Fuse 8 n' Kate: In a People House by Dr. Seuss, ill. Roy McKie - A Fuse #8 Production

Outdated? Still pertinent? We debate the book that disturbed Jon Klassen as a child.

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Review of the Day: Building 903 by Lois Lowry - A Fuse #8 Production

I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed.

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The Most Delicious Inedible Food on the Market: We Talk with Chef Sohui Kim About the Toy Kitchen Cookbook - A Fuse #8 Production

What does a very first cookbook for tiny chefs entail? Why not ask a twice-nominated chef who, paired with a toy company, comes up with wooden food recipes in board book form?

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The Timeliest Children's Book Collection in the Nation: A Visit to the Tarpey-Schwed LGBT Families Children's Book Special Collection - A Fuse #8 Production

We talk with the curator of a permanent collection of our oldest queer titles written specifically for kids and teens. A fun and fascinating discussion.

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Ahead of Their Time: Comics for Kids in Need of a Reprint - A Fuse #8 Production

It seems to me that many publishers are sitting on a great big, beautiful backlog of comics just ripe for re-publication. Here are the titles that I think deserve another chance.

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Cover Reveal and Q&A: Too Big to Say with Phil Bildner and Mike Curato - A Fuse #8 Production

"I will be relentlessly defending this book. I will be defending its right to exist. I will be defending the right for young people to have access to this book and their right to read this book." - Ph...

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Odysseus on the Brain? Let's Talk to Gareth Hinds About His Own Odyssey! - A Fuse #8 Production

Got kids hankering for more info on The Odyssey? We're talking with Gareth Hinds, who did a graphic novel version that you can always turn to. Now re-released, we talk about it today.

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Ferdinand Modernized: A Discussion with Pura Belpré Winner Abraham Matias About Ugo - A Fuse #8 Production

A man of many talents, Abraham Matias joins us today to discuss painting with light, the playful process of puppeteering, and his art in the upcoming picture book Ugo.

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The Queen of Unreliable Picture Book Narration: A Jess Hannigan Q&A About The Cow in the Dark at Night - A Fuse #8 Production

"I’m using all of my characters in a similar way, as a tool to facilitate gasps and protests from readers." We talk with Jess Hannigan about her latest gasp-inducing title.

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Fuse 8 n' Kate: Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger - A Fuse #8 Production

Heard of it? Yes? No? Maybe? We tackle an 80s picture book today with a strong fanbase but with less name recognition than some of our other titles.

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Publisher Spotlight (Fall-Winter 2026): Floris Books, Gecko Press, Helvetiq, & Kube Publishing - A Fuse #8 Production

Bulgarians and bears! Muslim manga! Books for kids from Turkey, Korea, and so many more countries. Come take a gander!

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Why Black Literary Curation Matters More Than Ever

As quiet as it's been kept, I produce the nation's most comprehensive bestsellers list featuring books written by Black people, The BLK Bestsellers: https://blkbestsellers.com/ Frankly, nothing has ev...

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Review of the Day: The Ribbon by Tessa Blackham - A Fuse #8 Production

Practically wordless, this author/illustrator debut title manages to capture the beauty, pathos, and sheer wonder of ballet while, at the same time, touching on the joys and anxiety of performance AND...

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If Margaret Wise Brown Gets a Movie, Why Not Others? A Suggested List for Cinematic Splendor - A Fuse #8 Production

The life of Margaret Wise Brown is now slated to hit the big screen. I suggest other children's books creators worthy of such adaptations (and I even include some casting choices as well).

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Boop! It's a (Five Starred) Skeleton and Cat Q&A with Author/Illustrator Brandon James Scott - A Fuse #8 Production

Consider it Halloween in July! Today we sit down with Brandon James Scott, creator of the FIVE starred title THE SKELETON AND THE CAT to get at the heart of this incredible friendship tale.

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Fuse 8 n' Kate: Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, ill. Kevin Hawkes - A Fuse #8 Production

Today Kate and I plumb the depths of this sweet tale of feline bibliographic appreciation. Let us see how this mane event has aged.

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"Born to brood. Forced to sparkle." It's a Goth Unicorn Cover Reveal and Q&A with Ashley Spires - A Fuse #8 Production

Normally we do not pair the terms "Goth Unicorn" and "autobiographical" in the same sentence, but these are heady times. A dive into an upcoming graphic novel.

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Creating the "Third Artist": A Styx and Stones Q&A with Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge - A Fuse #8 Production

Meet "two carpenters who knew which end of the hammer to use." In other words, a writing duo that is happy to discuss their latest work, built together in tandem.

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Nosy Crow Publisher Preview (Fall 2026) - A Fuse #8 Production

More new books! More, I say! Let's see what Nosy Crow has on offer. Time to dive in!

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Fuse 8 n' Kate: Andy and the Lion by James Daugherty - A Fuse #8 Production

We were on high alert on today's podcast episode with this 1938 release. A deep dive into a book that has lasted far longer than most of its contemporaries to date.

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Publisher Spotlight: A Preview of Fall 26-Winter 27 (Blue Dot Press and Paw Prints) - A Fuse #8 Production

A quick dip into some upcoming titles from small presses. May include the coolest feminist picture book you've seen in years...

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The Ultimate July 4th Celebration: A Seven Million Steps Q&A with Derrick Barnes and Frank Morrison - A Fuse #8 Production

"Dick ended his Food Run in NYC on the bicentennial celebration of our country. Fifty-plus years later, we’re still talking about food insecurity. I’m just trying to do my part by collaborating with t...

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Cátia Chien's ALA: A Caldecott Round-Up from the Winner Herself - A Fuse #8 Production

Behold the "sea of hot pink Kabooms"! We are joined today by Cátia Chien who offers us a behind-the-scenes peek at what it is like to celebrate your Caldecott win.

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Review of the Day: Watermelon Pool by Bonsoir Lune - A Fuse #8 Production

Utterly silly, kid-friendly, and downright delightful, this is precisely the kind of title to restore anyone’s faith in the state of modern picture book publishing today.

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Fuse 8 n' Kate: Madlenka by Peter Sis - A Fuse #8 Production

"The text placing is NOT conventional!" Our first Peter Sis children's book AND our first losing-our-tooth picture book as well. It's a twofer! (a toothfer?)

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A "place of isolation" where you can feel safe: It's a Loren Long The Boy and the Island Cover Reveal and Q&A - A Fuse #8 Production

Loren Long discusses his upcoming 2027 release. The kind of tale that will both remind you of a hundred other picture books all at once, and yet stands entirely on its own.

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