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

January 23, 2023 by Betsy Bird 1 Comment

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller

January 23, 2023 by Betsy Bird   1 comments

Hat tip to author/artist Jerrold Connors for realizing, long before we did, that Arnie the Doughnut would hit its 20th anniversary here in 2023. At last we can tackle the story of a sentient pastry and his longing for meaning in a cold, hungry world. Since its initial publication, the book has managed to create sequels, a musical, graphic novel/early chapter books, and more. But will it stand up to Kate’s scrutiny? I rant about New York City doughnuts and why they suck, how Arnie both thinks too much and not enough, and roads made of Oklahoma maps.

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 failed to mention it on the show, but Arnie the Doughnut actually appeared as #90 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll I conducted back in 2012.

Yay! I’ll be attending the Bologna Book Fair again this year. Are you going? If so, let me know. Let’s hang out! As of this precise moment in time, I have no plans!

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Readers, you decide. Are lava lamps antiques or not? I vote yes. Kate votes no.

The place to get doughnuts in America? It’s Brown’s Doughnuts in Ocean City, New Jersey. Fight me, if you dare.

Considering the fact that Nikki Minaj song Super Freaky Girl, based on the Rick James song Super Freak, is on the radio right now, I love that Kate located a song at the beginning of this book based on that same Rick James song here.

This is my favorite doughnut:

What’s yours?

We’re actually a bit fascinated by this particular type of landline phone, seen here. It’s a brilliant bit of 2003 nostalgia.

Kate noticed this second place trophy in Mr. Bing’s cabinet. I didn’t get a good look at it before, but it’s clear now that this is for bowling. Why do I know this? Because bowling plays a HUGE role in an upcoming Arnie graphic novel. That would be the book Bowling Alley Bandit, if you’re curious.

What fancy people are having a party at breakfast time?

There are a fair number of Oklahoma references in this book, and here’s another. I suspect that this was a reference to Keller’s first huge hit, The Scrambled States of America. A book we have yet to do.

Here’s Chris O’Dowd reading the book. It’s a bit abridged, but, then, it would have it be, wouldn’t it?

Those of you who missed my review of Vasilisa the Wise can find it here. The art was, to put it plainly, stunning.

Betsy Recommends: Ducks by Kate Beaton

Kate Recommends: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Arnie the DoughnutFuse 8 n' KateLaurie Keller

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

January 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Will Spring Be Early? Or Will Spring Be Late? by Crockett Johnson

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: 2023 Caldecott Contenders

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock retold by Eric A. Kimmel, ill. Janet Stevens

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, ill. Jane Chapman

by Betsy Bird

December 2022

Fuse 8 n' Kate: The Night Before Christmas, illustrated by Tasha Tudor

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Your 2023 Caldecott Comment Card

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Poems As Picture Books: Zetta Elliott Discusses the Upcoming A Song for Juneteenth

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

2023 ALA Youth Media Awards

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

FREEWATER wins the Newbery Medal, live reactions from Heavy Medal bloggers

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

A Conversation with Kendare Blake about BUFFY, THE NEXT GENERATION

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

What Are Your Banned Books Week Plans This Year?

Make Picture Books Browsable | First Steps

Seven Fun-Filled Podcasts to Beat the Summer Slide | Kidcasts

Native Narratives: A new chapter for children's publishing | The Year in SLJ Covers

ChatGPT Does Readers’ Advisory | Top Stories on SLJ

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. Lin says

    January 27, 2023 at 6:10 pm

    Probably too late for this year, but “Gregory’s Shadow” by the Corduroy guy Don Freeman is a groundhog story still in print after 20+ years!

    I think of lava lamps as vintage (25 years) but not antique (100+) years.

    Reply

Speak Your Mind Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment Policy:

  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

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