Fuse 8 n’ Kate: 2019 Caldecott Contenders

Last year Kate and I discussed three potential Caldecott winners, and two later received medals. This year, Kate and I are discussing Dreamers, Blue, and We Don’t Eat Our Classmates. And as per usual, Kate brings up stuff I never considered before. Questions like, how exactly does Penelope Rex eat her classmates so quickly (does she unhinge her jaw?). What does “caminantes” mean? And does the guy in Blue rename his girlfriend’s dog? Kate has a violent reaction to one of the three books that I find deeply amusing. Then we find out that Frances from Bread and Jam for Frances was originally supposed to be a vole, and my mind. Is. Blown.

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:

– Actually Pete Seeger is Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s husband’s uncle, not her own. Uncle-in-law, let’s say.

– Here is the PW interview Yuyi Morales and Neal Porter that gave a lot of great background information to Dreamers.

– Here is the Horn Book interview with Laura Vaccaro Seeger that discussed Blue.

– And here is the PW interview with Ryan T. Higgins about We Don’t Eat Our Classmates.

– Tuna sandwiches with cheese?!? What ungodly creation is this? I mean, I hate to say it but if that’s what I had to eat every day at school, I might start looking at my classmates with an uncanny glint in my eye (if you know what I mean).

– I may have to make Shaking Fist Girl. My next avatar. That’s basically me.

– Kate was completely right, by the way. The Triceratops and T.rex were contemporaries. Here’s the article I was thinking of when I said the T.rex was farther from the Stegosaurus than we are from the T.rex (Kate found it for me).

– William Omoto thinks: This is my life.

– Kate’s new tattoo. I knew we were related in some way. Compare and contrast the two photos. Look at how he’s looking RIGHT at you at the end. Creepy.

– Walter is the true bully of the book. How else to explain the fact that he’s taken away her juice box?

– Kate and I are both captivated by the the mom’s dress in Dreamers. The question is, how would you make one of your own?

– The technique with the backward letters in this book reminded me of what Shaun Tan did with the letters in The Arrival.

– This reminded Kate of Love You, Forever. Puh-leeze.

– You can find the link to the Frances / Debbi Michiko Florence, Jasmine Toguchi series here, as spotted by Emily Schneider.

– Glynis Johns read all the Frances books?!? This is huge news!

– And here is Kate’s board game. Sadly, less one Madame Mim.

– Be sure to stay for Kate’s um-num-num-num-num.

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate, Newbery / Caldecott Predictions