Fuse 8 n’ Kate: King Stork by Howard Pyle, ill. Trina Schart Hyman
What makes an appropriate April Fool’s post? How about a book that FOOLED its own art directors, editors, publicists, etc. by including copulation? I’d say that counts! In fact, you might say that Trina Schart Hyman was the ultimate April Fool’s picture book creator! She snuck insults of book reviewers onto gravestones. She managed to get the missionary position into a Howard Pyle book. She even made her ex-girlfriend the evil queen in her version of Snow White (while she made herself one of the seven dwarfs). But going back to that case where doing the wild thing made an appearance of the margins of a table in a picture book, I’ve been hoping to do King Stork with Kate for years. And let me say, it doesn’t disappoint. It’s just as weird, sexist, strange, and funny as it was the first time I read it lo these many years ago. Think The Twelve Dancing Princesses meet Tam Lin.
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Show Notes:
I said I’d link to it. Here’s my Huffington Post piece, Startling Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature.
Kate says this is the drummer’s “He-Man moment”. He does have a certain Prince Adam quality to him.
King Stork? More like King Zaddy, amiright?
That dog? Thanks, Trina. Thanks. A little too accurate, this picture. And I think we can all agree on that.
Kate says the decapitated heads would be her preferred tattoo on her upper arm. Who can argue? That would be a great tattoo! Plus, I’m just happy that I was finally able to find for her the requisite blood and violence she’s been craving in a picture book for so long.
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“So princess comes out in a see-through dress…” Seriously, Trina?!? God, leave a little something to the imagination, girl.
Let’s talk for a moment about the witch’s interior design. I’m seeing hints of Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast by the hand sconce, but who knows what this other stuff (including the copulating couple) is alluding to.
Love the carvings at the top of these thrones. They seem to reflect the moods of their sitters.
“And then he kills the princess’s MOM!!!” Apparently that’s how you get a girl, dudes.
Kate Recommends: The new Ghostbusters movie Frozen Empire
Betsy Recommends: The number of Broadway singers that contribute to Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel as seen in this video:
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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WELL . . . first of all, before even reading beyond the opening caption I’m wondering if this entry today was an April Fool joke. Both author and illustrator are familiar names to me. I consulted Amazon to check out what folks over there thought. Sure enough, up popped an image of the same cover and several reviews. I carefully read them all and was not surprised to find diversity in opinion. However, several negative comments were directed mainly at age recommendation. I also learned KING STORK was honored in 1973 as the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award for Illustration. Way to go Trina Schart Hyman.
Encouraged by all, that this was no joke, I settled in to listen to a very interesting and fun podcast. Thanks, as always, Betsy.