Fuse 8 N' Kate

Once an author up and dies on us, it's the perfect moment to attempt a read of that writer's best known picture book. So it is that Judith Kerr was the perfect subject to consider for this episode. This is a book that ignores the rather good advice that, "If you're in a picture book and a tiger says he's hungry, run the other way." Kate discovers that this may well be one of the MOST English picture book the show has ever encountered. She also identifies this tiger as a brat as a cat and you KNOW how Kate feels about brats. Meanwhile, Betsy shares her Jeopardy suspicions, my goodness Daddy's Guinness is gone, and the sisters get to say the phrase "there is nothing Nazi about this tiger." Here is an obituary for Judith Kerr for those of you with an interest in her life : https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/23/obituaries/judith-kerr-dead.html No. Really. What exactly IS "tea"? Here is the wacky Wikipedia entry I refer to. Clearly this is my favorite found about a children's author thus far: https://en.wikipedia

Under normal circumstances, the entire premise of this podcast is that Betsy will present Kate with a picture book "classic" that she has never seen before and she will read it for the first time. To change things up, Kate suggested that Betsy bring a picture book that neither of them had read. At the same time, she mentioned in a previous episode that when it comes to classic Jewish picture books, the only ones the show has ever done were Hanukkah based. Add in the fact that this is a cult classic that came back in print two years ago, and you've got yourself a heckuva show. Show Notes: - Betsy keeps quoting from a Marjorie Ingall article in Tablet Magazine that was called Lore Segal's Warm and Weird 'Tell Me a Mitzi'. We highly recommend that you seek it out for even more background information: https://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/193108/lore-segals-warm-and-weird-tell-me-a-mitzi -Lore Segal's family's story was told in the Academy Award winning documentary Into the Arms of Strangers. You can see the traile

Kate gave Betsy a challenge to go out and find a picture book that the two of them hadn't read. And in the end . . . Betsy completely and utterly failed to do honor the request. She decided to do Pete instead. So it goes. With this entry, Kate makes a VERY strong case for why this book missed an opportunity involving the color wheel. Kate also points out that the actual moral of this story is, "Watch where you step." Meanwhile, Betsy gets to riff on James Dean the actor (if he were ever to make a picture book), Kate tells Betsy that hedgehogs are super smelly (who knew?), and the two dive deep into Pete's confusing lineage. Show Notes: Here is Eric Litwin's interview with Line Up the Books: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/an-interview-with-ny-times-bestselling-author-and-former-special-ed-teacher-eric-litwin-2/ How do you sing this song? Here's how Litwin would do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUubMSfIs-U Here’s the Pete the Cat website in case you want to check out all those Pete videos: http://

"It's like the Where's Waldo of literature!" This week we're celebrating another cult classic picture book (the last one we did was The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright). There aren't a ton of them out there, but this one certainly does apply. The timing of this podcast has much to do with the fact that Mr. Stamaty has just released MacDoodle Street, a collection of his adult strips. In the course of things we discover that this book has 27 pipes, we discuss whether or not Mr. Stamaty really does suffer from horror vacui, and how you would sing the line "Who needs donuts when you've got love?". It fails the stranger danger test magnificently, sure, but we can all get behind its "inspired sense of the absurd." Want to read the original New York Times review of this book by Barbara Bottner? Go no further than here. I think it was keen of them to tap Bottner for this: https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/14/archives/who-needs-donuts-by-mark-alan-stamaty-illustrated-by-the-author.html Has anyone ever combined a donut a

"Folktales! They don't end the way you expect 'em to . . . if they're authentic." If you are familiar with #ownvoices children's books, then you know that these are titles where a book is written by someone with learned experience from the culture they are representing. We might have quite a debate over what the oldest #ownvoices picture book published in America is, that is arguably famous to this day, and that also is written by someone who wasn't white and European. Our vote goes to today's book circa 1932. Sadly, it appears to be out of print. For that matter, ALL of Pura Belpre's books look like they're out of print, with the possible exception of Firefly Summer. Something wrong with that, people. In this episode Kate and I get to do all kinds of fun animal sounds. Particularly "Borom". We're very fond of "Borom" Lots of books get mentioned in this show. One of them that is discussed right at the top is the upcoming Goodnight, Bubbala by Sheryl Haft and Jill Weber. Coming this fall. Here's a link to t

Ramona's not the only one calling aspects of Mike Mulligan into question anymore. Kate and Betsy already tackled Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House, so now the two cover another story of the fast moving world and how it leads to obsolescence. In this tale of "a man obsessed with his steam shovel," they discuss muffs, dabbing, how precisely a steam shovel would work, and the weird placement of the acknowledgement to Dickie Birkinbush mid-book. As we mentioned, Kate and Betsy made a Randolph Caldecott music video about 10 years ago. That second pair of heels? That's Kate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMIjWQQavcY And here is Kate's Kei$ha video. She's one of the mohawked ladies walking behind the singer lady: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXvmSaE0JXA Kate looked up what a "selectman" is. It is, "a member of the local government board of a New England town." Who knew? For the full show notes, please visit us at http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/05/06/fuse-8-n-kate-mike-mulligan-and-his-ste

We're not entirely certainly why Betsy selected this as today's book. Maybe she wanted a book that was merely 20 years old. Maybe it was the fact that earlier in the day, before we recorded, she had read this book to her son's preschool class. But it may be because, and we don't think we're spoiling anything here, it is one of the world's greatest readaloud picture books. And there are so many things to talk about here. Spontaneous interior canine generation. The doctor's disappearing/reappearing latex gloves. Why no one assumes that there isn't another dog inside of George at the end. Whether or not George has eaten the vet at the end. The list goes on. Show Notes: The documentary The Phantom Tollbooth: Beyond Expectations, A Documentary About the Classic Children's Book has been mentioned on this podcast and blog before. Buy it for the Tollbooth fan in your life: http://phantomtollboothdoc.vhx.tv/ The term Betsy was having a hard time thinking of is "spontaneous generation". That's right, folks. This b

It's time for another update in one of our favorite series on this podcast: Classics From Other Countries. Normally on this show we like to consider children's picture books from America, determining if they deserve their "classic" status. But how fair is that? Why not consider picture books deemed classics in other countries? We did Duck, Death and Tulip via Germany. We did The Gruffalo via the U.K. So let's jump on a plane and fly ourselves to Australia for our first Mem Fox classic. What will Kate think when she encounters a book with a title composed entirely out of names? And how many children's librarians out there can remember the full name at all times? Inquiring minds want to know. To get a full dose of info on this book, there is no better place to go than Mem Fox's own website. Here's the Wilfrid page, chock full of fascinating info: https://memfox.com/gossip-behind-mems-books/wilfrid-gordon-mcdonald-partridge/ Bradley Whitford, everyone! Reading this book! Why? No idea! But it's there: https:/

Kate set Betsy up with a challenge. They've been deeming too many books as "classics". What book could I produce that would engender more of a debate? Well, after all these episodes (82!) Betsy thinks she's figured out Kate's least loved genre. It involves childlike art. It involves kids who aren't entirely saintly. Really, it was just a matter of time before they got to this one. They've not done a David Shannon book before. Ultimately they determine that the fault at work here is not that of David, but the inattentive parents. Happily, Kate has provided the "Partysaurus Rex" video link. It is a delight: https://vimeo.com/51194871 And the Etch a Sketch is from 1960, if that helps date the kid in the book. Yes, Betsy. It was Hiawatha and the Peacemaker. For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/04/08/fuse-8-n-kate-no-david-by-david-shannon/

Tomi Ungerer died just this past year on February 9th so it seemed logical to us that we should try to do one of his books on the show. This begs the inevitable question, which one should we do? After all, there are so many to consider. Crictor? The Beast of Monsieur Racine? Moon Man? We decided to go with the only one Betsy ever saw adapted by Weston Woods. In the course of our talk we discuss whether or not giving birth is an adequate excuse for saying you have a "connection" to someone, who invented the name "blunderbuss", and why this book is like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Plus, isn't it interesting that all these kids may be attending a robber school by the end of the book? Show Notes: - Is a pepper blower actually a thing? Betsy did a bit of research on her end, and she doesn't think that it is. As far as she is concerned, Ungerer made it up. - "When is there ever a fun aunt?" in a children's book. Okay, people. Lay 'em on me. Who's the coolest of them all? - Our hero, ladies and germs: The Castle

How crazy is it that Betsy and Kate have never done a Lucille Clifton book before? Nor a Brinton Turkle, but that's a little more understandable. Lucille Clifton was one of the most prolific Black picture book authors in the 70s. Spring has officially sprung and Betsy realized that today's book (which New York schoolchildren are read and given to read every single year around this time) would be the perfect way to celebrate not just the season but Clifton herself. But would Kate like it? Stay tuned, gentle listeners. In the meantime, those of you thinking yearningly of Spring will find much to love in this episode. Show Notes: - The best reading that you will encounter all day long is this June Jordan New York Times review. "Really okay book" she raves! https://www.nytimes.com/1973/11/04/archives/the-boy-who-didnt-believe-in-spring-by-jeannette-caines-illustrated.html - The books Jordan read and didn't like were Black Is Brown Is Tan by Arnold Adoff, Abby by Jeannette Caines, with pictures by Stephen Kello

Today, to make up for the missing episode last week, you get a twofer. You see, there’s a bit of a problem with old Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Most people remember the title of the second book in the series, but are we to ignore Book #1? Betsy gave Kate the chance to decide which one to do, so what did she decide? To do both, of course! In the course of things the sisters discuss alligators vs. crocodiles, who exactly this “Salt Bae” person is, the interior decorating schemes of the early 60s, and (they can both agree) the fact that Hector P. Valenti is a serious jerkwad. Show Notes: – Betsy should have mentioned to Kate, when we were debating the location, that this has to be NYC because you see ice skating at Rockefeller Center in Lyle, Lyle. – Here are the two 2019 crocodile/alligator books Betsy has read this year and has particularly enjoyed: The Truth About Crocodiles by Maxwell Eaton III and Beware of the Crocodile by Martin Jenkins, ill. Satoshi Kitamura. – How big are a crocodile’s feet and could yo

Kate got a dog! A doggy dog of her very own. And you know what goes together well, like peaches and cream? Dogs and picture books. So Betsy had to figure out a classic dog picture book. And lo and behold she realized that in spite of its relative fame the show had never done a book about this particular dirty dirty dog. In the course of things Betsy and Kate solve the mystery of why Harry never rolls in mud. Meanwhile, this is a VERY springtime-related book. We hope you appreciate the robins and the daffodils. Here in February, our eyes are hungry for any and all spring things. Show Notes: - Here's an obit for Margaret Bloy Graham: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/books/margaret-bloy-graham-harry-the-dirty-dog-illustrator-dies-at-94.html - And another article about her from WBUR: https://www.wbur.org/artery/2015/04/17/margaret-bloy-graham - The book was #43 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/29/top-100-picture-books-43-harry-the-dirty-dog-by-gene-zion-illust

"If you've got a Leo Lionni book you're not going anywhere very fast, but you're gonna get there eventually." The old Ant and the Grasshopper fable got the Lionni touch back in 1967 when the four time Caldecott Honor winner chose to put a new spin on an old classic. So how successful was this book in the end? Is it a product of its age (the tune in and drop out 60s) or something that stands the test of time? In the course of things the sisters discuss the fact that Frederick would have made a fantastic lawyer, how he progresses from emo to hipster, and whether or not that poppy on the cover has a special significance. Plus they get to mention Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and that ALWAYS makes for good podcast talk. Show Notes: - Yay, Cybils! We're so pleased with the winner of the Picture Book category. Here's the full list of Cybils winners, if you're curious: http://www.cybils.com/2019/02/2018-cybils-winners.html - Regarding the Leo Lionni sculpture housed at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, t

This week, Betsy found a nice calm little book and discussed it in a nice calm little way. Fear not, though. There is PLENTY to pick apart. The fact that a Dude In Distress can be simplified to: "The D.I.D." Who you would cast as the dragon in the movie of this book (which, let's admit it, it's a little weird that it HASN'T been turned into an animated full-length feature film yet)? And how exactly do you pronounce "Munsch"? All will be made clear. Show Notes: - Kudos to Mr. Munsch for including all kinds of wonderful information for each of his books on his website. With that in mind, here's his page for The Paper Bag Princess: https://robertmunsch.com/book/the-paper-bag-princess - I think we had the image of the princess punching Ronald in the nose in an early draft of Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature: http://wildthings.blaine.org/?page_id=32 - We dunno. We think we kind of want to see the version of this where the princess takes Ronald's clothes when he criticizes her. - This is

It just seemed to make sense to do a book this week that could kill two birds with one stone. Betsy and Kate haven't done any picture books by Muslim-American (or, in this case, Muslim-Canadian) authors. So Betsy took a look at New York Public Library's 100 Children's Books, 100 Years list and selected Big Red Lollipop. And who did the illustrations? The latest double Caldecott Award winner, Sophie Blackall. Of course, this is a sister book. Betsy is the older sister. Kate is the little sister. So how exactly are they going to take this book of younger sister brattiness? The two also consider what ungodly suburban mom came up with the idea of goodie bags in the first place, Betsy gets to yell, "REVENGE!!!" several times, and Kate keeps bringing up Ariana Grande. Show Notes: - Correct us if we're wrong, Canadians. Are your goodie bags called "loot bags". And when, gentle readers, did gift bags become a standard presence at birthday parties? - This the video of Rukhsana Khan telling this story from her (the

It's the Memento of the 1980s! Take a trip back in time with us to 1980 on the nosey. An era when children apparently eschewed backpacks for satchels and school lunches were just as elaborate as those in Bread and Jam for Frances. Don't believe me? Then you haven't taken an up close and personal deep dive into one of Kellogg's most famous stories. Kate had never seen a Steven Kellogg book on the show before, so Betsy figured they'd give this one a go. It's perfect for them since Kellogg was the master of the peculiar detail. He's an illustrator that rewards close readings and, for this, we salute him. Show Notes: - If anyone out there can tell us what the 1980s cooperative board game of Betsy's youth involving chickens was, we invite the information. - We only knew about this book back in the day because of Reading Rainbow. Take a trip back in time with us, kids! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76xzBWjS2dg - For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/01/28/fuse-8-n-k

And we're back to the classics. So far on this podcast, Kate and Betsy have tackled only one William Steig (Sylvester and the Magic Pebble). As per usual, Kate notices things. She notices that the initials of Doctor De Soto are DDS, which is a dental detail Betsy had never thought of before. She notices a rather lovely umbrella stand bedecked with dragons. She notices mouse dentures (and how creepy mouse dentures would be in real life). For Betsy's part, she gets to imitate the sound of a rotten tooth being removed from a fox's mouth (there's a distinct pop at the end) and the two debate whether or not the old No Cavities Forever solution is legit or not. Show Notes: - This book was definitely was published after Sylvester, by the way. Sylvester came out way back in 1969. - Why DID people wrap their heads up with handkerchiefs when they had toothaches? - Can you think of a classic fox book where the fox is heroic rather than sneaky and sly? - This book came in at #57 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll: ht

Last year Kate and Betsy discussed three potential Caldecott winners, and two would later receive medals. This year, the two discuss Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, and We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins. And, as per usual, Kate brings up stuff Betsy never considered before. Questions like, how exactly does Penelope Rex eat her classmates so quickly (does she unhinge her jaw?). What does "caminantes" mean? And does the guy in Blue rename his girlfriend's dog? Kate has a violent reaction to one of the three books that Betsy finds deeply amusing. Then they out that Frances, from Bread and Jam for Frances, was originally supposed to be a vole, and Betsy's mind. Is. Blown. Show Notes: - Actually Pete Seeger is Laura Vaccaro Seeger's husband's uncle, not her own. Uncle-in-law, let's say. - Here is the PW interview Yuyi Morales and Neal Porter that gave a lot of great background information to Dreamers: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/a

Hungry? With the new year comes a whole set of resolutions. Not knowing that Kate is on the Whole30 again, Betsy forces her to read a book where bread plays a major role. Bread, heck. This is a book that could turn children into bonafide foodies. In spite of the fact that all badgers are born in February, we've decided to do this book in January. And then, in the course of things, Kate starts looking up what the USDA recommendations are for children, we consider the wackadoodle utensils of the Badger household, what exactly a lobster salad sandwich is, etc. As Kate points out, this is a perfect New Year's Resolution book because in the story you are encouraged to try new things and break out of your comfort zone. Justification! Show Notes: - If you're curious about the interview Betsy conducted with Russell Hoban in 2010, you can read the transcript here: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/04/24/discovered-in-the-archives-an-interview-with-russell-hoban-2010/ - Is Frances actually the most famous b