Fuse 8 N' Kate

We've been through the desert on a horse with no name. Now we don't usually feel a need to warn you guys ahead of time, but here's the low-down on this week's book. Long story short, we don't much care for it. A little disheartening too that Paul Goble won a Caldecott for this title 43 years before the first picture book Award (not Honor) went to an Indigenous illustrator (2021's We Are Water Protectors). Kate and Betsy discuss its many of the problematic elements. At length. With relish. Show Notes: Betsy's book giveaway is still happening this week. If you'd like to enter to win a bound copy just head over here: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2021/04/29/book-giveaway-long-road-to-the-circus-by-betsy-bird/ A couple links for you on the book coming via American Indians in Children's Literature: - About Paul Goble and His Books: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2009/07/about-paul-goble-and-his-books.html - Dear Mr. Goble: Questions for Paul Goble about THE GIRL WHO LOVED W

Today, Kate argues that the true title of this book should really be "Mr. Grumpy", that Forrest Gump has some similarities to the text (that one's a stretch), and Betsy commends the book's excellent use of the term "squabble". Kate also says that Mr. Gumpy should have told the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly to shut her mouth and all would have been well, while Betsy wonders if Mr. Gumpy's lines only sound rude when Americans say his lines. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2021/04/26/fuse-8-n-kate-mr-gumpys-outing-by-john-burningham/

When it comes to Arthur there is LOT to pick apart! Thanks, in large part, to the television show from 1996 which (checks watch) is still playing to this day. We go way way way back to 1976 to his VERY post-60s semi-psychedelic origins. Back when he actually looked like the aardvark he claims, to this day, to be. We talk earth pigs, children's access to unnecessary cosmetic surgery, and how the entire point of the book is for the hero to fail to do something. And if you want a look at the racism debates surrounding the series, we have that as well. Show Notes: Kate wasn't lying. The "John Legend looks like Arthur" thing is real. Just check out the Bustle article "This Video Of John Legend Dressing Like Arthur & Recreating The Fist Meme Is Everything": https://www.bustle.com/p/john-legend-dressed-like-arthur-brought-the-fist-meme-to-life-in-a-new-commercial-with-chrissy-teigen-video-8906163 And since we're doing articles, you may also wish to read "Marc Brown on Arthur's nose job and other vital issues": h

Hope ya like math, happy people! Today we take a look at what may well be the best known math-related picture book that doesn't involve just counting. By some odd quirk of fate, Betsy has chaired the Mathical Book Prize committee, and One Grain of Rice was awarded its Hall of Fame status. Today Kate and Betsyt talk about Demi's real name, her hugely famous ancestors, and why she's called "Demi" at all. And hey, is that really true that we don't throw rice at weddings anymore because uncooked rice can injure birds' stomachs? Or is that a myth? We just don't now what's real anymore. Show Notes: Betsy will take any excuse to show a video from Schoolhouse Rock: Multiplication Rock! Her choice for today is the oddest of the multiplication songs, in part because it is voiced by Blossom Dearie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1osRBP38ZEo Betsy Recommends: The Beginner's Guide to Growing Great Vegetables by Lorene Edwards Forkner Kate Recommends: The Try Guys - https://www.youtube.com/c/tryguys For the full Sho

In the hopes of recognizing some Asian and Asian-American picture books that don't, for a change, contain horrible stereotypes, Kate and Betsy wanted to look at a good book. Trouble is, they have a 20-year rule when it comes to books they consider. That means no Bee-Bim Bop and no Henry and the Kite Dragon. They're too recent! Betsy eschewed The Name Jar since it was a little too close to the content of last week's Chrysanthemum. But why not do the very first Grace Lin picture book? So she snagged the ten-year anniversary edition. We compare aspects of this to The Little Red Hen (eat yer posies, neighbors!) and speculate as to whether or not Grace Lin might want to become a vegetable seed supplier if this whole writing-award-winning-children's-books gig doesn't work out. Show Notes: - Not for the kiddos, here is a link to Amy Schumer's carrot. It is . . . far worse than you imagine: https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/amy-schumers-hilarious-thanksgiving-carrot-has-2020-written-all-over-it.html/ - Here

Her children mocked MOCKED Betsy, I say, when she informed them that she and Kate had not yet discussed Chrysanthemum on the podcast. Why the shock and horror? Well, apparently they've done 176 episodes and yet completely failed to acknowledge what could arguably be called Kevin Henkes's most famous picture book. Why the bold claim? Well, insofar as we can tell, 21st century children find themselves being read this book MULTIPLE times during the course of their school career. And why not? This is peak Henkes, back when he was in the thick of his mouse-related picture books phase. And now, Kate and Betsy are able to right a great wrong. And they have so many questions! Why does Victoria always wear gloves? What's that furry thing coming out of Chrysanthemum's pocket? Where else would Mrs. Chud like to be? And finally, could this book really be written today? Show Notes: - One thing that Betsy failed to mention in the course of this podcast is that Kevin Henkes has a new novel out this year. Billy Miller Mak

St. Patrick's Day comes early this year! Is it the worst classic-picture-book-holiday of all time? That's Betsy's take. But Kate challenged her to find such a beast, so she figured she'd cut her losses and hand over two to choose from. She didn't anticipate that Kate would choose BOTH! Betsy mostly chose one because it was the first time she'd seen that particular author/illustrator pairing. She chose the other because libraries pull it out every single year for their displays. No spoilers, but in the end Kate prefers the one chock full of physical violence and bodily harm. Can you blame her? Show Notes: If you don't understand what Kate and Betsy are doing with poor Danny Boy, behold their source material: https://youtu.be/OCbuRA_D3KU Kate's Grown-Up Thing We Like: Smart House's Dryer Vent Cleaner Kit. It's like a drain weasel for your dryer vent! Betsy's Grown-Up Thing We Like: Nomadland, the film starring Frances McDormand, now streaming on Netflix. For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs

And to think we had never read this book before. When we heard that the Dr. Seuss estate was pulling six relatively obscure Seuss titles from publication due to offensive content, we thought we might try one on for size. We'd already done the worst of the bunch (inarguably If I Ran the Zoo) but since we just did Eric Carle's very first illustrated picture book last week, why not do the very first Dr. Seuss circa 1937? That was a while ago. Beatrix Potter liked it, but will we? Mmm. Show Notes: - Should you wish to read it, you can find the New York Times piece Dr. Seuss Books Are Pulled and a Cancel Culture Controversy Erupts here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/books/dr-seuss-books.html - Kate mentions in the course of things that Universal has a If I Ran the Zoo section. We then discovered the newspaper article Universal Orlando 'evaluating' future of Seuss Landing, named after yanked book: https://nypost.com/2021/03/03/universal-evaluating-area-named-for-yanked-dr-seuss-book/ -Recall that this book

Our very first screw up! Huzzah! Betsy walked into the recording with Kate safe in the knowledge that they hadn't done Chicka Chicka Boom Boom before. Never mind that they actually did do it almost exactly a year ago. Whoops. So in a pinch Betsy decides the time is right to do a different Bill Martin Jr. It's the very first book that Eric Carle ever illustrated and he's redone it something like five times. In the course of things Kate puts forward the theory that this is the picture book version of Rockwell's I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me. Kate and Betsy also view it through the lens of post-McCarthyism and Kate has an under the radar discussion of what's really going on with the Black Sheep. Show Notes: So actually it was powdered gelatin that the Horse of Another Color was covered in. Don't think too hard about what the gelatin was made of: https://oz.fandom.com/wiki/Horse_of_a_Different_Color Like we say, check out the Eric Carle Museum here, if you get a chance: https://www.carlemuseum.org/

If for nothing else, you should listen to Kate's story at the beginning of this episode because it will be the craziest dang thing you've heard in a while. A truly great story. Now last week Kate challenged Betsy to do something in honor of Black History Month. So Betsy dove deep into the Coretta Scott King winners of the past and discovered a gaping hole in our roster. How we hadn't done this book already is beyond us but we think a book that takes place in the steaming hot days of a NYC summer is precisely what we need in dreary February. Bonus: Betsy finally gave Kate a story that makes sense, has color, and doesn't contain 500 words per page. Show Notes: I mention a somewhat strange cat fact about the heights at which they can survive. If you're curious about it, check out the Wired article How Can a Cat Survive a High-Rise Fall? Physics! https://www.wired.com/story/how-can-a-cat-survive-a-high-rise-fall-physics/ Here you can watch Faith Ringgold reading the book in 2016: https://www.youtube.com/wat

If one were to attempt a Valentine's Day podcast episode (or, in this case, a day-after-Valentine's-Day-post) involving romance, what picture book would you choose? Or, to be a little more precise, what classic picture book best embodies the spirit of Valentine's Day? We're pretty sure it wouldn't be this book, but that's just because sentient candy oinkers aren't really an American thing. We've done two Russell Hoban books on this podcast already (Bread and Jam for Frances and Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas) so why not just top it off with a third? The most notable aspect of this book? We think it finally broke Kate's brain. Show Notes: In the show, we promise to show you Posankka, the mix of a marzipan pig mixed with a rubber ducky. We're including it here, but even seeing it here just . . . it just . . . wow: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/files/2021/02/Posankka.jpg Betsy references the very odd film adaptation they made of today’s book. As she says on the podcast, she used to show this to the

In lieu of anything romantic, what with Valentine's Day on the horizon, Betsy thought she'd treat Kate to a wordless picture book chock full of more details than she could ever shake a stick at. Mitsumasa Anno died on December 24, 2020 and Betsy realized they'd never done one of his books on the show. The sheer amount of intricate dots in this title would make Peter Sis blush. Will Kate like it? Let's just put it this way: When she comes back from reading it she says it's full of, "Duels, clowns and butts!" Everything, in fact, a person might want in a picture book. We should warn you, though. There is just SO MUCH going on in this book that we had to leave a lot out. So if you're sad that we didn't mention the love story, the toy boat on the river that keeps popping up, the Aesop fable of the dog and its reflection, the slowly filling painting of the glass of wine, etc. we know they're there. There's only so much time in the day. Show Notes: - Should you ever be intrigued by the Mitsumasa Anno Art Museum

Are you ready for a thoughtful consideration of some very angry feelings? YES YOU ARE! This week Betsy shows Kate a book that, in many ways, really inspired the plethora of books about strong emotions (and how to deal with them) that so many books replicate today. A lot of us are feeling like Sophie these days. It's funny how you can not think directly about a book for a long time and then see it and suddenly have wild opinions about it. But are Betsy's opinions pro or con? Are Kate's? There are many thoughts swirling around this title. Take a listen and see what theirs are. Show Notes: Here is the aforementioned heckuva good website that Ms. Molly Bang runs, particularly the part about Sophie: https://www.mollybang.com/Pages/sophie.html For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2021/02/01/fuse-8-n-kate-when-sophie-gets-angry-really-really-angry-by-molly-bang/

On this most auspicious day in which the Newbery and Caldecott winners are announced (amongst many other fine and wonderful awards), we thought it might be a nice change of pace to do a cult classic. In other words, a book that never had a chance of winning a literary award a day of its life. This book, which Betsy has in her possession was a gift from her friend and fellow co-writer on Wild Things, Peter Sieruta. It is not in print. Good luck finding a copy. But if you'd like to read it for yourself, you can find the full text online here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/24325132/Suzuki-Beane Show Notes: Much to Betsy's great delight, she found that Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade Author of Harriet the Spy by Louise Brody contains the most thorough history of the creation and intentions behind Suzuki Beane you have ever seen. DO consult it, if you want to know more about this book and maybe not the Wikipedia entry which, for whatever reason, quotes Betsy. The Columbia

There is a certain type of picture book that can be best described as a Love It or Loathe It title. These are books that some people adore with their whole heart without irony. And there are books that some people loathe deep down to their very souls without apology. It had been a long time since Betsy had handed Kate a Giving Tree or Rainbow Fish. So how would she react to this particular old chestnut? Published in 1994 in Great Britain and 1995 in the States, few would contest that this book became an instant hit when it debuted and hasn't lost love of the public since. We delve real deep into the deep psychological compunctions of male nutbrown hares including their latent daddy issues. Show Notes: Here's the pop-up book, which actually worked remarkably well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtLYG-axzDs You can find the text from Bad British Accent Reader's Theater here: http://www.guesshowmuchiloveyou.com/the-story If you've big feelings to get out after seeing this cover, perhaps the piece Can You Gu

Betsy already loved all three of today's potential Caldecott Award winners down to the cold cockles of her shriveled little heart. The track record on this show hasn’t been too shabby either. In 2020 Kate and Betsy identified Going Down Home With Daddy as a winner (just don’t ask how they did in 2019). In the course of this recording the sisters discover that the most amusing way to talk about the information at the end of a book is to say “backmatterbackmatterbackmatterbackmatter”. Kate meanwhile falls hard for one of the contenders. Let’s see if you can guess which book made her cry, “In the beginning I didn’t want to see it and now I don’t WANNA LET IT GO!!!” Show Notes: - The ALA Youth Media Awards will stream live on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, at 8 a.m. CT right here: https://ala.unikron.com/ - Remember! Anytime you need to know how to pronounce someone's name and they work with children's books, go to TeachingBooks.net. The pronunciations of everything from Scieszka and Krosozka to Goade and Bird are the

After one of our listeners made the point that the bulk of books we've done on our podcast have been illustrated by male artists we've been trying to make a conscious effort to increase the number of women we read. And WHAT book, I ask you, could have more classic potential than Barbara Cooney's best known? We talk invasive species, seed bombing, how nice it is to read a book that doesn't call a single woman a spinster, and why it is that Maine loves its children's book creators more than any other state. Show Notes: Curious about the Lupine Award? You can see the full list of winners here: https://mainelibraries.org/lupine-winners Huzzah! Here is Dennis Moore! The highwayman who only steals lupines: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5v0voc And here's Kate's Tabletop recommendation, Tokaido. In the course of things she mentions this Will Wheaton show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pipFRzGYgdk&feature=emb_logo For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2020/12/28/fuse-

"Christmas was coming, and money was more scarce than ever." How we hadn't thought to do this picture book for the Christmas holiday season yet is beyond us. Betsy simply adores the Jim Henson adaptation of this book . . . and Kate loathes it. Knowing that, Betsy still gave her the book and the two discover that this is the ultimate 2020 COVID Christmas title. I mean, what other holiday book can you name where the characters actually say, "Maybe Christmas next year will be better." In the course of things Betsy throws down a challenge for our listeners to come up with a classic Kwanzaa picture book, Kate postulates that Emmet Otter's father may have some second family somewhere ("Only charming people have two families, Betsy"), and we discuss the possibility that Emmet is going to have to take a job as a rumrunner to pay for that piano he wants to get his Ma. Show Notes: Since this is a Russell and Lillian Hoban title, make sure you listen to us discuss Bread and Jam for Frances in a previous episode: http

Happy Hanukkah! Having read the recent PW Children's Bookshelf announcement that a new edition of Latkes and Applesauce by Fran Manushkin is due to be republished in 2022, I thought this might be the perfect time to revisit the old book. The announcement said it was a classic, so we figured we'd check and see how well it had stood up so far. Along the way we also cover how "Big Latke" got to Kate, TBD dogs and cats, what Daveed Diggs has to do with Hanukkah, and why Betsy probably shouldn't confuse "Maccabee" with "Mennonite". Show Notes: Oh yeah. We had to include "Puppy for Hanukkah" with Daveed Diggs song in here. I think we just found something to oust "8 Crazy Nights" from its throne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbxyZAduGvY Curious about PJ Library and the free books they provide? Check out Betsy's interview with Meredith Lewis about them in the piece 21st Century Oral Storytelling: How PJ Library Connects Kids to Their Heritage via Podcasting: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2020/01/14/21s

An orange fellow is told to leave over and over and over again. So it clearly has nothing to do with the state of the world today. As we mention on today’s podcast episode, when it finally occurred to Betsy to have Kate read this book, she was slightly worried that maybe it would no longer be timely. HA HA! No worries there! We go through all the political ties it has had to world leaders, and Kate brings up the peculiar aspect of watching someone berate a little cute guy into leaving. I mean, whose side are we supposed to be on here? “This poor cutie-patootie”. If you’ve never listened to one of our podcasts before, we might recommend this as a place to start. It’s a lot of fun. Show Notes: Betsy's Mooney info about whether or not this book had any direct ties to calls for Richard Nixon to resign can be found on pages 20 and 21 of the book Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature which she co-wrote with Jules Danielson and Peter Sieruta: http://wildthings.blaine.org/?page_id=2 Yeah. I think