SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • 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

April 10, 2023 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate by Arthur Yorinks, ill. Richard Egielski

April 10, 2023 by Betsy Bird   Leave a Comment

In what may be the most quintessentially “New York” picture book we’ve done to date (with hints of Where the Wild Things Are in the margins) we confront a 1987 Caldecott Award winner and tackle Betsy’s childhood memories of it along the way. Today we discuss a variation on the previously reported upon picture book It Could Always Be Worse, but with an addition of tropical birds, floating islands, and John Tenniel references.

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:

In what is clearly one of the best and strangest interviews of its kind (the Reading Rainbow-era-esque opening is one for the ages) please take some time to watch this interview with Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski on the show Books Alive for some true insider tips that you simply won’t find anywhere else:

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

I judge an artist on how well he draws an ostrich. I’m giving Richard Egielski extra points for giving this ostrich just three toes. The man does his research!

As Kate is quick to note, Eddie is totally Eddie from Frasier! Just look at him! Credit to Kate for the sharp-eyed spotting. Granted, this book came out in 1978 and Frasier didn’t debut until 1993, but you know what that means, right? Looks to me like this book served as the inspiration! [Note: I have no proof of this, but it’s possible, isn’t it?]

This is a remarkable way of showing how small a person’s apartment can be. Look at how Egielski is doing something very similar to Where the Wild Things Are with the small borders. Then, when Al and Eddie escape to the bird island, everything bleeds out to the edges, giving you a sense of space and freedom.

Giant blue bird aside, I love the details on this room. Check out the stains on the ceiling and walls. The crack in the plaster. This bathroom alone deserved the Caldecott.

Copious John Tenniel references going on here. Compare if you will.

“Al, do I look like I care?”

Love that Al’s “shorts” are merely his pant legs rolled up.

All right, folks. Is that or is that not a single Twin Tower in this shot? Remember that this book came out in 1978.

Now Al is coming back into his apartment from the bathroom. That means that the main character is moving from the right to the left. And what I have learned over the years (particularly from folks like Jon Klassen) is that Art Directors hate it when something moves from the right side to the left in a picture book. Regardless of your take on that, admire the fact that Egielski has cleverly marked the passage of time by showing how many newspapers have gathered on Al’s front door in his absence.

(A) It’s cool that Al has used that same pile of newspapers to cover his home while he paints.

(B) It’s even cooler that the color of the walls that Al is painting here match the color of the endpapers. Just LOOK at that attention to detail!

Here is a detail from the new Nathan Hale graphic novel The Mighty Bite where he shouts out The Rainbow Goblins, the last book we did on this podcast. Amazing!

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Arthur YorinksFuse 8 n' KateHey AlRichard Egielski

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 Kirkus, 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 BlueSky at: @fuse8.bsky.social

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#63)

by Travis Jonker

Good Comics for Kids

Paw & Order: The Grilled Cheese Caper | Review

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

Nine More Titles: May Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Titles

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Boost teen reading with digital comics – start with these 5 recs! (Sponsored)

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Yarn

Pably Cartaya visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Best Picture Books 2023 | SLJ Best Books

Best Poetry 2023 | SLJ Best Books

Best Young Adult Books 2024 | SLJ Best Books

Best Chapter Books 2021 | SLJ Best Books

Best Picture Books 2022 | 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 Kirkus, 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 BlueSky at: @fuse8.bsky.social

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 2024
    • 2024 Stars So Far
    • 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
    • Pearls & Rubys
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Reasons to Love Libraries
    • 2025 Youth Media Awards
    • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Read Free Poster
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies

    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 © 2025


    COPYRIGHT © 2025