MORE 'FUSE-8-N-KATE' POSTS
To change things up, Kate and Betsy read a picture book that neither of has ever seen before. At the same time, she mentioned in a previous episode that when it comes to classic Jewish picture books, the only ones we've ever done were Hanukkah based. AND it's a cult classic that came back in print two years ago
"Watch where you step." Kate identifies the true message behind Pete the Cat. Meanwhile, I get to riff on James Dean the actor (if he were ever to make a picture book), Kate tells me that hedgehogs are super smelly (who knew?), and we dive deep into Pete's confusing lineage.
"It's like the Where's Waldo of literature!" This week we're celebrating another cult classic picture book just as its author releases his adult collection MacDoodle Street. It fails the stranger danger test magnificently, sure, but we can all get behind its "inspired sense of the absurd."
"Folktales! They don't end the way you expect 'em to . . . if they're authentic." We might have quite a debate over what the oldest #ownvoices picture book published in America is, that is arguably famous to this day, and that also is written by someone who wasn't white and European. My vote goes to today's book circa 1932.
Ramona's not the only one calling aspects of Mike Mulligan into question anymore. This is a tale of "a man obsessed with his steam shovel," as well as muffs, dabbing, how precisely a steam shovel would work, and the weird placement of the acknowledgement to Dickie Birkinbush, mid-book.
There are so many things to talk about here. Spontaneous interior canine generation. The doctor's disappearing/reappearing latex gloves. Why no one assumes that there isn't another dog inside of George at the end. Whether or not George has eaten the vet at the end. And then I get into a whole thing about how this book isn't about Death but Rebirth!!
It's time for another update in one of my favorite series on this podcast: Classics From Other Countries. Normally on this show we like to consider children's picture books from America, but how fair is that? Why not consider picture books deemed classics in other countries? So let's jump on a plane and fly ourselves to Australia for our first Mem Fox classic.
Kate set me up with a challenge. We've been deeming too many books as "classics" later. What book could I produce that would engender more of a debate? Well, after all these episodes (82!) I think I've figured out Kate's least loved genre. It involves childlike art. It involves kids who aren't entirely saintly. Really, it was just a matter of time before we got to this one.
Tomi Ungerer died just this past year on February 9th so it seemed logical to me that we should try to do one of his books on the show. This begs the inevitable question, which one should we do? I had so many to consider. I decided to go with the only one I ever saw adapted by Weston Woods.
Lucille Clifton was one of the most prolific Black picture book authors in the 70s. Spring has officially sprung and I realized that today's book (which New York schoolchildren are read and given to read every single year around this time) would be the perfect way to celebrate not just the season but Clifton herself.