
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 Tsurumi
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 414 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Kids & Family | |||

"The text placing is NOT conventional!" Fresh off the 2026 American Library Association we're happy to discuss our very first Peter Sis title. We're going to begin our Sisification with one of his (relatively) younger books. In its heyday, I recall t... more
Sure, we missed it by a couple days, but it's never too late to lift a glass in honor of Juneteenth. Betsy was determined to figure out what the very first Juneteenth picture book published by a major publisher was, and we think we've found our answe... more
It's PRIDE MONTH!!! And we've done many a fine LGBTQIA+ book during the year. But this book series, while not considered queer during its initial publication, has since been embraced by the gay community and, as such, we seek to celebrate it here tod... more
Rambunctious? Bumbling? It's hard to typify the sheep in this Nancy Shaw series (though their publisher has certainly tried over the years). The darlings of the 80s and 90s, "Sheep" appreciation has depreciated significantly over the intervening deca... more
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As a retired children’s librarian and lover of picture books, this podcast is excellent! Love the dynamic between the 2 sisters and besides the breakdown of a picture book per week, I’m always intrigued by the brief segment at the end called Grown-Up Things We Like
Funny and insightful commentary on picture books!!
As well as teachers, booksellers, librarians and anyone who appreciates a good picture book. I can’t believe I completely missed this podcast till now. It is hilarious, insightful and learned. I have been a children’s librarian long enough that 25 years is well within my career, so it’s illuminating to see a newer perspective. Sometimes I find the criticism of the mores of the time frustrating, but if an older book exists in this world, that’s how it goes. Keep it up Betsy and Kate!
This podcast has become a “must-listen” for me!
Always charming and funny, they often feature books that I’ve kind of overlooked over the years, given the 20 year old requirement each book has to meet.
I know of no other picture book review resource that focuses on the illustrations AND the text the way this one does — and I appreciate it!
Hi Betsy you know me yes you do your daughter is my best friend.
Yup. This is me Zara. This is so funny so good so AMAZING and just plain great. I love how you describe the books 📚
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A duo of sisters dissects picture books to decide which titles deserve a lasting place in the canon. Episodes balance appreciation with playful critique, weaving literary history, illustration, and cultural context into accessible conversations. The hosts' contrasting perspectives—one newer to a title and one versed in the field—create a witty, knowledgeable dynamic that covers everything from author intent and reception to classroom and library relevance. A notable strength is their ability to pair enthusiastic, humorous banter with thoughtful, detail-oriented analysis, making it appealing to educators, librarians, parents, and picture-book enthusiasts.
What stands out is the canon-focused framing applied across a wide range of titles, fr... more
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Fuse 8 n' Kate launched 9 years ago and published 414 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Fuse 8 n' Kate include:
1. Colby Sharp
2. Heidi Rabinowitz
3. Berol Dewdney
4. Cordelia Dewdney
5. Travis Jonker
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