Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, ill. Brian Selznick

We heard the call and we have responded! It was noted by more than one reader that we’ve done very few nonfiction picture books on our podcast. We did do So You Want to Be President earlier this year back in February but that was pretty much it. So today, we consider a book produced back in 2001. We know that the standards to which we hold nonfiction picture books has changed in the intervening 21 years. So how does this particular title stand up today? Spoiler Alert: Surprisingly well!

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Show Notes:

I told the story of the goose puppet and Brian Selznick on my blog here back in 2011.

And you can find information on the upcoming celebration at The Rabbit Hole in Kansas City on November 18th here.

Behold! The lovechild of Dustin Hoffman and Mel Brooks!

Young Waterhouse. Quoth Kate, “Did he grow up in Hobbiton?”

When hosting a dinner party inside your proto-dino there can be only one rule: The host gets to sit in the head!

And I love that the menu is printed at the back of the beach! Bring on the pigeon pie!

I am inordinately pleased to announce that I did find a YouTube video where they sing the song that was sung about Hawkins’ dinos back in the day. If you found our own rendition inadequate then enjoy!

Let’s take a moment to appreciate these two wordless two-page spreads. I love a nonfiction book that steps back and gives it subject room for emotional moments.

The one thing I took away from this book is this image Brian made of Boss Tweed. Whatta stinker.

“Bleh”.

I love that Kate found this shot so terrifying.

I’m just all about the videos today so please enjoy this one about the dinosaurs, showing them today:

The upcoming Brian Selznick title I couldn’t think of that will be coming out in 2023 is Big Tree.

Betsy Recommends: The Maintenance Phase episode on the Daily Harvest Food Poisoning Scandal.

Kate Recommends: Wendell and Wild

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate