Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman

I don’t mean to brag but in this episode I do this seamless transition from a discussion of polar vortexes to today’s book at the top of today’s how. I’d 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 I’ve believed that Eastman has illustrated “night” better than most artists. After this recording I feel justified in having felt this way.

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Show Notes:

For me, the real thing to be amazed at here isn’t the fact that Gus is a bug that has learned how to write but rather than he’s a bug that has learned how to write IN PRINT. How’dja get those spaces between the letter, Gus?

Kate’s point would be that this was already a deeply unsafe crossroads and Gus couldn’t be blamed. “There were accidents that were bound to happen here.” Not sure I entirely agree but she’s right about the potential.

So he’s got to be at least 10,000 feet here. Kate: “If your pilot is trusting random glowy signs in the sky and not air traffic control, do NOT fly in that plane!” Betsy: “Why are you defending this firefly?”

It is a little weird how many of these people are coming in to see a movie at… we’re gonna say three in the morning. I mean, if this is summer, why is it this dark this soon?

Clearly he’s taking this firefly to the swamps to do away with him. I mean, that’s my theory. Insecticide. “Basically this is Blood Simple, but with a firefly . . . and an owl.”

Sam is clearly beginning to regret this relationship at this point.

I know it’s a little weird but I’m just enamored of how Eastman draws hands. Not buttocks, though. He gave angles to them, which is just strange, but this hand is a masterpiece.

Here is the book I mention that contains neat nighttime facts, that will be coming out on December 24th. It is Under the Milky Way by Frane Lessac:

If you’d like to see all our ratings on this podcast, I actually uploaded it to my website here. You can see everything we’ve ever rated there. Enjoy!

Curious about Kate’s mention of Can Can Wonderland? You learn a lot more about it right here.

And finally, How To by Randall Monroe, out September 3rd.

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