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Fuse 8 n' Kate

Fuse 8 n' Kate

By: Betsy Bird and Kate Ramsey
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 Two sisters, one in L.A. and one in NYC, both move to the Chicago area and start a podcast. The premise? Picture books and are they really that great? Join Kate and Fuse 8 (Betsy Bird) as they track down a picture book "classic" each episode and try to determine if it deserves to remain in the canon of children's literature. Profile image by Andrea TsurumiAll rights reserved
Episodes
  • Episode 375 - Crictor

    Episode 375 - Crictor
    Aug 11 2025
    In honor of Tomi Ungerer and the current Three Robbers exhibit at The Rabbit Hole going on right now (to say nothing of their upcoming symposium celebrating The Three Robbers and Tomi’s legacy and featuring presenters from around the world on November 14 and 15, 2025), I thought it prudent to revisit Mr. Ungerer once more. And what better way to do so than to look at what may be one of his few books that has remained in print from Day One. A Reading Rainbow book and not something you'd hand to some someone with herpetophobia, we discuss some of Crictor's inherent similarities to Lyle the Crocodile and Babar the Elephant. We also talk about O-shaped packages full o' snake. You have been warned. For the full Show Notes just go here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2025/08/11/fuse-8-n-kate-crictor-by-tomi-ungerer/↗
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    30 mins
  • Episode 374 - Traction Man is Here!

    Episode 374 - Traction Man is Here!
    Aug 4 2025
    As American-born sisters, neither Kate nor Betsy grew up knowing who Action Man was or what his life entailed. None of that has stopped us from truly appreciating Mini Grey's lovely ode to a kid, his toy, and their various adventures. Did it come out after Toy Story? It did. Was it derivative? It was not (though there are some Buzz Lightyear similarities). British to its core, Mini Grey was in the ZONE when she wrote this one!! We've not done a Mini Grey title since Ginger Bear, so clearly we're due. We also don't want to give too much away but this title entirely charmed Kate, and for good reason. It appeared on Betsy's Top 100 Picture Books polls TWICE. And truly? It's just a fun book for one and all. Remember it all over again. Look for the full Show Notes about the book here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2025/08/04/fuse-8-n-kate-traction-man-is-here-by-mini-grey/
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    32 mins
  • Episode 373 - Come On, Rain!

    Episode 373 - Come On, Rain!
    Jul 28 2025
    This week Kate challenged Betsy to come up with a summer book to do on the podcast. And sadly, the book Betsy initially came up with was originally published in 2006 (and we have a 20-year rule on the books we can consider). Betsy found an alternative title instead, and it involves the combo of a Newbery Award winner (Hesse) with a Caldecott Award winner (Muth) (though we don't think either had won those respective awards when this book originally came out in 1999). It has been used in classrooms for years and years and years... but does it deserve to be called a classic? We discuss representation without firsthand personal experience and how well this book would fly with a publisher today. For the full Show Notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2025/07/28/fuse-8-n-kate-come-on-rain-by-karen-hesse-ill-jon-j-muth/
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    30 mins
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