Fusenews: Bubs of Hubs, Hubs of Bubs

Changes are afoot! Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, the premier children’s illustration blog, has a brand new, bright n’ shiny, top of the line, never before seen contributor!  Each month Steve Withrow will be contributing one industry-related interview to this fantabulous site, and the man has talent. But who IS Steve Withrow? All is revealed in this post.

• Racism and Disney. There are all sorts of hubbubs arising left and right these days and sometimes it’s difficult to keep track. On the one hand, Neal Gabler at the L.A. Times is saying that Walt wasn’t a racist, anti-Semite (though he cannot argue that the man wasn’t a blacklisting union buster). On the other hand, folks were under the impression that the prince in the new Princess and the Frog movie was white, and it displeased them.  Thanks to @mitaliperkins for the first link.

• The best books lists just keep on coming.  Today, it’s all about the Kirkus.  Such lists are wonderful in terms of making me embarrassed about what I haven’t read yet.  Let’s see.  Now I need to at least read The Secret World of Walter Anderson by Heather Bass, Sylvie and the Songman by Tim Binding, and The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen before the year is up.  Time is running out.  Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.

• Oh, exciting exciting!  I saw the film The Fantastic Mr. Fox over the Thanksgiving holiday and it was very charming.  Just delightful.  More delightful still is the fact that the characters are now in window displays over at Bergdorf’s for the holiday season.  No need to travel all the way to New York to see them, though.  They’re right here.  Thanks to Marci for the link.

• The other day I said to the ether, "Now I want Peter to determine whether or not it’s true that men win more children’s literary awards than women like folks always claim. Facts! I demand facts on the matter!”  The "Peter" in question was, of course, Peter Sieruta of Collecting Children’s Books.  I am now happy to report that the man came up with the answer.  I wanted facts.  He provided, and the answers may surprise you.

• Not a teacher myself, I’ve hardly ever been to NCTE (a gathering of the National Council of Teachers of English).  Fortunately, I don’t have to go.  Monica has written up a recap of the most recent one. 
  

• A little known fact: Apparently if you illustrate Lemony Snicket’s books, you begin to feel inclined to illustrate other books in the same vein.  That’s my theory anyway.  Carson Ellis, for example, illustrated his The Composer is Dead and now she’s working on a book with her husband, Decemberist Colin Meloy called The Unfortunate Demise of Whitley Rackham.  Actually, that’s more of an Edward Gorey title than anything else, but I’m gonna let my theory stand.  Thanks to Warren Truitt for the link.

• Had you told me that a very fine collection of children’s literature collections belonged to NFL player Pat McInally I probably would have puffed up my cheeks and said nothing.  I mean, how do you deal with that information?  Whatever the case, much of it is now up for auction, so those of you with disposable incomes can now own your very own pair of original pencil drawings by Tenniel.  Thanks once again to 100 Scope Notes (and who now has a new baby!) for the link.

• Daily Image:

My favorite webcomic Hark, a Vagrant (sorry, xkcd) has been on fire recently.  I’ve been chortling over her Sexy Tudors posting all day.  Almost missed this fairytale inspired trio, though.

To see them full-sized, go here.  Good stuff.

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