Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “You know, I like the Fuse 8 n’ Kate podcast, but would it kill them to occasionally do terrible French accents for long periods of time?” then have I got a show for you!! This week Kate’s sick, but we plod onward and upward. In the course of things the episode turns out to be a momentous one. It’s also one of our funnier ones, though I may be biased on that point. In any case, I doubt you’ll see where this conversation will turn. It’s a shocker. I’m still reeling.
Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or your preferred method of podcast selection.
Show Notes:
– So, naturally, I had to look up what Kate was talking about. Apparently I missed this 9-second Vine of Nickelback called “Look At This Graph”. Full explanation here.
– Here’s the thief that Kate found so creepy.
– Sorry, Kate, but that is CLEARLY a woman!
– A glimpse of the Foreign Legion fellow.
– Actually, the book came out in 1939. So that whole “Post-WWII” bit . . . um . . . yeah.
– Tiger in the zoo. Something is wrong with that beast.
– No. They visit her after Day Ten. I say it’s between 1-10 days. Nope. It’s post ten.
– I mean, look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t agree that a 6-year-old sharing her chocolates is extraordinary.
– Hands behind their heads. Kickin’ it. Cool as all get out.
– In my first Top 100 Picture Books poll, Madeline was at #8. When I did the poll again? It sank to #47.
– I guess Kate won’t be watching this movie anytime soon.
– The Bemelmans Bar? So very awesome. Worth a trip, I assure you. It’s located in The Carlyle.
– Aww. Love Frankenstein. It did have a sequel called Frankenstein’s Christmas as well.
– For a marvelous post on the gaping, huge flaw, please read the marvelous Peter Sieruta piece at Collecting Children’s Books called Something is Not Right: A Madeline Mystery.
– To be fair, I wasn’t that off when I described a tarantella:
– Here’s some additional information on Kate’s Two Dots game.
– And, of course, I was recommending Jason Shiga’s Demon graphic novel series. Available where all fine books are sold.
Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate
About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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I hope Kate is feeling better — I think she’s harsher on books when she’s not feeling well! Also, I have to disagree with you, Betsy: Madeline’s Rescue is clearly superior to the original. (Proof that adding a dog to any book is an immediate improvement. Or that Childhood Me could not identify with appendicitis, but could definitely relate to the desire to own a dog.)
But really, you must do Eloise at some point in the future. Maybe next time Kate is sick, because I despise Eloise!
I appreciate Kate being willing to do the podcast while sick! I love listening to the two of you discuss books, especially because of the contrast between picture book expert and picture book …. novice? Is that the right word? I love it when Kate points something out that Betsy had never noticed before – it helps me see familiar things in a new light, too.
That being said…. (you could probably tell this was coming)…. I think maybe being sick made Kate cranky….? And harsher? I mean, brat is pretty strong here.
I like Madeline’s sharing and her bravery; isn’t her attitude toward the tiger a novel thing for little girl in a 1939 picture book? Or, possibly, Kate just has a real heart for tigers. I mean, she was against Jim biting one, too.
Thanks for the great podcast! I really enjoy it.
Hmmm. I like this tiger theory. What’s a classic tiger-related picture book than I can pull on her?
Thanks for listening!
Off the top of my head, with long but super problematic roots: Sam and the Tigers.
Or, for classic in training status: Mr Tiger Goes Wild.