I think this is the clearest case of Betsy pulling out a book for Kate that is well-known amongst children's librarians and is pretty obscure when you talk to your average layperson on the street. If for no other reason, you should listen to this episode of our podcast to hear Kate's exclamation of pure confusion and tiny squeaks of bafflement when Betsy mentions how well it did on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll (it was #14). So sit back and enjoy as the sisters discuss the logistics of how exactly one would get a blue cap off of this guy, where his fingers suddenly emerge from, how exactly you pronounce, "Tsz, tsz, tsz," and why anyone, anywhere would put on a hat previously worn by a monkey.

Show Notes:

- Gentle listeners and readers, we really do want to know. How do you pronounce, "Tsz, tsz, tsz"?

- Since this book was influenced by the work of Henri Rousseau, why not check out this picture book biography of him, The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau? http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/11/06/review-of-the-day-the-fantastic-jungles-of-henri-rousseau-by-michelle-markel/

- Why Mathematicians are Hoarding This Special Type of Japanese Chalk: https://gizmodo.com/why-mathematicians-are-hoarding-this-special-type-of-ja-1711008881

- And last but by far not least, a new podcast! The Newbery Tart podcast has much to recommend it, not least of which is a list of living Newbery Authors. If you enjoy podcasts that take deep dives into subjects pertaining to children's literature, this is a can't miss listen: https://www.newberytart.com/podcast/

For full Show Notes please visit http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/08/27/fuse-8-n-kate-caps-for-sale-by-esphyr-slobodkina

Thanks to a listener suggestion, Kate and Betsy finally crack open the Henkes box. And when you're talking Henkes, there's only one place to start. Now I should warn you right from the start that Betsy makes an egregious error in this podcast. That's right. She makes the claim that Julius, Baby of the World was published AFTER Purple Plastic Purse. On the flipside, this podcast may be the first time anyone has ever noted the presence of Ignatz Mouse from Krazy Kat in this book.

And as Kate says about the story, "It's not about the purse".

Show Notes:

- We believe Kevin Henkes ran into Susan Hirschman when he traipsed in as a stars-in-his-eyes teen. You can read a rather lovely remembrance of this moment in this Horn Book article Kevin Henkes - Twenty-Five Years: https://www.hbook.com/2005/07/choosing-books/horn-book-magazine/kevin-henkes-twenty-five-years/

- Betsy and Kate are happy to hear any alternate titles to this book. The two they've come up with so far are, "Mr. Slinger's Revenge" or "Lilly Undone".

- This book came in at #11 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/15/top-100-picture-books-11-lillys-purple-plastic-purse-by-kevin-henkes/

- The Lilly musical can actually be viewed here in its entirety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q20LPjApOAo

- Here is the link to the piece I found on Teaching Children Philosophy: https://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/BookModule/LillysPurplePlasticPurse

For the full show notes, please visit Betsy's blog at http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/08/13/fuse-8-n-kate-lillys-purple-plastic-purse-by-kevin-henkes

How do you follow up The Giving Tree? Well, that's a tricky one. We don't know why Amelia Bedelia occurred to Betsy. She's so ubiquitous that no one ever really questions her presence on classic book lists. Still, the more we thought about her, the more we wondered if she really warrants inclusion in the "canon" of children's literature (howsoever you define that).

Show Notes:

- Here is her fantastic statue, located at the Harvin Clarendon County Library in Manning, South Carolina. This was sculpted by James Peter Chaconas: https://scpictureproject.org/clarendon-county/amelia-bedelia-statue.html

- Sometimes the best thing in the whole wide world is getting to see a group of boys reenact Amelia Bedelia without the one playing the lead feeling at all embarrassed about his awesome performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uESgbsQAlEI

- Here you can find the Daily Dot piece I Accidentally Started a Wikipedia Hoax? https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/amelia-bedelia-wikipedia-hoax/

-And be sure to check out Minh Le's 2013 Bookriot piece Zooey Deschanel as Amelia Bedelia: A (Hypothetical) Match Made in Quirk Heaven: https://bookriot.com/2013/06/04/zooey-deschanel-as-amelia-bedelia-a-hypothetical-match-made-in-quirk-heaven/

- Grace Lin's newest podcast is Kidlit Women. Check it out today! She does transcripts and everything! https://www.kidlitwomen.com/http/kidlitwomenpodcastlibsyncom/

- For the full Show Notes please visit us at http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/08/06/fuse-8-n-kate-amelia-bedelia-by-peggy-parish

It's very special episode day today! Kate and Betsy are celebrating their 50th episode (where does the time go?). It seemed fitting that they mark the occasion with an important book. There are so many titles that they still haven't done that could yield wonderful conversations. As such, it seems fitting that they finally do the most requested book of their podcast. In the course of things they also manage to come up with a connection between this and Harold and the Purple Crayon, discuss how this tale may be told in 3rd Tree Perspective, and introduce the world to the medical condition we like to call "Jules Feiffer feet".

Source Notes:

- For fun, check out the Travis Jonker interview with the photographs of Shel Silverstein. Best thing you'll read all day: http://100scopenotes.com/2017/05/12/a-conversation-with-shel-silverstein/

- Betsy wasn't wrong, by the way. Giving Tree Groot truly exists: https://geektyrant.com/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-and-the-giving-tree-mashup

- Just a plug. Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature does indeed contain a two-page spread of quotes from children's book creators on The Giving Tree. One page Pro. The other one Con.

- Go here if you'd like to read "The Giving Tree at 50: Sadder Than I Remembered": https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/giving-tree-50-sadder-remembered

- Harper Collins actually collected a lot of Giving Tree tattoos on their Pinterest page here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5699937005646084/

- Want to read the biography "A Boy Named Shel"? Why not just wait for the film Coming soon to a theater near you starring, I kid you not, James Franco: http://collider.com/james-franco-a-boy-named-shel-silverstein/#images

- Sassy Gay Friend meets The Giving Tree: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYQavD9mSIc

- Shel Silverstein reads The Giving Tree: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TZCP6OqRlE

- Feel free to read Giving Tree Made Horrific here: http://the-toast.net/2013/11/13/gifts-giving-tree/

- The full text from "If the Boy From The Giving Tree Was Your Boyfriend" can be found here: http://the-toast.net/2015/07/20/boy-from-the-giving-tree-boyfriend/

- And we didn't discuss it but long ago I offered a challenge for folks to reillustrate Dr. Seuss titles in the style of other illustrators. This one from illustrator Aaron Zenz was, to my mind, one of the most brilliant: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/03/01/re-seussification-project-the-results/

For full show notes visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/07/31/fuse-8-n-kate-the-giving-tree-by-shel-silverstein/

If we are to assume that the point of this podcast is to shine a light on "classic" picture books and ascertain whether or not they deserve that designation, it's a short walk to doing the same for books from other countries. What better then than to consider a picture book that is MASSIVELY successful in England, and only mildly recognized in the States? As a reminder, it was listener Rebekah Harris-Hughes who should receive full credit for suggesting today's book. So thank you, Rebekah!

Source Notes:

-If you follow no other links in these source notes, you MUST listen to the Deep In Bear Country: Episode 156. I have never heard such insightful discussions of bullying in children's literature: https://berenstainbearcast.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/episode-156-the-bully/

- Do check out the Dean Forest and it's rather adorable Gruffalo Trail: https://www.deanheritagecentre.com/whats-on/gruffalo-trail

- Further information on checking out the Gruffalo statues at Kilmardinny Loch: http://www.glasgowwithkids.co.uk/kilmardinny-loch-gruffalo-bearsden-glasgow-review/

- You'll have to pay YouTube to see the full film of this Best Animated Short nominee, but here are some clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHoyg_pwT2w

- It is possible that the Chinese folktale this book borrowed its idea from is the 1921 collection The Chinese Fairy Book. A bit vague on the origins there, though: https://www.worldoftales.com/Asian_folktales/Chinese_Folktale_26.html

- The Gruffalo website is a bit of a trip. Watch out for its theme song. It surprises you if you don't expect it: http://www.gruffalo.com/

- There really is a Gruffalo River Ride Adventure. Would we lie to you? https://www.chessington.com/gruffalo/

- And for those of you wondering, this is the tanuki. Awwww. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_raccoon_dog

- For the full Show Notes, please visit http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/07/24/fuse-8-n-kate-everyone-poops-by-julia-donaldson-ill-axel-scheffler

This week Betsy and Kate decided that scatological was the way to go. And so, they are pleased to announce that this is honestly the first Nonfiction picture book they've done on the show. Thinking about it, this may well be the most famous Nonfiction picture book in America. We'd be interested in hearing your alternative suggestions. The sisters get to talk about all SORTS of stuff too. Square wombat poop. Poor printing jobs on the book. And then there's that mystery animal that they simply could not identify. They might need your help on that one.

Source Notes:

- Check out Taro Gomi's website here. It's worth a gander to see what Japan's top author/illustrator does on his own website: http://www.gomitaro.com/

- Well done, Kirkus Reviews! Best professional review of this book to this day: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/taro-gomi/everyone-poops/

For the full listing of Source Notes, please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/07/16/fuse-8-n-kate-everyone-poops-by-taro-gomi/

Hope you like Kathleen Turner, because in this long delayed episode Betsy is clearly doing her best rendition of her. Apologies for the gap in the episodes. Fortunately, Betsy and Kate are back in style. This week they discuss a book that has a complicated history. It would be easier if this were a more straightforward case of racism. Along the way they also discuss the Wilder Award's name change, whether people care more about animal cruelty or corporeal punishment, and the names of Kate's blisters.

Source Notes:

Here's the Wendy McClure thread about the Wilder Award that Betsy referenced: https://twitter.com/Wendy_Mc/status/1011625742201950209

In terms of the cormorans, this is indeed a legitimate fishing method: https://en.wi

David L. Ulin wrote a very interesting piece for the L.A. Times called The Story About Ping and the Invention of Nostalgia: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-the-story-about-ping-and-the-invention-of-nostalgia-20130730-story.html

If you're curious about The Good Place podcast, just come right here: https://art19.com/shows/the-good-place-the-podcast

For the full Show Notes, please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/07/09/fuse-8-n-kate-the-story-about-ping-by-marjorie-flack-ill-kurt-wiese/

The name of the game here is A Break From Brats. Betsy wanted to get Kate out of the realm of bratty children's book protagonists, so she thought the world's greatest friendship pair was the way to go. But before we get to that, the sisters do a rundown of the best and worst picture books they've ever looked at. As for the rest of the show, Kate writes down morals for every story in this book, and her interpretations aren't entirely canon. For Betsy's part, she gets to wax loquacious on her horizontal pupil theory of children's literature. Could you ask for anything more?

Show Notes:

- The Eric Carle exhibit was turned into a catalog, available for purchase. You can find Seeking a State of Grace: The Art of Arnold Lobel at the Eric Carle Museum's bookstore: https://shop.carlemuseum.org/seeking-state-grace-art-arnold-lobel

- We just want to say with sadness that apparently with the publication of The Merry Spinster, The Toast no longer hosts Daniel Ortberg's magnificent Children's Books Made Horrific. So we weren't able to provided a link here. Life is disappointment.

- Couldn't find an ideal video of it, but here's the original Broadway recording of the Toad looks funny in a bathing suit song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FetfyMbGnXo

- This isn't an ideal recording, but this singer is the strongest Snail we were able to find on YouTube, so in it goes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpuoog92e2Q

- As is mentioned, this book came in at #15 on the Top 100 poll: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/15/top-100-picture-books-15-frog-and-toad-are-friends-by-arnold-lobel/

-The Aaron Zenz version of Frog & Toad is, by far, superior to almost all others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=mq8Hz8Xv_z0

-Still, we harbor affection for this delightful French-ish version of The List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNLKeaeQ7w

- Read the full Source Notes here: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/06/11/fuse-8-n-kate-frog-and-toad-are-friends-by-arnold-lobel

It's very special episode time! Very special for a number of reasons, not least of which is the fact that Kate took five hours to edit this episode down from two and a half hours to a svelte, sleek 47:41. It was also special because it features two guests from fellow podcast Go Your Own YA. So a big time thank you to Carey and Marie for taking time out of their schedules. Finally, it was special because Kate and Betsy finally got to tackle one of the big books they've been skirting around for months. That's right. Eloise is in the house and the results are priceless! Along with a bit of random Eloise trivia, I hope you're prepared for a surprise fact. The four women were actually able to locate a joke in the original book that was excised from editions printed today. And it involves dragging a fellow children's book character through the mud. See if you can guess who it is.

Source Notes:

- Here's a link to the Go Your Own YA podcast which you most certainly must search out: https://www.goyourownya.com/

- The great Eloise heist is mentioned in this article at NPR: https://www.npr.org/2017/07/11/536655235/eloise-at-the-museum-tells-the-story-behind-the-beloved-mischief-maker

- We couldn't find any videos that have someone singing Nanny's song, but we did find this recording featuring Kay Thompson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYqqLeM2qZQ

- You can find the rest of the Source Notes here: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/06/04/fuse-8-n-kate-kay-thompsons-eloise-by-kay-thompson/

I don't think Kate and Betsy expected to get into an in-depth conversation about Miss Nelson's cosplay as Viola Swamp, and why precisely she chooses to do so, but that's the kind of podcast this is. Along the way the sisters get into what the Wicked Witch of the West might have been wearing under that dress, the fact that butterflies were angry about the gas crisis in the 70s, and whether or not Viola Swamp talks like Katharine Hepburn (special bonus: Kate and Betsy may do the worst celebrity imitations of all time).

Show Notes:

- Here's a link to the website that discusses James Marshall's gravestone. https://wandervogeldiary.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/james-marshall/

- Betsy and her co-writer Julie Danielson spoke about it at length at the Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature website here: http://wildthings.blaine.org/?p=157

- The Reading Rainbow episode is completely available here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5laqhx

-Here's the New York Times review of There's a Mystery There by Jonathan Cott: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/15/books/review-theres-mystery-there-maurice-sendak-jonathan-cott.html

- For the complete Show Notes, please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/05/28/fuse-8-n-kate-miss-nelson-is-missing-by-harry-allard-and-james-marshall/