“If this really is the ghost of the broom, I hope it hacks the men to pieces!” We’re discussing another Chris Van Allsburg Halloween title and this one has a real creep factor AND heart as well.
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg
October 19, 2020 by
Every year I have to come up with spooky classic picture books, and today’s was a recommendation from one of our fans (that would be our mom). It’s less spooky than it is autumnal, but that’s okay.
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
May 18, 2020 by
“Candyland is more complex than this game looks.” Continuity errors? Devil chimpanzees? John Cleese cameos? Kate and I discuss the book that spurred on all those movie franchises.
Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg
December 3, 2018 by
Truly a book for our times. Is there any other picture book out there that causes kids to question what they’ve been told right from the start, more than this one? I make the argument in the podcast that this book is timely. It prepares children, in an era of news that is not always […]
“You can’t go broke overestimating the intelligence of children” – Chris Van Allsburg and the Eric Carle Honors of 2013
October 21, 2013 by
There comes a time in every woman’s life when she is asked to interview a childhood idol. Put another way . . . There comes a time in my life, say every half a year or so, when I am asked to interview one of my own childhood idols. Most recently, that someone was Carle […]
Fusenews: On Beyond Flummoxed
December 18, 2012 by
In a weird way, Twitter sort of made my Fusenews posts this side of obsolete. If you want cool things to see online it’s often just a case of knowing whom to follow. And yet I love my little Fusenews. Pressed as I am for time today, let’s pretend that these are little tweets: Pinterest […]
Top 100 Picture Books #50: The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg
May 29, 2012 by
#50 The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg (1984) 38 points This is such a great mysterious book. I love sharing this book with a group of students who think they have it all figured out. This book never fails to stop them in their tracks. After we read it, they always have […]
Top 100 Picture Books #56: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
May 25, 2012 by
#56 The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1985) 32 points After hundreds of readings, I still cry at the end of this book. – Susan Lang Perfect story, perfect pictures. – Rose Marie Moore This is the second Christmas picture book to grace our list so far. Now many authors will tell you that […]
Video Sunday: Weirdly supple crystal balls
September 11, 2011 by
Oh good. Now we have a rallying cry. Bonus. Thanks to Maureen Johnson for the link. Travis at 100 Scope Notes recently discovered the author video cache to beat all author video caches. As he puts it “I challenge you to a good ol’ fashioned game of ‘I Bet I Can Find a Video Interview […]
Fusenews: Polar bear, polar bear, what do you see?
April 14, 2011 by
Howdy, folks. I’m starting off today with a little podcast-related item. Back in the day I tried podcasting for sport. It was fun (I had my own intro music and everything) but after a while it became clear that podcasting is a labor of love best left to the professionals with their prodigious editing skills, […]
Review of the Day: Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg
January 15, 2011 by
Queen of the Falls By Chris Van Allsburg Houghton Mifflin Harcourt $18.99 ISBN: 978-0-547-31581-2 Ages 4-9 On shelves April 4th The word “daredevil” conjures up different images for different people. Speaking for myself, when I hear it I instantly picture someone like Evel Knievel leaping over cars on a motorcycle. I do not picture sixty-two […]
Eric Carle Honors 2010 (Also Known as More Party Party)
October 14, 2010 by
Yeah, this week is party week, baby! First I recap a Robert Forbes party alongside Cynthia von Buhler’s event of the year. Now I turn my attention to a party beneath a bridge. The 59th Street Bridge, if you’re going to be technical about it. Picture, if you will, a glassed enclosure nestled sweetly beneath […]
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