SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

August 3, 2020 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto, ill. Susan Guevara

August 3, 2020 by Betsy Bird   2 comments

When we consider classic Latinx picture books that would qualify as #ownvoices, only a few have been covered on this show. I mean, sure we did Pura Belpre’s Perez and Martina a while ago, but let’s get a little more contemporary, eh? Today’s book premiered in 2000, which means it just barely squeezes in under the 20 year rule for inclusion. Now, granted, I probably should have started with the first book in the series, Chato’s Kitchen. The only problem with that is (A) It’s not as good and (B) I couldn’t find it on the library shelf and grabbed this instead. Eh, I like it better anyway. So sue!

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, PlayerFM, or your preferred method of podcast selection.


Show Notes:

Susan Guevara’s vision for this book goes far and beyond anything Soto could have included in the text. Her interpretation covers a wide swath of influences and references, making it one of the most interesting picture book reads out there. Read the transcript of her interview or listen to it on Teachingbooks.net here.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Here we find what appears to be an unfortunate participant in the mentioned game where one tosses a cat in a blanket. Don’t try this at home, kids.

Some picture books will make variations on famous record covers. Others just go all out and render faithful versions of them instead. In this book, you will certainly find some pretty impressive, not to mention legit, albums. Seen here: Santana, Tower of Power and The Beatles.

Behold! The latest contender for “sassy sun”. Would you call this “sassy” though? I wouldn’t, but my bar for sassiness is pretty high. It’s gorgeous, regardless.

Kate. She sees clowns where there are none. And I ask you, one and all, is this a clown next to a tribe of tiny Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or not? Viewers decide.

We’ve all felt like that at some point, buddy. Heck, if I ever got a tattoo from a picture book, I’d just get this image and subtitle it “Current Mood”.

Kate was the one that noticed that the phrase “We Are NOT a minority”. The first time it appears on the Mario Torero mural of 1978 (found, in real life, on an exterior wall of the Estrada Courts in Los Angeles).

The second time it appears in this book, it’s written in the very sky. Reminds me of the words that appear in the sky in Yuyi Morales’s Dreamers.

Such a happy/sad pinata.

If you’d like to read Gary Soto’s essay “Why I Don’t Write Children’s Literature”, you can find it here.

If you’d like to see the Spanish version of the Weston Woods video of this book, you can see it here:

And finally, here is the transcript of Kate’s horrifying review of the book. Brace yourself:

“Meow (pronounced “now”) I think this is a great book. I thought it was purrrfect. The cats meow. There was a fur-midable main character, a true pick of the litter, if you will. Purtttt-ty illustrations. It was Claw-full of action with no time for cat naps. This will go down in hiss-tory as one of the best. I liked this, like fur-real. Paw-sibbly the best cat book you’ve given me so far. I am Fur-miliar with what makes a great book at this point so I’m giving it a 7.5 for its odd illustrations and cute story. It was pawsome. I won’t remember the title.”

Does anyone need a used sister? Going cheap!

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
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.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Gerald McBoing Boing by Dr. Seuss

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margaret & H.A. Rey

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: The Mitten by Jan Brett

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: A Valentine for Norman Noggs by Valiska Gregory, ill. Marsha Winborn

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

U.S. Gov: ‘All Books Must Have Round Corners’

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Swim Team

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Write What You Know. Read What You Don’t, a guest post by Lauren Thoman

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Best Middle Grade Books 2020 | SLJ Best Books

Best Chapter Books 2021 | SLJ Best Books

First Books about a Loose Tooth | Milestones

Best Graphic Novels 2021 | SLJ Best Books

Best Young Adult Books 2019 | SLJ Best Books

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.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura says

    August 3, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    Pretty sure this will be just one more voice about this, but Palm Springs is on Hulu, not Netflix. I liked it, too! Great movie. 🙂 I knew about the first Chato book, but not this one. I watched the Weston Woods video – has their animation gotten better since the 90s? (That’s probably a ridiculous question). Thanks for the great podcast!

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      August 3, 2020 at 12:35 pm

      Hulu? This is the problem with multiple streaming services. A correction shall be uttered! Good catch.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023