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July 18, 2022 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Robert the Rose Horse by Joan Heilbroner, ill. P.D. Eastman

July 18, 2022 by Betsy Bird   4 comments

I was in my library’s children’s room the other day and a staff member saw me looking perturbed in the easy book section. When she asked what I was looking for I confessed that what I really needed was a copy of Robert the Rose Horse. Though in the business for many years, she’d not heard of that particular P.D. Eastman collaboration with Joan Heilbroner, and could you blame her? I myself would have probably have missed it if (A) I hadn’t had children that I read to and (B) I hadn’t stumbled on the mighty useful “Big” beginner books from Random House that combined many of Seuss’s “I Can Read” titles into a single volume. Today’s title comes to us via The Big Red Book of Beginner Books, and it truly lives up to expectations. I promised Kate we’d do a goofy book. I may have actually overdelivered.

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

Show Notes:

I got all my thymus and T-Cell information from this information from Radiolab and its episode My Thymus, Myself.

If this image of Robert’s mom knitting like this bugs you as much as it bugs me then feel free to read my posts on The Scourge of Skyward Knitting Needles here and here and here and here and here.

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Have You Seen This Dog? Which is to say, have you ever seen a P.D. Eastman book where you haven’t seen this dog?

NACB = Not a COVID Book.

This vet? Brother of the guy from Fish Out of Water. Compare!

I love how rich guys in books always wear stuff like sashes. If you’ve got it, flaunt it.

This is like the movie Get Out but with horses. These horses have dead eyes.

Plus, this guy is holding a friggin’ riding crop. Run, Robert! Why are you still here?!?

Talented man, P.D. Eastman, but the guy simply couldn’t draw a butt without making them square shaped. It’s weird, dude.

Oh boy. This is Robert hitting rock bottom. Those eyes. They haunt you.

Could be robbers. Could be beatniks. It’s a toss up.

Ugh. Guns in easy books. Not even picture books.

So Kate noticed this little guy in the crowd scene. He seemed to stand out in some way. She asks me, point blank, “Is this P.D. Eastman.” Let’s compare and contrast. I’d say the odds are good:

Getting some major vibes of the end of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with this shot.

If you’re curious, I too highly recommend Cynthia Kadohata’s A Place to Belong.

Kate Recommends: Throwing Axes

Betsy Recommends: The show Baking Impossible

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

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Fuse 8 n' KateJoan HeilbronerP.D. EastmanRobert the Rose Horse

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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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. Ms. Yingling says

    July 18, 2022 at 7:16 am

    Fascinating! I’m sure I read this as a child. Your attention to tiny details made my day. Who knew Eastman drew himself into the book!

    • Betsy Bird says

      July 18, 2022 at 9:52 am

      Full credit to Kate. I’ve read the book a million times and never spotted him.

  2. Sara says

    July 18, 2022 at 11:58 am

    This and ‘Sam the Firefly’ were the favorites last year for my 4 year old. ‘Robert’ is a fun read aloud. 🙂

    • Betsy Bird says

      July 18, 2022 at 9:56 pm

      SAM is just the best. There’s this shot of the book’s hand that’s just beautiful. Makes me wish I could see Eastman’s art for adults.

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