Fuse 8 n' Kate

This week's challenge from Kate: Deliver unto her a "classic picture book about divorce". So Betsy conferred with her fellow librarians and they all agreed that there is really only one that would fit the bill: A little number from 1986. There's a number of reasons for this selection. The book remains popular to this day. This book is still in print (have they updated the terms since its original publication? This is unclear). And, as Kate points out, this is clearly more a guide than something you might read cover-to-cover. So how has it aged over the years?

Show Notes:

- Here is the website of Ms. Laurene Krasny Brown. And here are her current and upcoming shows. Check one out if you have a chance: http://www.laurenekrasnybrown.com/

- To answer the question of whether or not divorce is up or down since 1986, we found this article from TIME Magazine, published last year: https://time.com/5434949/divorce-rate-children-marriage-benefits/

Here is a list of Recommended Divorce Picture Books, for those of you interested in books that are slightly more recent:

- Two Old Potatoes and Me by John Coy, ill. Carolyn Fisher

- Fred Stays With Me by Nancy Coffelt, ill. Tricia Tusa

- Here and There by Tamara Ellis Smith, ill. Evelyn Daviddi

- Why Do Families Change by Jillian Roberts, ill. Cindy Revell

- Living With Mom and Living With Dad by Melanie Walsh

For the complete Show Notes, please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/08/12/fuse-8-n-kate-dinosaurs-divorce-by-laurene-krasny-brown-ill-marc-brown/

Betsy had been meaning to do this, Eastman's third most famous easy book, and the first one he ever did on his own, for a while. Now, for years Betsy has believed that Eastman has illustrated "night" better than most artists. After this recording she feels justified in having felt this way.

Show Notes:

If you'd like to see all the ratings of this podcast, they are now avaiable for viewing at https://www.betsybirdbooks.com/lesson-plan

Curious about Kate's mention of Can Can Wonderland? You learn a lot more about it at https://www.cancanwonderland.com/

For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/08/05/fuse-8-n-kate-sam-and-the-firefly-by-p-d-eastman/

ALERT! Before we begin, we'd like to make note that this is number 97 of our podcast so far. To celebrate our upcoming 100th we have (A) Created a Facebook page(found at https://www.facebook.com/Fuse8Kate) and (B) On Monday, August 5th at 8 p.m. CST we will record a Facebook Live episode of episode #100. So in case you've ever wanted to see the images of a "classic" picture book as Kate discovers them, now you can.

This week, we wonder something. Is Martha the better hippo? Hard to determine with a single George and Martha book, but we have some serious opinions on the matter. This week we discuss methods of hiding food you don't want to eat (when you're a grown-up), how "The Tub" was a pre-#MeToo story, and why Rev. Buck McTooth is truly a Doctor of Divinity. Listen for the great Kate line: "Look the woman may be vain but she makes you food, and she doesn't spy on YOU during YOUR private moments, so let her have her mirror!" She also notices that the book ends with Martha saying that friends tell you the truth, and the first story was about how hard it was for George to tell Martha the truth. That's how you do it, James. That's how you do it.

Show Notes:

This book clocked in at #48 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll back in the day: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/29/top-100-picture-books-48-george-and-martha-by-james-marshall/

Here is the Tig Notaro show Kate was referring to. We found the first episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO1Sfb-j9FU

For the full Show Notes please visit us at http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/07/29/fuse-8-n-kate-george-and-martha-by-james-marshall/

It seems very odd to us that one of the most commercially successful children's books to ever be published in the United States has an almost entirely obscure author to its name. The mystery of Janette Sebring Lowrey hangs over our latest episode of this podcast. Neither Kate nor Betsy had ever read this book before, and yet it bragged back in 2001 of having sold nearly 15 million copies. The illustrator's wife even joked that the artist was pleased that he'd given the Bible a "run for its money". But is it actually any good? We consider The Poky Little Puppy on all his roly-poly glory.

Show Notes:

You could have a lot of fun reading the Gabriel Roth Slate article Why So Poky? The Scourge of Terrible Canonical Children's Books. Seemed pertinent to our podcast, don't you think? https://slate.com/culture/2015/06/the-poky-little-puppy-and-other-awful-canonical-childrens-books.html

For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/07/22/fuse-8-n-kate-the-poky-little-puppy-by-janette-sebring-lowrey-ill-gustaf-tenggren/

Lists of "classic" picture books are often white white white, with the occasional racist inclusion. That's why I'm always on the lookout for picture books from the past that could be deemed "classic" and come from a variety of different perspectives and voices. When it occurred to Betsy the other day that she and Kate hadn't done Stevie yet on this show, she was a little mad at herself. It wasn't that the show hadn't done a Steptoe before (see: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters) but this was the book that put the man on the map. And, as you will see, it became a huge deal.

Show Notes

Here is the editorial in Horn Book where Linda Sue Park points out that people have been doing the work to bring out children's books from a wide range of points of view for decades. https://www.hbook.com/?detailStory=editorial-try-to-remember-july-august-2019

Merriam-Webster defines "hobbledehoy" as "an awkward gawky youth." Nailed it, Betsy.

What are mickies and marshmallows in the park? A little help, folks.

You can read the kooky Kirkus review of the book here. What on EARTH is the only painting in the book doesn't work?!? https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/john-steptoe/stevie

As Betsy mentions, here is Gordon (Gordon with hair) on the Sesame Street episode from 1969 where he reads the book. Actor Matt Robinson's reading is amazing. We could watch this over and over all day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpbnKOlkjyc

Here is the blog post from Tales of an Elementary School Librarian called Waning Crescents and Wild Things that discusses the changes of the moon in Where the Wild Things Are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpbnKOlkjyc

For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/07/15/fuse-8-n-kate-stevie-by-john-steptoe/

Meet this week's special guest star, Lucy Knisley! To our infinite delight, when asked what book she'd like to do for the podcast she selected one we'd never done. Today's magnificent title is Shrek! We get to talk about whether or not Shrek is actually Superman, how the succulent wedding bouquet was ahead of its time, and what this book has in common with the film US.

Show Notes:

Here is the Salon article "Shrek" Is Not Shrek: https://www.salon.com/2001/05/24/anti_shrek/

While we were unable to find the 1996 Children's Circle Video "The William Steig Library", we were able to find this brief interview with the man in which he says he's not a good illustrator. Suuuuuuuure, buddy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k8TiUftKF0

Extra points to Macmillan for getting Stanley Tucci to do the audiobook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmUC7nsrzlg

The two ramen related books that are out in 2019 that are mentioned on the podcast are Let's Make Ramen by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan and Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando is by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Kana Urbanowicz.

For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/07/08/fuse-8-n-kate-shrek-by-william-steig-with-special-guest-lucy-knisley/

At last. After 93 episodes, Kate and Betsy have finally come face-to-face with the great Sendak masterpiece. Why did we decide to do the book today, rather than wait until we hit the 100th episode mark? Because, my friends, today is an auspicious day in and of itself. Today Fuse 8 n' Kate the podcast officially becomes a School Library Journal property. You won't see any changes on your end, but believe us, we've been cleaning up our act a bit. Our episodes, you may have noticed, are now a tight 30 minutes. We'll be having more guest stars as well, which should be fun.

But for today's book, we finally hit the title that appeared at #1 on Betsy's Top 100 Picture Books poll, both times that she conducted it. Does it deserve its everlasting fame and glory? Find out for yourself as Kate and Betsy pick the darn thing apart. And believe us, there is a special kind of challenge in finding new things to say about this old chestnut.

Show Notes:

- Here is something Betsy wrote up when this book appeared as #1 on her poll:

"In terms of the scary factor (which is to say, whether kids would end up traumatized by the book) Nordstrom has this to say on the subject: “I think this book can frighten only a neurotic child or a neurotic adult.”  Later in Dear Genius (the collection of her letters) there’s an amusing note from 1974 from Ursula to Sendak where she mentions that Fran Manushkin wants to know if Sendak will be changing the last word in the book.  Says Nordstrom, “As you know, new plates are being made and before the new edition comes out we wonder if you want to change the last word from ‘hot’ to ‘warm.’  I can’t for the life of me remember the history of all this but I believe we heard from a couple of children (or their rotten parents) that ‘and it was still warm’ would be better than ‘and it was still hot’ because children don’t like hot foot [sic]. Listen, have you ever had such great editorial comment in your life?” For some reason I like this little passage very very much, though “hot” is clearly the superior word."

- Here is the 1983 CGI clip of the movie that was never made from this book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-EpaPsJe-c

At one point I mention a great site called Terrible Yellow Eyes which solicited unique Wild Things art from a variety of different artists. It hasn't been updated in years but it's still out there for you to see: http://www.terribleyelloweyes.com/

For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/07/01/fuse-8-n-kate-where-the-wild-things-are-by-maurice-sendak/

While normally the podcast posts its episodes on Mondays, it seemed that for this book, of all books, a Tuesday debut was the most appropriate. When our hosts' mother suggested they do a David Wiesner title, specifically this one, Betsy pooh-poohed her. Silly mother. Surely they'd already done it. Turns out, not so much. So it was with great joy that Betsy handed it over to Kate. In this episode you'll get to hear Betsy's dead-on theremin imitation (which sounds oddly similar to her playing-the-saw imitation), as well as discussions of whether or not these are frogs AND toads, what happens if you loose your lilypad, and the sad fate of the little old woman in front of the TV.

Show Notes:

Go to David Wiesner's site for further Tuesday information here: http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/wiesner/books/books_tues.shtml#

Read his Caldecott acceptance speech: http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/wiesner/bio/bio3_cald.shtml

It came in at #24 on the Top 100 Picture Books poll: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/11/top-100-picture-books-24-tuesday-by-david-wiesner/

As it turns out, and this was a surprise to me, the short film they made of the book is shockingly beautiful. The animation is above par and the background music in particular is quite enchanting. It was created by the "Music and Animation Collection of Paul McCartney". Consider it a surprising treat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV5LOHdrdP8

"Amelia Bedelia turns passive aggression into a kind of art." We do highly recommend the New Yorker piece he Secret Rebellion of Amelia Bedelia by Sarah Blackwood. A reinterpretation of something people have ignored and disregarded for years. : https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-secret-rebellion-of-amelia-bedelia-the-bartleby-of-domestic-work

Bags of Love was the site where Betsy created her scarf for this past Sunday's Newbery/Caldecott/Legacy Banquet. Trust me, you can make your own too. Hers was made up entirely of blue Caldecott Award and Honor winners: https://www.bagsoflove.com/design-your-own-scarf

For the full Show Notes please visit http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/06/25/fuse-8-n-kate-tuesday-by-david-wiesner/

Betsy's question, walking into this podcast, was to figure out whether or not this book has anything to actually say to the 21st century child. Is it still pertinent or is it like some kind of archaic Kids Say the Darndest Things? Betsy and Kate talk about the historical view of American childhood and how it might have affected this book's popularity in certain decades. As you might expect, the book also causes them to get a little philosophical at times. "This is like Schrödinger's 's Cat. The hole both is and is not there when the digging takes place. Right. Okay. As long as we're clear. This is complex physics." Kate discovers that the absolute best way to read this book from 1952 is as a Beatnik. Oh, and I hope you like terrible terrible British accents, because we have lots and loads to give when quoting a discussion of The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

Show Notes:

The Ruth Krauss book coming out later this year is Roar Like a Dandelion, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier.

We would be amiss in not mentioning, once again, the invaluable Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI, and Transformed Children's Literature: http://www.upress.state.ms.us/books/1541

Here is a Kirkus Review A Hole Is to Dig that isn't really enamored of the text: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ruth-krauss/a-hole-is-to-dig/

For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/06/17/fuse-8-n-kate-a-hole-is-to-dig-by-ruth-krauss-ill-maurice-sendak/

Once an author up and dies on us, it's the perfect moment to attempt a read of that writer's best known picture book. So it is that Judith Kerr was the perfect subject to consider for this episode. This is a book that ignores the rather good advice that, "If you're in a picture book and a tiger says he's hungry, run the other way." Kate discovers that this may well be one of the MOST English picture book the show has ever encountered. She also identifies this tiger as a brat as a cat and you KNOW how Kate feels about brats. Meanwhile, Betsy shares her Jeopardy suspicions, my goodness Daddy's Guinness is gone, and the sisters get to say the phrase "there is nothing Nazi about this tiger."

Here is an obituary for Judith Kerr for those of you with an interest in her life : https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/23/obituaries/judith-kerr-dead.html

No. Really. What exactly IS "tea"?

Here is the wacky Wikipedia entry I refer to. Clearly this is my favorite found about a children's author thus far: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Kerr

For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/06/11/fuse-8-n-kate-the-tiger-who-came-to-tea-by-judith-kerr/