SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • 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 15, 2022 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Uptown by Bryan Collier

August 15, 2022 by Betsy Bird   Leave a Comment

Author/illustrators aren’t supposed to have favorites but what do you want to bet that there’s a special place in Bryan Collier’s heart for his award-winning Uptown? Since I lived in Harlem for 11 years, it seemed fitting for me to go through the book with Kate, 22 years after its initial publication. In the course of things Kate finds a prominent male member (if you know what I mean), copious chocolate squares, and a love of golf that surprised us all.

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.

Kate points out that there’s a penis on this page. But what she missed at the time is that there’s actually a penis on the cover as well. So the next time someone asks you “What picture book features a male member on its book jacket?”, you now have an answer.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

So when I was a kid the picture books I loved the most were the ones with the most delicious renditions of chocolate. And had I seen Bryan Collier’s chocolate squares turned into brownstone buildings, I would have been enthralled. Rightfully so.

Having lived in Harlem for over a decade, this image right here of 125th Street is the most accurate that I have EVER seen in a picture book. The vibrancy of the neighborhood, the life and the colors, it’s all here. It’s all splendid.

Kate got very excited when she saw this sheet music. She was pretty darn sure it was going to be jazz (as the text on the page implied). Upon closer inspection, however, this appears to be gospel or hymns. The phrase, “Dear Lord, forgive me” appears to be repeated three times.

Meanwhile the guys in the barber shop are really into golf. I mean, really really into golf. If you can find a section of this paper that refers to something other than golf, well done. Well done.

In this spread there’s a lot of discussion of James Van Der Zee. If you’re interesting in reading a picture book biography of him, please check out Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee by Andrea Loney, illustrated by Keith Mallett. It provides a delightful encapsulation of the man’s life. It’s just a pity there aren’t any portraits of his on the walls in this shot.

Sometimes it’s the little things that impress. A mention of each note landing on the boy in the audience like a butterfly, and the subtle shot of the butterfly pin in the girl’s hair.

Kate was particularly taken by the rendition of clouds in this image, like mountains in the sky. There are no mountains visible in Harlem, so this is the next best thing.

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Bryan CollierFuse 8 n' KateUptown

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

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Children’s Lit: The Year in Miscellanea

by Travis Jonker

Good Comics for Kids

No Such Thing As Perfect | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

“Best Books” Lists and Heavy Medal: A look at the year-end picks from children’s book review journals

by Steven Engelfried

Politics in Practice

November 2023 Election Hot Take: It was a good night for libraries, a bad night for censorship

by Peter Bromberg

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Start A Middle Grade Book Club for All, a guest post by Gina Soldano-Herrle

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Yarn

Christina Wyman talks about Jawbreaker

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Best Middle Grade Books 2023 | SLJ Best Books

Best Middle Grade Books 2022 | SLJ Best Books

Middle Grade Committee Offers Inside Look at Best Books

SLJ Book Reviews Editors’ Favorite Books Read in 2022

SLJ Book Reviews Editors’ Favorite 2021 Best Books Covers

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.

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

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
    • 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
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • Read Free Poster
    • 2023 Youth Media Awards
    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • 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