Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Tomás and the Library Lady by Pat Mora, ill. Raúl Colón

Kooky that we haven’t done this one yet? You betcha. It’s well known nationwide, been turned into lots of stage plays, and is generally a book that should be right up our alley. In the pantheon of heroic librarian books, where does this particular book fall out? We discuss the correct length of dinosaur teeth, sensible shoes, and how the HECK the artist created the art for this book. Honestly, we still don’t know.

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Show Notes:

I allude to the John Cage Organ Foundation in Halberstadt at the beginning of this episode. Learn more about it here.

I admire any author or illustrator who dedicates a large portion of their website to their well known titles. You can read Pat Mora’s background info on this book here.

Kate’s correct. There is no explanation on the publication page of how Raúl Colón creates his art. Like Floyd Cooper, it appears to be his very own style. Part scratchboard, part something else entirely.

Look, we don’t know much about this lady but we can guarantee one thing: She is definitely wearing sensible shoes.

For the record, when Kate asks me name a dinosaur book and a tiger book off the top of my head, here are the two I immediately thought of:

Teef! Kate found this inaccurate. I say that in an era of Gertie the Dinosaur, this is a fine long-toothed dino.

I suspect that Tomás is reading William Blake but the tiger illustrated here? Those eyes are definitely NOT shining.

Hm. Welp, this is the “Indian camp” that Tomás reads about at one point. Kate asks, “What do you think about this illustration?” Needless to say, the book doesn’t name the tribe. I can guarantee, this image isn’t in the stage play either. Probably the clearest indication yet that this book was published in 1997.

Betsy Recommends: Joining a local solar farm.

Kate Recommends: Seeing Lady Gaga’s show at Park MGM in Las Vegas.

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate