Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Abuela by Arthur Dorros, ill. Elisa Kleven
How the HECK have we done 327 episodes of this podcast and we haven’t yet done this book? Released in 1991, I can’t help but note that this story, of people flying above New York City, happened to come out the same year that a fellow people flying above New York City picture book came out: Tar Beach. Something about the early 90s just made people want to fly away, I guess. Today we tackle Abuela by Arthur Dorros, a book that has remained popular after all these years. Does it deserve the acclaim? We intend to find out. And if I state that this book popularized the connecting-with-your-grandparent picture book idea, then I say the other books out there owe a debt of gratitude to this one. Interestingly, this is one of the first books Kate has run across where the artist’s medium is listed on the publication page. Guess they started doing that in the 90s. Yet they never say where Abuela is from specifically. That’s something they’d correct today.
Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, Audible, Amazon Music, or your preferred method of podcast selection.
Show Notes:
You can find Arthur Dorros’s thoughts about this book here.
We figure the Instagram account that tracks Newspapers in Kidlit will appreciate this image. Love that Jewish representation too.
Mind you, we figure there should probably be an Instagram that is called Fashions in Kidlit out there. If you’ve ever wanted to make an Instagram account, your welcome.
“It’s chaotic but so is New York.”
In this wild cluttered window, Kate was very impressed by how Kleven suggested the presence of cigarettes and alcohol without actually showing them.
Here’s something Kate notice. No Twin Towers! They could have popped up at any point, considering the 1991 publication date, but never do.
Kate Recommends: The board games Priorities and Medium
Betsy Recommends: Theater Camp, now streaming on Prime.
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 love Kleven’s art. One of my favorite books of hers is The Lion and the Little Red Bird. Kids love predicting what color the lion’s tail will be next and trying to figure out how it changes color.
Oh, and I love The Puddle Pail. It’s just strange enough.
Hi Betsy and Kate, Abuela is a great book and definitely deserve classic status. In story time, I think I’d pair this book with Last Stop on Market Street. The real reason I’m writing, thought, is because I have the perfect name for Kate’s new dog! In light of her upcoming trip to Scotland, I suggest ANGUS! It’s a great Scottish name and Betsy, you can fill Kate in on Angus as a literary figure in Angus and the Ducks (and sequels). Pick me! Pick me!
Meg
Oh, I just adore that. Okay, I’ll let her know. I think she’ll appreciate it. And I’ll take a closer look at old Angus and the Ducks there.
Thank you!
And there’s Come Home, Angus.