arnie-the-doughnut-by-laurie-keller/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/01/23/fuse-8-n-kate-arnie-the-doughnut-by-laurie-keller/

It's that time of the year again! A week from today we'll see what books have officially won Caldecotts, Newberys, and other sundry awards at the ALA YMA announcements (visible here). Betsy will also be doing a Pre-Game announcement of all kinds of possible wins. But before that, we've an annual tradition here at Fuse 8 n' Kate where Betsy presents Kate three potential winners and she considers which ones have the best chance. This year Kate feels that there is one clear cut winner . . . and a book that can only be called a complete and utter loser in comparison. Which is which? You're just going to have to listen for yourself to see. Show Notes: The Randolph Caldecott music video, music by the Effin' G's, is still out there. And here, one and all, is the video today, after a good 13 year hiatus. Starring . . . both Kate AND Betsy as well as a slew of famous names. If you'd like to see Yuyi Morales, Christopher Myers, Matthew Holm, Sean Qualls, Peter Brown, Marla Frazee, John Rocco, and so many more from over a decade ago . . . you're gonna enjoy this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMIjWQQavcY Here is the post that I wrote that was inspired by a listener's comments about coconut meat and milk: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/01/12/the-top-ten-most-disappointing-edibles-and-potables-of-childrens-literature/ Kate's "Meh" Recommendation: The Harry Potter Magic at Play - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjJ-Me9ksv8AhUlkmoFHcxCC-UQFnoECA4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fharrypottermagicatplay.com%2Fchicago%2F&usg=AOvVaw0JKKT3QmUK4HxbiUejm7w5 Betsy's "Meh" Recommendation: White Noise - https://www.netflix.com/title/81317320 For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/01/16/fuse-8-n-kate-2023-caldecott-contenders/(opens in a new tab)

KPOM! It was a storytime staple for Betsy back when she was a children's librarian. But how has this 1988 picture book stood up over the intervening years? Today it's time to accompany our previous spider-filled picture book The Spider and the Fly with another eight-legged potential classic. We've done one other Eric A. Kimmel book on the podcast before (remember Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins?). In spite of the sheer number of times I've read this book, Kate finds PLENTY of details in Janet Stevens's art that I missed entirely over the years. We talk spiky hippo elbows, the empowerment of clever female animals, cultural appropriation, Neil Gaiman, and more. Show Notes: Please, if you get a chance, please check out the 100 Scope Notes piece Enter the World of Incredibly Specific Children's Literature Accounts. It's one of the best things we've seen in a long time: https://100scopenotes.com/2023/01/05/enter-the-world-of-incredibly-specific-childrens-literature-instagram-accounts/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/01/09/fuse-8-n-kate-anansi-and-the-moss-covered-rick-retold-by-eric-a-kimmel-ill-janet-stevens/

While we acknowledge that the year 2023 has arrived, we could resist considering one last 2002 title. As you know, we've a cap on considering any book younger than 20 years old, and as of 2022 this Wilson/Chapman collab fit the bill. It's cold outside and a story of FOMO and snuggly bear caves seemed to fit the bill. We consider the book that launched a thousand other Bear books. Anyone who can rhyme "lair" with "bear" has earned our trust. Show Notes: If you'd like to read the interview with Karma Wilson that I reference, take a trip over to Read. Learn. Repeat: https://readlearnrepeat.blog/2018/04/22/interview-with-author-karma-wilson/ For the full Show Notes be sure to visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2023/01/03/fuse-8-n-kate-bear-snores-on-by-karma-wilson-ill-jane-chapman/

We may already be past Christmas technically, but what a day or two delay? Thanks to the recent winter storms we got a tad delayed in releasing this episode, but better late than never. Today we return, once again, to the world of Tasha Tudor. Last time we considered one of her books we were examining her A Time to Keep (a favorite of Betsy's, Kate ... not so much). There are many different iterations of Clement C. Moore's classic poem, but how many take the man at his word and decide to depict Santa as a tiny, pointy eared elf? Just one that we know of, and that's today's book. So take a trip down memory lane together and look at a version of Santa we'll ne'er see the like of again. Show Notes: For the full show notes please visit https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/12/27/fuse-8-n-kate-the-night-before-christmas-illustrated-by-tasha-tudor/

Betsy actually went out and purchased a copy of today's book a year ago and has been holding onto it just for this time of year. Granted, it's not Hanukkah for a couple weeks now, but our schedule is a little sporadic this month so no time like the present! This week we consider what, in some ways, might be the flipside of another Hanukkah book we did a number of years ago, The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming. Screaming or laughing, the real question here is this: Do you put applesauce or sour cream on your latkes? We tackle this very deep, very serious debate firsthand. Just wanted to let you know what you're getting into with this episode. Show Notes: For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/12/12/fuse-8-n-kate-laughing-latkes-by-m-b-goffstein/

It's not every podcast episode where Kate is capable of turning me around, 360 degrees, on a title that I thought I had an opinion on. On paper a book by the guys that brought us Viola Swamp and that uses the term "Stupid" to great effect should be one of my favorite titles. What I didn't understand was that in spite of appearing on ALA's Banned List for a long time, it actually has a great number of problems. It's possible it really hasn't aged well... and not in the ways you might expect. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/12/05/fuse-8-n-kate-the-stupids-step-out-by-harry-allard-ill-james-marshall/

It's our 250th Episode!! You know, when we first started this podcast we didn't really have a plan in terms of how long it might go. Nor did I lay out a carefully considered explanation from the start of which books we would do, and in what order. All we had was the premise, a catchy theme song, and an unending supply of titles to choose from. Case In Point: We have never done a Richard Scarry book before. Can you believe it? It's true though. You see Richard Scarry's best known books are (how shall I put this) incredibly long. We're talking, Moby Dick-long equivalent tomes. But 250 is a special number so we're dedicating it to a very special guy. Come for the turkey. Stay for the odd changes made between different editions of this book. Show Notes: For full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/11/21/fuse-8-n-kate-our-250th-episode-richard-scarrys-best-word-book-ever/

If you looked at the title of this week's podcast book and thought to yourself, "I've never even heard of that one before" then you may know what time it is . . . IT'S CULT CLASSIC TIME! With periodic regularity Kate and Betsy will discuss on Fuse 8 n' Kate those picture books that are, as they like to call them, "cult classics". That means that they are popular with some segment of the audience, if not the entire world. Today that "segment of the audience is" [checks notes] Germany. Yup. Germany once again. We've already talked about illustrator Wolf Erlbruch in our episode on Death, Duck and the Tulip. Germans aren't afraid to tackle death in picture books. Nor are they afraid of excrement. This book is ample proof of that (though it's the English that are the true fans). Bonus: By the end, we discover the International Rule of Anuses in Picture Books. It's the line the Europeans will not cross! Listen to find out why! Show Notes: And now, two videos that may be of particular note in this case. First, a bit of animation of the book: https://youtu.be/oG0KzxVoTI8 Second, a bit of what can happen when schools get creative: https://youtu.be/6gOwDmpxvnU For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/11/14/fuse-8-n-kate-the-story-of-the-little-mole-who-went-in-search-of-whodunit-by-werner-holzwarth-ill-wolf-erlbruch/

We heard the call and we have responded! It was noted by more than one reader that we've done very few nonfiction picture books on our podcast. We did do So You Want to Be President earlier this year back in February but that was pretty much it. So today, we consider a book produced back in 2001. We know that the standards to which we hold nonfiction picture books has changed in the intervening 21 years. So how does this particular title stand up today? Spoiler Alert: Surprisingly well! Betsy told the story of the goose puppet and Brian Selznick on her blog here back in 2011: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2011/05/18/saracen-selznick-and-the-goose-that-almost-wasnt/ And you can find information on the upcoming celebration at The Rabbit Hole in Kansas City on November 18th here: https://www.rabbitholekc.org/thisisnotarabbit For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/11/07/fuse-8-n-kate-the-dinosaurs-of-waterhouse-hawkins-by-barbara-kerley-ill-brian-selznick/

Happy Halloween! It's the last day of October and that means a final spooky scary picture book is up for discussion. Hat tip to Stephanie Lucianovic for suggesting today's title. Kate and Betsy learn that apparently Judith Viorst is a big time fan of extra long titles (something that was hinted at when she created Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day). In today's book they see some seriously fashion forward footwear and hats, the true horror of cream cheese sandwiches, and why this book should actually be called MY MOM IS GASLIGHTING ME. Show Notes: Kate Recommends: Halloween Deviled Eggs, seen here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci-81rHAUXT/ Betsy Recommends: Everything Everywhere All At Once which, in turn, has inspired her favorite Halloween costume of the year: Raccacoonie (note the bagel with everything purse): https://twitter.com/GeneHa/status/1566871379923943425 For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/10/31/review-of-the-day-may-mama-says-there-arent-any-zombies-ghost-vampires-creatures-demons-monsters-fiends-goblins-or-things-by-judith-viorst-ill-kay-chorao/

"It's like Candyman if instead of saying his name three times you just called into existence each of his bodyparts." Man. Insult upon injury, today's book. Does the reader really have to call Big Green Monster's hair "scraggly"? That's just wrong, dude. Today Betsy introduces Kate to her very first Ed Emberley book. Sure, it's not terribly Halloween-ish, but it's not NOT Halloweenish, amiright? They consider the ways in which Emberley both invokes a scary monster without making it too scary along the way. So he'll follow up sharp white teeth with "little squiggly ears". It's a fascinating duality. They also talk paper texture, hair shaming, and why the cartilage in monsters tends to be a different color than skin. Show Notes: Here's the Grinch horror movie Kate references. And we didn't even DISCUSS the upcoming horror film Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. See what happens when books enter the public domain? https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a41597592/the-grinch-horror-movie-first-look/ For the full Show Notes, please visit https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/10/24/fuse-8-n-kate-go-away-big-green-monster-by-ed-emberley/

As Halloween draws closer and closer, we delve deeper and deeper into the macabre. We kicked off the month of October with Edward Gorey. Now we're following him up with his spiritual cousin, none other than Hilaire Belloc himself. We're looking at two different editions of the Struwwelpeter-inspired (surely) poem Matilda, Who Told Lies and Was Burned to Death. One edition, illustrated by Steven Kellogg, was produced in 1970. The other, created in 1991 (and originally published in Great Britain), illustrated by Posy Simmonds, is the far tamer titled picture book Matilda: Who told such Dreadful Lies . . . (note that the original title is on the title page, not the cover). A lot can change in the intervening 20 years, and so we compare the two editions, their oddities and similarities, and come to the almost certain conclusion that Hilaire Belloc was . . . quite the interesting fella. But are these good books? That is the real question. Show Notes: Here's where Betsy will be interviewing Tom Felton. If you'd like to attend and you live in the Chicago area, you can go here and do so: https://northshorecenter.org/event/tom-felton/ For the full Show Notes, please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/10/17/fuse-8-n-kate-matilda-who-told-lies-and-was-burned-to-death-by-hilaire-belloc/

Proof positive that not everything found in a trunk is gold. Kate's on the hunt for books for Halloween so we took a suggestion and delved into this "lost treasure" from the trunk o' manuscripts of the late Margaret Wise Brown. Betsy will confess to you right here and now that she's kinda out of good Halloween titles to do, so if you have ANY suggestions of other picture book Halloween classics, please oh please suggest them now. We discuss a gender-bent version of Wizard of Oz, why Margaret Wise Brown missed out on calling the mom "Scarecrone", why all these scarecrows are white, and more. Show Notes: You can read the L.A. Times article A Treasure-Trove of Children's Stories here, if you like: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-26-vw-4107-story.html Kate Recommends: Hocus Pocus 2 - https://www.disneyplus.com/welcome/hocus-pocus-2?cid=DSS-Search-Google-71700000100365913-&s_kwcid=AL!8468!3!625379239143!e!!g!!hocus%20pocus%202&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4omaBhDqARIsADXULuVAZaA8xjqRXbgtKtbBt8LRjhKcwPJRoqskch8gs4Rvs1mu9qM9KlQaAkVZEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Betsy Recommends: Hello, Dolly -https://www.marriotttheatre.com/show/hello-dolly For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/10/10/fuse-8-n-kate-the-little-scarecrow-boy-by-margaret-wise-brown/

"I'm Benjamin Buttoning over here!" When they're not talking about crystal flutes and harmoniums, Kate and Betsy discuss their very first Halloween-seasoned title on this week's episode of Fuse 8 n' Kate. Betsy was charged with coming up with another potential classic for the Halloween season, and now she has located an illustrator who may honestly be called "the granddaddy of haunted books". He didn't do many picture books . . . for children. But occasionally he did one or two when someone else was doing the writing and today's title, The Shrinking of Treehorn is an exemplary example. The sisters talk about what it takes to name your kid "Treehorn", what to do when you're caught in a Jumanji-type situation, and why this book made Betsy think of Jeffrey Dahmer. Show Notes: For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/10/03/fuse-8-n-kate-the-shrinking-of-treehorn-by-florence-parry-heide-ill-edward-gorey/

Banned Books Week may have happened last week, but sadly that doesn't mean that the nationwide scourge of banning has ended. Far from it. As such, we felt like consideration of this, "the granddaddy of the book banned", was long overdue. Interestingly, even though Kate hadn't seen the book before, she took one look at it and said it was "the gay penguins book". So it's clearly in the cultural zeitgeist. We talk Happy Feet, whether or not Tango was actually named after Tango & Cash ("if she'd been a boy, he totally would have named her Cash"), and why baby penguins that break the 4th wall are unspeakably awesome. Show Notes: Betsy talks about this on the show, but in April of 2022 she conducted an interview with the authors of this book in a piece called And Tango Gets Banned Again? Book Banning Perspectives from Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson. There's a lot of good history information about the book there, so feel free to check it out: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/04/26/and-tango-gets-banned-again-book-banning-perspectives-from-peter-parnell-and-justin-richardson/ Betsy loved the image of the statues at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo because she regularly collects children's literature statues from around America. You can check out one of those posts here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2019/07/09/the-complete-listing-of-all-public-childrens-literature-statues-in-the-united-states-2019-edition/ And, once again, Kate recommends Queer Ducks by Eliot Schrefer, which makes it very clear that this is hardly uncommon in the animal world: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/queer-ducks-and-other-animals-eliot-schrefer?variant=39684198563874 Interested in the latest Henry Cole picture book that features two dads? Then check out his wordless 2022 title, Forever Home: A Dog and Boy Love Story: https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/forever-home-9781338784046.html And just for fun, check out this recent LeVar Burton video from The Daily Show that features this beloved title: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QQU_2f_HoA Here is Don't Be Afraid of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever. An article that was very strange, since it sure sounded from the outset like it was about the scarier elements of the title. Thanks to Amy Rooks for the link: https://www.cbc.ca/parents/learning/view/dont-be-afraid-of-robert-munsch-love-you-forever For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/09/26/fuse-8-n-kate-and-tango-makes-three-by-justin-richardson-and-peter-parnell-ill-henry-cole/(opens in a new tab)

Though normally we limit ourselves on the Fuse 8 n' Kate podcast to books that were published at least 20 years ago, we look at a book today that is (restrain your gasps) 19 years old. Worth it. I mean, who could possibly fault us? Ashley Bryan was a living saint of children's literature. Kate points out that with the current racist responses to the Black Little Mermaid, our choice of book today is timely in its cry of "Black is beautiful!" We get into a discussion of what can be considered assimilation or cultural appropriation and things get interesting. Give it a listen! Show Notes: Betsy Recommends: Bluey - https://www.bluey.tv/watch/ Kate Recommends: Harley Quinn - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7658402/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/09/19/fuse-8-n-kate-beautiful-blackbird-by-ashley-bryan/

Having failed to secure a THIRD strawberry-related picture book this week (not for lack of trying) we turn to a heroine we've only seen once before in our previous Olivia episode. The first time Betsy introduced Kate to Olivia shje was shocked by how much Kate liked the little pig. Recall, if you will, that Kate has a tendency to dislike bratty heroines. Olivia, by some unexpected roll of the dice, apparently passes muster. Today's book includes one of our favorite exchanges between a student and a teacher in the picture book form, and is filled with small details you may have missed back in the day when the book was first published. Things like why, precisely, the cover image was significantly changed from its interior original. Or why Olivia is like Moira Rose/Meg White! Show Notes: Hat tip to Lark for bringing us to the Independent article, Animal discovered with ‘transient anus’ that only appears when it is needed. This may explain a lot about how anuses appear in European picture books but seemingly disappear when the books are published here in the States: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/comb-jelly-anus-jellyfish-transient-gut-study-a8810526.html Kate Recommends: The Great British Baking Show Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/363252/great-british-baking-show-game Betsy Recommends: That she's on TikTok now! https://www.tiktok.com/@fusenumber8 For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/09/12/fuse-8-n-kate-olivia-saves-the-circus-by-ian-falconer/

We promised you additional strawberries and additional strawberries you shall have! We start off with a bang on the podcast this week with a fun quiz: Who would you cast in the live action version of three different picture books? Then, we go back to this great work of Don and Audrey Wood, last seen on this podcast in episodes about The Napping House and King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub. Today’s post features a strawberry book that isn’t quite as strange as The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher, but clocks in at a close second. Show Notes: Betsy admits that she utterly forgot that she interviewed Don and Audrey Wood about this book a mere TWO years ago! In her defense, 2020 was a bit of a lost-COVID year. The post, however, is quite fascinating. It relates a tale about the British-to-American rights process like nothing you’ve seen before. Imagine if you did nine books and they were out of your reach after that BUT their loss allowed you to make The Napping House. Curious? Find the interview here. Betsy Recommends: The Dropout - https://www.hulu.com/series/the-dropout-13988f84-f1c8-40dd-a73c-4e71ab4bbe63 Kate Recommends: She-Hulk - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10857160/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/09/05/fuse-8-n-kate-the-little-mouse-the-red-ripe-strawberry-and-the-big-hungry-bear-by-don-and-audrey-wood/

"It's Catch Me If You Can only with an old woman and a weird blue creature." Full credit today to Lisa Straubinger for today's suggestion. Though we'd done the better known Molly Bang title When Sophie Gets Angry... Really, Really Angry on this podcast, we'd not done any other Molly Bang books. This was Molly's first book that she'd written and illustrated herself and it's a doozy. This is very much like nothing you've ever seen before. It's use of negative space alone is worth its weight in gold. Plus, who exactly is the trickster here? There is much to discuss. Show Notes: Here is where Molly Bang recounts the incredible, name-dropping ridden story of how The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher came to be. It involves Ursula Nordstrom and Susan Hirschman and OH! It's just a crazy series of events: https://web.archive.org/web/20081212220001/http://www.mollybang.com/strawberries.html Kate Recommends: Transfigure Print Company and this t-shirt: https://transfigureprintco.com/shop/protect-trans-kids-shirt Betsy Recommends: St. John Bread and Wine: https://stjohnrestaurant.com/a/restaurants/bread-and-wine For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/08/29/fuse-8-n-kate-the-grey-lady-and-the-strawberry-snatcher-by-molly-bang/

Author/illustrators aren't supposed to have favorites but what do you want to bet that there's a special place in Bryan Collier's heart for his award-winning Uptown? Since Betsy lived in Harlem for 11 years, it seemed fitting for her to go through the book with Kate, 22 years after its initial publication. In the course of things Kate finds a prominent male member (if you know what I mean), copious chocolate squares, and a love of golf that surprises everybody. Show Notes: this spread there's a lot of discussion of James Van Der Zee. If you're interesting in reading a picture book biography of him, please check out Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee by Andrea Loney, illustrated by Keith Mallett. It provides a delightful encapsulation of the man's life: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/take-a-picture-of-me-james-van-der-zee For the complete Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/08/15/fuse-8-n-kate-uptown-by-bryan-collier/

"It's like Freaky Friday but they're both perfectly aware of what's going on." If you were hoping that this episode of the podcast would begin with Betsy doing a variation on the Counting Crows song "Mr. Jones" then BOY do you know us well! In honor of its brand new republication (all thanks to its 40th anniversary) we're tackling this Amy Schwartz classic about finding happiness in a bureaucratic society. How does this book stand up after all this time? Is it still memorable? Does it still have something to say to kids today? We take a deep dive into 1980s Wall Street and all that that entails. Mad Men meets Big! Who could resist? Show Notes: Here's the Reading Rainbow episode of this book, as alluded to in the episode. Very fun, as long as you don't mind the constant whir of what sounds like a standing fan the whole time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P7Z1kYFKnE Betsy Recommends: Nope - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nope_(film) Kate Recommends: Watch Out for Big Grrrls - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzo%27s_Watch_Out_for_the_Big_Grrrls We also highly recommend that you checkout the Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast tribute to this title as well, as it mentions some facts about the newest reissue worth noting: http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=5635 For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/08/08/fuse-8-n-kate-bea-mr-jones-by-amy-schwartz/

The New Yorker recently featured rather impressive article called What Should a Queer Children's Book Do? In it K.T. Horning, "who recently retired as the director of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison" mentioned something in her discussion with writer Jessica Winter that today's book was a favorite for years by lesbian families before they had adequate books to turn to. Today we talk mosquitoes, this book, mosquitoes, how Canadian Geese are the worst, and ... mosquitoes. Enjoy! Here's the Reading Rainbow sequence of the reading of this book. What's interesting about this is how they chose to adapt the book. Due to its length, a straight reading would not have been ideal. So we were impressed how they incorporated live action into the mix. It also, if we might say so, kind of backs up what K.T. was saying about its subversive nature: https://youtu.be/TloBLRxH2Fw Kate Recommends: The Rehearsal: https://www.hbo.com/the-rehearsal Betsy Recommends: The 10th Anniversary Edition of Sailor Twain: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250829443/sailortwainorthemermaidinthehudson10thanniversaryedition For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/08/01/fuse-8-n-kate-three-days-on-a-river-in-a-red-canoe-by-vera-b-williams/

Betsy was in her library's children's room the other day and a staff member saw her looking perturbed in the easy book section. When she asked what Betsy was looking for, she confessed that what she really needed was a copy of Robert the Rose Horse. Though in the business for many years, Betsy's fellow librarian had not heard of that particular P.D. Eastman collaboration with Joan Heilbroner, and could you blame her? Betsy would have probably have missed it too if (A) She hadn't had children that she read to and (B) She hadn't stumbled on the mighty useful "Big" beginner books from Random House that combined many of Seuss's "I Can Read" titles into a single volume. Today's title comes to us via The Big Red Book of Beginner Books, and it truly lives up to expectations. Betsy promised Kate they'd do a goofy book. She may have actually overdelivered. Show Notes: Betsy got all her thymus and T-Cell information from this information from Radiolab and its episode My Thymus, Myself: https://radiolab.org/episodes/my-thymus-myself For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/07/18/fuse-8-n-kate-robert-the-rose-horse-by-joan-heilbroner-ill-p-d-eastman/

Goofy is fun. Goofy is great. But seems to us that sometimes you just gotta slow everything down and do a picture book that's a little more serious. We had to go meaningful this week and what could be more meaningful than a little drop of Allen Say?. That doesn't mean we don't have time to also talk about a yard full of 12-foot-skeletons, of course. We contain multitudes. Show Notes: - You can read Betsy's 100 Picture Books for Kids Poll write-up of this title (at #46) here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2012/05/29/top-100-picture-books-46-grandfathers-journey-by-allen-say/ - For the record, Allan Say as a child ran into Lois Lowry though they never exchanged a word. It was only years later that they discovered that they'd seen one another all those years ago. Read more about it here: https://www.bookpage.com/reviews/25028-lois-lowry-horizon-childrens/ - Here's Halfway Home by Christine Inzer. If you need a comic about feeling torn between Japan and America, this is ideal. Bonus: Actually made by a teenager (and check out that well-deserved Jeff Smith blurb!): https://afuse8production.slj.com/2014/12/06/review-of-the-day-halfway-home-by-christine-mari-inzer/ - Kate Recommends: The hard seltzer Press: https://enjoypress.com/ - n episode of the podcast 99% Invisible about Octagon Houses: https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-octagon-house/ For the full Show Notes, please visit us here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/07/11/fuse-8-n-kate-grandfathers-journey-by-allen-say/

We're back from the ALA Conference, baby! Many thanks to everyone who hung out with us and told us that they liked our podcast. We'll just start off today with a hat tip to author Eliot Schrefer for suggesting today's book. It's one of those rare cases where this is actually a book that Betsy read and reread multiple times as a child. We've done all kinds of William Steig books over the years. Shrek. Doctor DeSoto. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Now we tackle one that is very near and dear to her heart. How has it aged? Content wise? We discuss it all. Show Notes: - I mention at one point that William Steig created a character called Poor Pitiful Pearl. Here is her doll. You can find additional information about her (plus a possible lost early Steig book) here: https://vintagedollcollector.com/poor-pitiful-pearl-article-william-steig/ -Betsy Recommends: The NPR Books We Love round-up this year: https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2022 - Kate Recommends: Queer Ducks by Eliot Schrefer: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/queer-ducks-and-other-animals-eliot-schrefer?variant=39684198563874 For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/07/04/fuse-8-n-kate-the-amazing-bone-by-william-steig/

It's our 5-year anniversary of this podcast and to celebrate we're examining something both obscure and of note. Haven't heard of this particular picture book? You aren't alone. Originally published in 1969, the book is perhaps best known as being the last book Langston Hughes, its author, ever worked on. Betsy was just meticulously weeding her library's adult 811s and stumbled upon it. Black Misery is a children's book marketed as an adult title yet in spite of its copyright date it has a lot of similarities to the children's books today that are calling out elements in our own racist culture. Microaggressions and outright racism vie for space on the pages. The central question for us is this: Is this book a picture book for children or not? It's not easy to answer, particularly when you weigh how little change has happened with some of these moments and how beautifully they're called out here verses the use of the n-word and some of the more dated elements. In the end, we do wonder why it hasn't been reprinted in the last few decades. Seems like a forward thinking publisher might benefit from bringing this one back again. Then again, even that sentiment may be overly dated. We live at a time where the need for Black Joy in books for kids is particularly keen. Does it make much sense then to bring out again the true antithesis of the statement? Or does Black Misery have more going on here then its title implies? We take a deep dive into its pages to find out. Show Notes: - Just as a reminder, if you'd like to hang out with us on Saturday, June 25th around 9 or so at the ALA Conference in Washington D.C., just drop us a line at fuse8kate@gmail.com. - Curious about other Langston Hughes books for children? The 1955 publication The Book of Jazz is beautifully remembered by Vox here: https://www.vox.com/2015/4/2/8335251/langston-hughes-jazz-book - You can read what the Missouri Historical Society has to say about Black Misery here: https://mohistory.org/blog/from-the-library-black-misery-by-langston-hughes/ - For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/06/20/fuse-8-n-kate-black-misery-by-langston-hughes-ill-arouni/

By gum we haven't had one of these since our own mother came on the show. Today it is our infinite pleasure to present to you the fantastic author/illustrator/cartoonist Ursula Murray Husted of, amongst other things, the marvelous graphic novel A Cat Story. A fan of the podcast, it seemed only fitting to ask her to suggest a title for the show today. Her choice? A book that honestly I've never seen before. Lulu and the Flying Babies is an obvious homage to, say, The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, and its creator started out by making comics before she made books for kids. And as it just so happens Ursula started out that way too! This is an absolutely fascinating example of a picture book working with this level of comic book paneling. And, of course, at some point we do include the line, "I had no idea how easy it was to decapitate a cat." Show Notes: You can check out some of the range of Posy Simmonds' when it comes to her darker adult comics here: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/simmonds_posy.htm We bring up the question of which Posy Simmonds books are available for purchase in the states. If you're only interested in her children's books then besides this title check out Lulu and the Chocolate Wedding and Fred. It's not a lot but it's what we got! Ursula Recommends: The King of Confidence by Miles Harvey Kate Recommends: Songfinch, Putt Shack, and the new Bob's Burgers movie. Betsy Recommends: Making a birthday cake based on Erin Hunter's Warriors series. For the full Show Notes, please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/06/13/fuse-8-n-kate-special-guest-ursula-murray-husted-presents-lulu-and-the-flying-babies-by-posy-simmonds/

Come one! Come all! Come hear Betsy get the tongue lashing of the century! Maybe you listen to this podcast because you just like to listen to grown women talk about picture books. Maybe you like the banter. Or maybe, just maybe, you listen in the hopes of hearing Kate yell at Betsy for her sins. If the latter is your preference then boy howdy do we have the episode for you! Bonus: Kate makes a lot of fart noises. Nothing but class at this joint. As for the book we're doing, this appears to be our first Raschka title, which is funny considering how many Caldecott Honors and Awards he's garnered over the years. Listen in if you want to hear the correct pronunciation of the title of Yo! Yes?, the choices made with the typography, and some truly awful bird calls. Show Notes: The egregious Mackin interview with Betsy can be found here: https://www.mackincommunity.com/2022/05/25/betsy-bird-theres-a-book-for-every-reader/ Lark wasn't wrong. "Puff Daddy" did indeed read Harlem on a cassette tape. This is amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUxiA-YJuO8 Hat tip too to Jerrold Connors for not only locating and listening to the audio cassette tape of Crow Boy, but also mentioning the very cool @corvidresearch. Kate Recommends: Particle Ink: Speed of Dark, seen here: https://youtu.be/aCmtKbXv9lk Betsy Recommends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i5DEipIWh4 For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/06/06/fuse-8-n-kate-yo-yes-by-chris-raschka/(opens in a new tab)

Recently Betsy took a trip to NYC and was, for reasons that will soon become clear, reminded of this great work by Walter Dean Myers and his son Chris. Funny thing is, she has a bit of difficulty figuring out if this book is as well remembered as it used to be. Now when she lived in NYC it was all over the place but that was (A) almost 20 years ago and (B) in the same town where this book takes place. Maybe not the best place to get a unimpeded understanding of its longevity. At any rate, it won itself a Caldecott Honor so we figure it's well worth discussing today. Show Notes: Kate Recommends: Chanel Williams on Instagram or the tikky tok (which is what we call TikTok)- https://www.instagram.com/chanwills/?hl=en Betsy Recommends: The Third Person by Emma Grove. https://drawnandquarterly.com/news/dq-announces-third-person-emma-grove/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/05/30/fuse-8-n-kate-harlem-by-walter-dean-myers-ill-christopher-myers/

Folks, we are shocked and appalled that none of you have ever yelled at us for never having done a Mercer Mayer book on this podcast. We're onto episode #227 and in all this time, Mr. Mayer has never once graced our eyeballs. Today, we correct this longstanding ill. Take a listen to this if you would like to hear Betsy's off-the-cuff recounting of all the Mercer Mayer books that we haven't done. She also go into tangents on the awfulness of feet in early 80s footie pajamas while Kate engages in The Great Tissue Box Theory. Show Notes: Not sure how much credence to give to the working theory that this book is referenced in Alice Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare. It's a great idea, but the monsters in this don't really resemble the one in the book. Just our two cents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kum-q6RfPAw Whereas this video of the book is most certainly narrated by Michael J. Fox. So that's all good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpGPYXSPSxQ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/05/23/fuse-8-n-kate-theres-a-nightmare-in-my-closet-by-mercer-mayer/

We continue to dive into the many publications of 2002, so as to determine if the more popular titles of that time have been able to survive two decades. Today's book is a McMullan joint that is still inspiring sequels to this day. We talk typography, readalouds, and more. In the course of things we figure out which of the elements in the trash listed here should be composted and engage in a VERY long discussion of what a yam would look like if it had been hanging around for a year. You know. Important stuff. Show Notes: The best interview we were able to find with Kate and Jim McMullan turned out to be this one with none other than Hamptons.com: https://hamptons.com/the-arts-the-bookshelf-27282-interview-author-kate-mcmullan-and-illustrator-html/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/05/16/fuse-8-n-kate-i-stink-by-kate-jim-mcmullan/

Usually Betsy knows at least a tiny bit about the authors/illustrators we do on this show. But Taro Yashima? She knew literally nothing about him, walking into this one. She got the idea to do this from The Rabbit hOle, who had mentioned recently that they're working on a Crow Boy exhibit. Looking at this 1955 winner of a 1956 Caldecott Honor, it does appear that this is about a kid who suffers from sensory overload and can focus on one thing for hours at a time. As such, Chibi does appear to have some form of ASD or neurodivergent condition. Not that a book from the 50s was capable of being as clear as books today. The book was illustrated by Japanese born Taro Yashima and represents an interesting moment in literature where the cultural stereotypes seem confined to the colors used for some of the skin tones. Is there more going on here? We discuss. Show Notes: Seriously, though, if you can think of any other podcasts hosted by amusing sisters, please let us know at fusekate8@gmail.com. Extra thanks to Marie for introduced us to the FIAR (Five In a Row) program that has kept many children's picture books in print like They Were Strong and Good. Kate Recommends: Heather McMahan - https://heatherontour.com/ Betsy Recommends: The Elisha Cooper piece on Literary Hub, A Quiet Reply to a Life Cut Short: After a Profound Loss, How to Honor the Dead. - https://lithub.com/a-quiet-reply-to-a-life-cut-short-after-a-profound-loss-how-to-honor-the-dead/ For the full Show Notes, please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/05/09/fuse-8-n-kate-crow-boy-by-taro-yashima/

Last week we cheated by doing a teacher favored picture book that was a mere 19-years-old. This week we're doing a teacher favored picture book that is a FULL 20-years old instead! It occurred to Betsy that the show has never tried a Teague before. And, as you'll see, there are just loads of teacher resources out there. Kate likes books with details. Dear Mrs. LaRue has that. Will she like this book? Stay tuned! Show Notes: Here is the page for the Teachers Pay Teachers where you can find umpteen bazillion lesson plans for this book: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:dear%20mrs%20larue For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/05/02/fuse-8-n-kate-dear-mrs-larue-by-mark-teague/

Betsy is a terrible cheat. She broke our rule that we wouldn't consider a book less than 20 years old for this podcast. But today's book is 19 years old so is it really breaking the rule or, rather, stretching it to its limit? Today, we look a little closer at the story where the kid who says they're not into art gets a private showing of 28 pieces. Does this book deserve the sheer amount of attention and acclaim that it's attained in the intervening 19 years since its publication? Gotta listen and see. Show Notes: Today's book may be the first we've done that has its own holiday. Curious about International Dot Day? Check it out at its own website. A bit lacking on its own history, and parts need to be updated, but still cool: https://www.internationaldotday.org/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/04/25/fuse-8-n-kate-the-dot-by-peter-h-reynolds/

At long last we discover what became of Peter Rabbit's sister Cottontail. Sometimes you just want to read a bizarre 1939 feminist take on the Easter Bunny tradition. Right? I mean, am I right? Look, after last week, Betsy wanted to give Kate something old and worth remembering. And this downright magnificent tale of single motherhood, gaslighting, phallocentric patriarchy, and cute bunnies fit the bill. Let's talk about a book that wasn't just ahead of its time but, I'd argue, is the gold standard of Easter picture books in this day and age. Don't believe us? Then you obviously have never read The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes for yourself. Trust me. You're in for a treat. Show Notes: Do be so kind as to check out the Washington Post piece A Brown Feminist Easter Bunny's Inspiring Triumph which really breaks down why this book is so remarkable: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-brown-feminist-easter-bunnys-inspiring-triumph/2015/04/02/3fbfced6-d941-11e4-b3f2-607bd612aeac_story.html For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/04/18/fuse-8-n-kate-the-country-bunny-and-the-little-gold-shoes-by-dubose-heyward-ill-marjorie-flack/

"I'm sorry, you're PROUD? What are you 'proud' of exactly? Your family owned slaves, killed Native Americans, fought for the Confederacy, and almost killed a parrot! So I don't know what you're proud of!!!" Those of you familiar with today's book are whistling under your breath and saying quietly, "Here we go." Those of you unfamiliar? Prepare to meet the very first book on this podcast to receive the lowest rating we have ever assigned. If we could give negative numbers, we would. Inarguably the most offensive Caldecott Award winner to date, Kate requested that we do a stinker and Betsy? Betsy overdelivered. Show Notes: As far as Betsy is concerned, this post on the blog Collecting Children's Books is the seminal text on They Were Strong and Good: http://collectingchildrensbooks.blogspot.com/2009/04/they-were-strong-and-good-enough-for.html For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/04/11/fuse-8-n-kate-they-were-strong-and-good-by-robert-lawson/

The other day a documentary film crew came to Betsy's library. They were creating a movie on American picture books through the decades and, at one point, they needed some b-roll of some of the better known picture books out there. So they hit the usual titles like Harold and the Purple Crayon and Millions of Cats. They worked in some Perez Y Martina and Stevie. And then they asked if they could do Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young. That got Betsy to thinking that, crazy as it sounds, she and Kate have never done that one. Has it aged well in the intervening 30 years since it was first published? Find out! Show Notes: Here is Ed Young's very good website. Check out the full run of his books, particularly the oldest ones: https://www.edyoungart.com/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8producti.wpengine.com/2022/04/04/fuse-8-n-kate-seven-blind-mice-by-ed-young/

Oh, Danny Boy! St. Patrick’s Day is nigh and Betsy is feeling pretty smug about the fact that she actually reserved a St. Patty’s Day title (sorta) weeks in advance so that she’d have something to do with Kate. And voila! Justification! Kate loves it! It helps that it stars a “Kate” and our Kate recently tried (and failed) to dye her hair the color on this cover. In any case, today we delve a bit into Mr. Talbott’s influences but mostly have a high old time discussing cow side-eye, cats singing Danny Boy, and why this ending rules. Show Notes: This was the best Betsy could find when Kate asked for cats singing Danny Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5N68I2bsZM Kate Recommends: The "What's More Punk Than the Public Library" t-shirt, which you can find here: https://mtpfriends.bigcartel.com/product/what-s-more-punk-adult-t-shirt Betsy Recommends: The three library videos she's been working on for the past year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng5G9XLZIeI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01oq0KpNzYo&t=2s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LubRSiupY9I For the full Show Notes please visit us at: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2022/03/14/fuse-8-n-kate-osullivan-stew-by-hudson-talbott/

This week it's time for a CULT CLASSIC!!! If last week's book was incredibly well-known, this one is not, but it is FABULOUS. And, as you will learn, it utterly and completely charmed Kate, which is tough to accomplish. Consider it a book about feeling embarrassed and worried about your parental units in equal measures. Are you ready for the weirdness? Then enjoy småpapporna galore! Show Notes: Kate Recommends: Come From Away, the musical -https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/show/come-from-away-2020/ Betsy Recommends: The Bologna Book Fiar - https://www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com/en/home/878.html Care to listen to the book in its original Swedish? Well you can see it in its entirety here. And the title, oh yes oh yes, is Else-Marie och småpapporna: https://youtu.be/Y3rSzEG5US0 And here is Pija herself being interviewed about the book!! Anyone care to translate the best parts for us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRxogNkwRRg And is she still making books? She is! Just check out this interview from October 2021 conducted by . . . yep. That's a priest all right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbOlVFfiNYM For the full Show Notes please visit: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2022/03/07/fuse-8-n'-kate:-else-marie-and-her-seven-little-daddies-by-pija-lindenbaum/

While we've been doing some superb picture books as of late, but it's been a while since we've done a particularly famous one. So for a small change of pace we're doing a Big Name today. The kind where your library might have nine copies in its main location. And, bonus, it's not one by Seuss. Peggy Rathmann giveth again to us today with the irrepressible Officer Buckle and the adorable Gloria. We expected many things to occur during our talk but we did not expect for this podcast to devolve into such long conversations about bananas. It may amuse you to hear that Kate made Betsy banana bread at their next Game Night after we recorded this. Sheesh. Show Notes: Betsy calls Peggy Rathmann "the Gary Larson of picture books". Why? Ms. Rathmann walks away from a marvelous picture book career to live with John Wick. Not even kidding about that. And as Betsy mentions on the podcast, there was a piece in On Pasture called Meet Someone Making A Difference to Agriculture and the Climate. So, basically, she's saving the world. Pretty good excuse for not making any more picture books: https://onpasture.com/2021/11/08/meet-someone-making-a-difference-to-agriculture-and-the-climate/ Should you wonder, Officer Buckle and Gloria appeared at #59 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll back in 2012: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/25/top-100-picture-books-59-officer-buckle-and-gloria-by-peggy-rathmann/ For the full Show Notes please visit: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2022/02/28/fuse-8-n'-kate:-officer-buckle-and-gloria-by-peggy-rathmann/

We just had a blast last week with our Valentine's Day picture book Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, so where next to go? Clearly, this would be the best time to turn our sights upon the upcoming President's Day. So what better book, I ask of you, could we do than Caldecott Award winner So You Want to Be President? Penned by Judith St. George (who was doing non-fiction for kids in the 70s when it was a particularly uncommon job) and illustrated by David Small (of Long Road to the Circus fame), we determine what has aged well with this book and what is glaringly missing (no mention of how many presidents owned slaves?!?). We also speculate about the fact that it won a Caldecott Award the same year as 9/11, but months in advance and how it sort of prefaced a whole wave of nationalism that would occur later. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2022/02/14/fuse-8-n'-kate:-so-you-want-to-be-president?-by-judith-st-george,-ill-david-small/

You know, for as long as this podcast has been going on, we have never attempted to find a classic Valentine's Day book. It's a tricky proposition. We've done some pseudo-appropriate books like The Pigs' Wedding and The Marzipan Pig. But Betsy thought maybe we should try something love-related that is not hog-related. "It's about a human and it's about love . . . and he's balding. Three for three." This is a book that allows us to question what love truly is. Is love when people only appreciate you for what you can do for them? Or is it something more? Come join us for a journey through cheese and mustard sandwiches and brownies (not together). Stay, if only to hear how Kate reads the line, "I do believe somebody loves me after all," (you'll adore how she does it). Show Notes: Hector Elizondo reads Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch (a.k.a. the storytime you didn't know you needed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGAS_Aj85cA Interested in Aaron Becker's trailer for his latest board book? Look here: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2022/02/04/adam-becker-board-book-video-premiere/ Kate Recommends: The audiobook of As You Wish by Cary Elwes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dieRrAK9rfM Betsy Recommends: The recent article in the New Yorker, Eat Prey Love about Felix Salten the author of Bambi: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/04/24/eat-pray-love For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2022/02/07/review-of-the-day-somebody-loves-you-mr-hatch-by-eileen-spinelli-ill-paul-yalowitz/

The 2022 ALA YMA Awards were filled with firsts. The first Caldecott Honor or Award winner that's posthumous! The first LGBTQIA+ Honor and Stonewall Honor co-winner (to say nothing of its National Book Award Honor)! And all this reminded Betsy of a "first" from the past. Who was the first Black African-American winner of the Caldecott to win the Award two years in a row? That's right, we're returning to Leo and Diane Dillon. The first Caldecott Award going to a Black man was for Leo and Diane Dillon's Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears. But the SECOND Award went the very next year to the Dillons' work on Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions. We consider this second Dillon win and find time to indulge in a discussion on why the Sibert Award should be renamed the Cyborg Award (as is right). Show Notes: The bird mentioned in this book but that neither Betsy nor Kate could remember is (naturally enough) the honeybird. This is a bird that leads different animals to sources of honey so that it can have a taste. Here's a page that contains recordings of all the Newbery and Caldecott acceptance speeches, courtesy of ALA and ALSC. Here you will discover Leo Dillon's magnificent New York accent: https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/NCWBanquetRecordings As Betsy mentions on the show, one element of this book that hasn't aged as well is the fact that if this book were to made today, it would mention in some way the urbanization of Africa, alongside the longstanding traditions of different tribal areas. This book never dares to touch on that. So if you're looking for a book that does mention both traditional elements as well as some modernization, check out Atinuke's remarkable 2021 title Africa, Amazing, Africa. Here's what Betsy wrote about it for her 31 Days, 31 Lists Older Nonfiction list: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2021/12/27/31-days-31-lists-2021-nonfiction-books-for-older-readers/ Kate Recommends: The podcast Sweet Bobby: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sweet-bobby/id1590561275 Betsy Recommends: America Crime Story: Impeachment: https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/american-crime-story For the full show notes, please visit: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2022/01/31/fuse-8-n-kate-ashanti-to-zulu-by-margaret-musgrove-ill-leo-and-diane-dillon/