Fuse 8 n' Kate

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 Kellogg, Anthony and Sabrina by Ray Prather, Lordy, Aunt Hattie, by Ianthe Thomas, with pictures by Thomas di Grazia, Don't You Remember? by Lucille Clifton, illustrated by Evaline Ness, Good, Says Jerome, by Lucille Clifton, and finally All Us Come Cross the Water, by Lucille Clifton, with illustrations by John Steptoe. As Jordan said of that last book, "The father and son picture and the grandmother and grandson picture must compete, in my eyes, for Terrifying Zombie Page of the Year." - Macomber for Congress. Macomber may not have been a real candidate but I suspect that Turkle knew someone by that name and sneaked it in. But if you know anything about it, let us know. - I think it's fair to say that it's time for Henry Holt & Company to seriously re-illustrate and re-release the Everett Anderson books. Like Betsy mentions on the podcast, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF EVERETT ANDERSON is one of the few picture books we've ever seen about a kid dealing with a classmate that's being abused. For the full Show Notes, please visit us at: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/03/25/fuse-8-n-kate-the-boy-who-didnt-believe-in-spring-by-lucille-clifton-ill-brinton-turkle/

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 you fit a pair of ice skates on one? The mystery lives on. – Okay, clever readers. You figured out the road flares in Harry the Dirty Dog. You determined the use of the open flame on the cover of Doctor DeSoto. What does it mean to “signal the alarm” when there is a fire? – As I mentioned, there was a 1987 TV special for HBO. I never saw it, but you can see a low-quality view of one of the songs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmNs_0u-2wk – Compare it then to The Lifeline Theatre production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPs3LppTIFQ – Hat tip to Ms. Yingling for identifying the bombs in Harry the Dirty Dog as road flares. Here is what they look like: https://www.etsy.com/listing/266819083/smudge-pot-road-light-vintage-road - For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/03/11/fuse-8-n-kate-lyle-lyle-crocodile-and-the-house-on-east-88th-street-by-bernard-waber/

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-illustrated-by-margaret-bloy-graham/ - Curious to see the Complete Listing of All Public Children's Literature Statues in the United States? Well here it is: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2017/03/28/updated-the-complete-listing-of-all-public-childrens-literature-statues-in-the-united-states/ - And at Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan, WI you'll find this adorable little Harry. You can clean him. Look at that adorable guy!! http://www.bookwormgardens.org/ - I wasn't wrong. The Scottish Granny did read I Need a New Bum. Here, you can watch her yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQoYjU2Fh0M For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/02/25/fuse-8-n-kate-harry-the-dirty-dog-by-gene-zion-ill-margaret-bloy-graham/

"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, they say, "The sculpture, titled Imaginary Garden, was created in 1978 and was previously housed at The Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art in California. The Imaginary Garden captures Lionni's love for botany, evident in the attention given to flora and fauna in his picture book illustrations, as well as his book of fictional plants from 1977, Parallel Botany. The sculpture is a blending of the organic and the abstract, giving the piece a fantastic, otherworldly appearance." - Here is the Frederick page on the site Teaching Children Philosophy: https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/Frederick - Thank you again, Benji Martin, for the faux and very kind award! Betsy and Kate received The 2019 Kid Lit Podcast Award: https://elementaryschoollibrarian.wordpress.com/2019/02/12/the-2019-kid-lit-podcast-awards/ - For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/02/18/fuse-8-n-kate-frederick-by-leo-lionni/

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 the great school photography project photograph that we love so very very much: https://www.deviantart.com/fit51391/art/The-Paper-Bag-Princess-144606128 - It comes in at #86 on the Top 100 Picture Book polls: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/18/top-100-picture-books-86-the-paper-bag-princess-by-robert-munsch/ - We quote from Tales for Little Rebels. Can't help but always recommend this book. It was ahead of its time when it first came out: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2009/02/16/review-of-the-day-tales-for-little-rebels-by-julie-l-mickenberg-and-philip-nel/ - Here is what The Toast had to say about The Paper Bag Princess: http://the-toast.net/2015/05/12/they-didnt-get-married-after-all-robert-munschs-the-paper-bag-princess/ - For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/02/11/fuse-8-n-kate-the-paper-bag-princess-by-robert-munsch-ill-michael-martchenko

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 little sister's) point of view. You have to watch this. Heck, skip listening to this podcast and just view this instead. Then let's find places for her to speak publicly here in the States, because we want to see her talk NOW. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8UQWdhhy8s - Betsy believed that her mother said that the odd board game she remembered from my youth was called Count Your Chickens. We have since discovered that this is not true. It was actually called (and you can understand why none of us remembered the name) A Chicken in Every Plot. It was sold by a company called Animal Town which specialized in these odd little games that had names like "Madison Avenue", "Dam Builders", and "Save the Whales". Remember, this is why we invented the internet, people. - A cookie to anyone who can name me a villainous elephant in a children's book. Go! - For the complete Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/02/05/fuse-8-n-kate-big-red-lollipop-by-rukhsana-khan

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-kate-the-day-jimmys-boa-ate-the-wash-by-trinka-hakes-noble-ill-steven-kellogg

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: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/25/top-100-picture-books-57-doctor-de-soto-by-william-steig/ - The animated short of Doctor De Soto that was nominated for an Academy Award does not appear to be online. Unless, of course, it's this Weston Woods video with its simply marvelous narratorhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGDz1orKRY8 - Read the full Show Notes here: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/01/21/fuse-8-n-kate-doctor-de-soto-by-william-steig

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/article/77766-in-conversation-yuyi-morales-and-neal-porter.html - Here is the Horn Book interview with Laura Vaccaro Seeger that discussed Blue: https://www.hbook.com/2018/12/publishers-preview-picture-books-five-questions-laura-vaccaro-seeger/ - And here is the PW interview with Ryan T. Higgins about We Don't Eat Our Classmates: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/77167-q-a-with-ryan-t-higgins.html - Kate was completely right, by the way. The Triceratops and T.rex were contemporaries. Here's the article I was thinking of when I said the T.rex was farther from the Stegosaurus than we are from the T.rex: https://gizmodo.com/less-time-separates-us-from-t-rex-than-t-rex-from-stego-1614025559 - You can find the link to the Frances / Debbi Michiko Florence, Jasmine Toguchi series here, as spotted by Emily Schneider: https://imaginaryelevators.blog/2019/01/06/jasmine-toguchi-what-was-a-talent-anyway/ - Glynis Johns read all the Frances books?!? This is huge news! - And here is Kate's board game. Sadly, less one Madame Mim: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256382/villainous - Be sure to stay for Kate's um-num-num-num-num. - Find the full Show Notes here: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/01/14/fuse-8-n-kate-2019-caldecott-contenders

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 badger in children's literature? The only other contender that comes immediately to mind is Badger from The Wind in the Willows but how many American children can remember him off the tops of their heads? - The book showed up at #27 on the Top 100 Picture Books poll: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/05/top-100-childrens-novels-27-bread-and-jam-for-frances-by-russell-hoban-illustrated-by-lillian-hoban/ - You can hear the entire text of the book here in this video. And you have to admit, that's a better egg song than the one Betsy came up with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-KggLPnRYg For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/01/07/fuse-8-n-kate-bread-and-jam-for-frances-by-russell-hoban-ill-lillian-hoban/

"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=cuq3AqIjtAg - Halloween is Grinch Night! Betsy still harbors a weird affection for this. Partly because Hans Conried (who starred in the live action Seuss film The 10,000 Fingers of Dr. T) did the Grinch's voice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygSEkwRCQPM For the complete Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/12/18/fuse-8-n-kate-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-by-dr-seuss/

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 will make you sad you missed your chance to see it live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0frEnxt1tM - In case you missed it, you can see the NPR Book Concierge here: https://apps.npr.org/best-books-2018/ For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/12/11/fuse-8-n-kate-the-latke-who-couldnt-stop-screaming-by-lemony-snicket-ill-lisa-brown/

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://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/harrisburdick/index.html - For The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, here is the official video the authors made of it and awww! Walter Dean Myers! Stay for the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=M3kpYep7EQw - You can see some animations for two of the stories here. The animation for The Seven Chairs isn't too bad, but Uninvited Guests is creeeeepy... http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/harrisburdick/inspired_by_burdick.html - Watch this song inspired by The Seven Chairs instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKYkFsggPK8 - The 2008 musical of the show did indeed exist. Here's a song for "Under the Rug" performed at the 92nd Street Y: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrqTNUx7Uxg - For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/12/03/fuse-8-n-kate-the-mysteries-of-harris-burdick-by-chris-van-allsburg

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-controversies/ - Pitfall came out in 1982, by the way. - For the record, the song "Cat's in the Cradle" came out in 1974. The same year as this book. Coincidence?!? - There are two articles on Arrow to the Sun on the blog American Indians in Children's Literature. The first dates back to 2006: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2006/10/gerald-mcdermotts-arrow-to-sun-gerald.html - The second from 2009 looks at the book's discussion guide: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2009/04/scholastic-guide-to-arrow-to-sun.html - Ten years later that discussion guide is still going strong on the Scholastic site: http://www.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=32388 - This would be the "book" sequence in Hocus Pocus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKNm3KVDq28 - Go here to see The Neon Museum of Las Vegas: https://www.neonmuseum.org/ - For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/11/26/fuse-8-n-kate-arrow-to-the-sun-by-gerald-mcdermott