Fuse 8 N' Kate

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

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. Y

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 ov

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

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

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-th

"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

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 l

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=Cj0KCQjw4omaBhDqARIsADXULuVAZaA8xjqRXbgtKtbBt8LRjhKcwPJRoqskch

"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-a