Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, ill. Mary Azarin
Here we are in a great glorious new year, and what am I doing? I’m directing your attention backwards in time to 1998. Heck, technically I’m going even farther back in time with one of our rare nonfiction considerations on this podcast. Travel to the late 19th century and meet a controversial figure. Citizen scientist or man who mucks with the scientific record? Only you can judge when you listen to our latest episode on the Caldecott Award winning title Snowflake Bentley. Today we discuss our new year’s predictions for 2024, what “woodcut cheek” is in picture books (trust me, it’s a thing), whether this early manipulation of photographs was an issue in authenticity, and more.
And by the way, before you comment here, Kate reminded me that we did do one other picture book biography in the past. It was The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Brian Selznick.
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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 mean it. Check out the snowflakebentley.com gift shop folks. I know the holiday season is pretty much through but there are some CHOICE gifts on there!
Personally, I get it. It’s hard to write dedications in books. But Mary Azarian lives in Vermont. Is there really never enough snow, Mary? Wowzah.
How much wood could a woodcut cheek if a woodcut could check cheek? The fact of the matters is that when you are illustrating with woodcuts in children’s books AND you insist of creating human figures, their cheeks are, inevitably, gonna look like this. It’s no one’s fault except that of the medium.
We do get that Mr. Bentley is supposed to be fifteen in this image, but boy he sure looks like a 45-year-old mom wearing her husband’s flannel here. Not that I’d know from personal experience…
In terms of Willie’s new camera, it is said that it was, “taller than a newborn calf.” Kate points out that it’s the table that holds that particular honor.
From a certain angle I mistook Bentley’s mustache for his teeth. Creeeeepy!
I’m with Kate on this one. That old woman? “My butt hurts for her.” Give that woman a chair, people!
While this may not strike you as the most impressive backmatter you ever saw, please bear in mind that this was in a book from 1998. For the time period this was incredible!!
Kate Recommends: The podcast MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Betsy Recommends: Not buying Greek honey. Specifically, THIS Greek honey. If you want to see my TikTok on this evil honey (prior to its explosion in my bag) you can see it here.
Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate
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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I was lucky during 13 years of full-time RV living to visit the Snowflake Bentley Museum. Last year I became a resident of Maine and spent my first (and hopefully last) winter there. I hated almost everything associated with the cold climate. However, the sheer natural beauty of the season will stay with me forever. The diamond sparkle effect of sun and moon on snow is a natural phenomena not to be missed. I also visited White Sands National Park in New Mexico where the sand seemed much like “user friendly” snow to me minus cold temperatures. The animal tracks were so special.
I think the uniqueness of snowflakes is an awesome natural wonder. I’m betting SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY would have appeared on the 31 Days 31 Lists the year it was published in categories of Biography and Nature. What a wonderful book.
I forgot to add Happy New Year to you, Betsy and thanks for a Fuse #8 ‘n Kate episode to start the 2024 year off on the right foot. I just added a FUSE 8 ‘n Kate 2024 folder to my Bookmarks. I have collected every episode since you first began production and will look forward to new ones all year long.
You also did review the picture book biography They Were Strong and Good. Which is totally fine to forget about because is was worth zero stars. (I just happened to listen to that episode this week in my attempt to finish/catch up in listening to all the episodes!)
Ha! I suppose that that is true. In the broadest possible sense of biography, but it counts.
I love Jacqueline Briggs Martin’s books! She does such a great job of seeking out interesting nonfiction topics and wonderful people to write biographies about.
Hi! You mentioned you would include a link to an article you read about how children prefer reading nonfiction (I’m listening as I type). I don’t see it here—-could you please share it? I’m doing some action research on my library’s nonfiction collection.
Ah, you are correct! That was silly of me to forget to include. This Washington Post article is, I think, the one I meant. Hope so anyway. Thanks for the reminder!
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi0svi4vNuDAxXGJDQIHeGBDqsQFnoECB8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Feducation%2F2021%2F01%2F26%2Fwhat-kids-like-to-read%2F&usg=AOvVaw1m9DbwdDBOUrfsjJIw_ddG&opi=89978449