"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: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/01/07/fuse-8-n-kate-bread-and-jam-for-frances-by-russell-hoban-ill-lillian-hoban/

If you’re curious about the interview Betsy conducted with Russell Hoban in 2010, you can read the transcript here: https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/04/24/discovered-in-the-archives-an-interview-with-russell-hoban-2010/

Interested in getting your hands on some Emmet Otter swag? Get yer t-shirts here: https://gumroad.com/otterschicago

This shirt is a reference to this blooper reel from the Jim Henson special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqWJD1ov6oY

Or you can get these cute little felted characters for a bit of a high price here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/213103717/felted-otter-felted-muppet-emmet-otter?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=neda+art&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&bes=1

Read the rest of the Show Notes here: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2020/12/21/fuse-8-n-kate-emmet-otters-jug-band-christmas-by-russell-and-lillian-hoban/