Fuse 8 N' Kate

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

"I can always be called upon to remember a Snurp". Merry Christmas! Let's celebrate with a book that has absolutely nothing to do with the day in question whatsonever. So I know you're all wondering what elements Kate chose to focus on with this book. Would she like it more than Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus? Less? Well, we'll sum it up for you. We discuss at length the proper way to wash a pure white bra, the genetic dominance of a character's eyes (or lack thereof), and the proper way to pick up a sack of screaming, flailing meat when it is your child. Show Notes: - Came in #7 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/19/top-100-picture-books-7-knuffle-bunny-a-cautionary-tale-by-mo-willems/ For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/12/25/fuse-8-n-kate-knuffle-bunny-by-mo-willems

The last time Kate and Betsy saw a Dr. Seuss book they were reading If I Ran the Zoo. Not an auspicious beginning for the usually good doctor. In the course of this particular book, Kate manages to locate a place where Seuss got lazy and Xeroxed one of his two-page spreads (something Betsy had never noticed before). There is also talk about Thurl Ravenscroft (and how dead he is), odd Grinch theories, like the fact that his heart may expand and shrink regularly, and are these chimneys essentially pneumatic tubes that suck up the bags? One of our favorite episodes in a long time. Show Notes: - This book appeared at #61 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/23/top-100-picture-books-61-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-by-dr-seuss/ - Ask and the universe will provide. Here is Zero Mostel reading The Grinch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hts_sj-0_14 - And heck. While we're on the subject, here's Walter Matthau reading The Grinch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuq3A

After doing Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins last year, Betsy was having a devil of a time (no pun intended) figuring out another Hanukkah classic. After some serious consideration, she decided that this book would give us, as she says on the podcast, a little meat. A little fodder. Something to discuss. What she didn't see coming, though, was how timely this story truly was. How does it feel to live in a society that is constantly pummeling you with religious messages that are not your own? Little wonder the latke screams. Show Notes: - Betsy mentions Funny Girl. Golly, that would make a swell gift for people to give to their 9-12 year old loved ones. Check it out here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318948/funny-girl-by-betsy-bird/9780147517838/ - Interested in getting your own full series of Baby Be of Use? I am pleased to announce that they are for sale on Lisa Brown's website: http://www.americanchickens.com/baby-be-of-use/ - A staged production of this book, eh? Here's an ad for one that w

Truly a book for our times. Is there any other picture book out there that causes kids to question what they've been told right from the start, more than this one? This book is timely. It prepares children, in an era of news that is not always reliable, to not take everything at face value. Warning: At one point during the end of the podcast Betsy does briefly mix up Zul and Zod. Children of the 80s, please forgive her. Show Notes: - Here is the highly strange Wikipedia entry for this book. Once the entry goes on to 1993 it gets highly confusing. Yet another example of not believing everything you read? Considering that we're talking about Wikipedia, that would follow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mysteries_of_Harris_Burdick - The website for this book is called Who Is Harris Burdick? Highly worth your time. It's filled with so much fun stuff! It may not have been touched since 2011, but it's still fun and fantastic. Educator guides, tips for writers, tips for teachers, kids stories, etc. http://

Let's see. After Tikki Tikki Tembo and Little Black Sambo, it seems like Arrow to the Sun is the natural complement to those two, don't you think? Kate and Betsy haven't dug deep into a book with racist issues in a while, and they've never done any books where white folks told the stories of American Indians. In this post-Thanksgiving episode the sisters give as much of the history of this book as possible, all thanks to the work of K.T. Horning and Debbie Reese. Meanwhile, Kate gets confused about the actual storytelling itself, and Betsy cannot get over how a book from 1974 looks this much like a video game. Show Notes: - Behold and marvel at the lack of information on the Wikipedia entry for this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow_to_the_Sun - K.T. Horning's Horn Book article Arrow to the Sun and Critical Controversies is a piece Betsy cribbed (read: stole) from heavily for this podcast episode: https://www.hbook.com/2013/09/choosing-books/horn-book-magazine/arrow-to-the-sun-and-critical-controve

William's Doll: Revenge of the Ascot! The big news of the day is that Kate and Betsy have created a petition. It's the very first they've ever done and its purpose is simple. As you'll hear on today's podcast, they are big time fans of today's book, but they'd rather like it if Harper Collins could publish a re-illustrated edition. The reasons for this are, as you will hear, pretty clear. With different clothing, they think William's story could reach a whole new slew of kids, and really strike the message home. That said, in the podcast Betsy does make one key mistake. She says that this book was published by Greenwillow. In point of fact, it was published by Harper & Row. It is not a Greenwillow book. So ignore that part of the podcast but do NOT disregard the petition. They would love it if they could get you on board so that William can meet a whole new generation of fans: https://www.change.org/p/harper-collins-reillustrate-william-s-doll-for-today-s-kids Show Notes: - William Pène du Bois was from

We're just going to give away the game and break down exactly how this podcast plays out between Kate and Betsy. As you will recall, Bets is a parent of two small children. Kate is not. So when the two sisters read this book, Kate became a full-throated supported of Team Mouse, while Betsy put all of her money down on Team Run-Ragged Kid. Listen and you'll hear how clearly delineated the line is between parents and non-parents. Show Notes: - We were actually able to find the Peanuts strip that referenced this book. And voila. From May 25th, 1995: https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1995/05/25 - Here are the sequels mentioned: If You Give a Moose a Muffin If You Give a Pig a Pancake If You Give a Take a Mouse to the Movies If You Give a Take a Mouse to School If You Give a Pig a Party If You Give a Cat a Cupcake If You Give a Dog a Donut If You Give a Give a Mouse a Brownie "If You Give a Bird a Bundt Cake", Kate's suggestion, is completely up for grabs if anyone wants to writ

Since Kate had such strong feelings about Madeline and Eloise, Betsy figured that they would have to go with what she considered to be the third in the triumvirate of . . . let’s call ’em strong-minded ladies. If ever you’ve wanted to know the difference between miniature pigs, pot-bellied pigs, and razorback pigs, boy, have we got the podcast for you! Kate and Betsy talk about who the most famous female pig in children’s literature is (honestly, we’ve nothing against Peppa, but wasn’t she a television star first?), which book you’d want to club someone to death with (OED for the win!), and whether or not Shel Silverstein had “a treacly streak” (he did). Show Notes: – Here’s the New Yorker series Betsy referred to when she spoke about Ian Falconer. The blog post was called New Yorker/Picture Book Artists: Ian Falconer – Beyond Olivia: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2011/09/08/new-yorkerpicture-book-artists-ian-falconer-beyond-olivia/ – The blog Spirit of the Bees back in 2009 did just the loveliest