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.

“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