Usually Betsy knows at least a tiny bit about the authors/illustrators we do on this show. But Taro Yashima? She knew literally nothing about him, walking into this one. She got the idea to do this from The Rabbit hOle, who had mentioned recently that they're working on a Crow Boy exhibit. Looking at this 1955 winner of a 1956 Caldecott Honor, it does appear that this is about a kid who suffers from sensory overload and can focus on one thing for hours at a time. As such, Chibi does appear to have some form of ASD or neurodivergent condition. Not that a book from the 50s was capable of being as clear as books today. The book was illustrated by Japanese born Taro Yashima and represents an interesting moment in literature where the cultural stereotypes seem confined to the colors used for some of the skin tones. Is there more going on here? We discuss.

Show Notes:

Seriously, though, if you can think of any other podcasts hosted by amusing sisters, please let us know at [email protected].

Extra thanks to Marie for introduced us to the FIAR (Five In a Row) program that has kept many children's picture books in print like They Were Strong and Good.

Kate Recommends: Heather McMahan - https://heatherontour.com/

Betsy Recommends: The Elisha Cooper piece on Literary Hub, A Quiet Reply to a Life Cut Short: After a Profound Loss, How to Honor the Dead. - https://lithub.com/a-quiet-reply-to-a-life-cut-short-after-a-profound-loss-how-to-honor-the-dead/

For the full Show Notes, please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/05/09/fuse-8-n-kate-crow-boy-by-taro-yashima/