Stinky Cheese, a Ginormous Goat, and Other Fairly Stupid Recommendations

5 things to check out this weekend!

I’m back with 5 things for you to check out this weekend, which is actually way more than 5 things, but who’s counting? I called them “fairly stupid” in my headline to be catchy, but what I really mean is stupid GREAT!

The Stinky Cheese Man Turns 30!

Wow! Writing that headline makes me feel old. How has it been thirty years since The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (1992) was published?! Not only did this book fracture classic fairy tales, it also fractured preconceived notions of what makes a successful story for children. It’s a book with sophisticated metafictional concepts and twisted humor —which, thirty years ago, wasn’t the norm in children’s publishing. But author Jon Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith knew it would resonate with kids. Clearly, they were right. The book was an instant success and has since influenced many authors and illustrators to create their own funny, rebellious, and experiential books for children. I was ten years old when The Stinky Cheese Man came out. I wasn’t reading many picture books, but I read this one. Mainly because it was so dang funny but also because it was one of my dad’s favorites. Both Scieszka and my dad grew up loving screwball comedy and comics like MAD Magazine, but they’re also sophisticated learners and educators who cleverly integrate high and low culture into their work. My dad’s been retired from teaching psychology for many years now, but I still sometimes imagine him in his classroom, cracking jokes and telling stories. His approach to teaching was incredibly engaging and experimental. He introduced his students to new ways of learning, not only about the topics but about themselves (which is kind of the point in psychology). And I recognize these qualities in Scieszka’s books—he’s not afraid to shake things up to sort things out. 

You can read more about this milestone anniversary and hear from Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith over on Betsy Bird’s blog, Fuse 8:

“Stinky Cheese Man Turns 30! Scieszka! Smith! Creators Tell All.”

Do you want to hear children’s book author and illustrator Emmy Kaster and I talk about Scieszka and Smith? You can listen to Moonbow’s one and only podcast episode! I’m slightly terrified to do more of them, but I did get this lovely testimonial today: 

This feels like a sign that I should do more, but I’ve also considered that one successful episode may be enough. Time will tell!

ALSO: Scieszka has a new book that just came out, The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense (2022), a collection of playfully reimagined classic nursery rhymes based on Blanche Fisher Wright’s The Real Mother Goose (1916), illustrated by Julia Rothman. I can’t wait to get a copy!

Speaking of fairy tales, two of my favorites, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, have teamed up again to retell the classic fairy tale The Three Billy Goats Gruff (2022). I pre-ordered it, but ironically that means I won’t get my copy until a while after it’s been released; it’s worth it, though. I’m supporting indie bookstores—and in this case, I’ll be getting a huge poster of a huge goat signed by Mac and Jon because of indie bookstores! I have seen parts of the book online and listened to Mac read the story out loud (which he’s especially good at doing). This is a modern retelling, not a fractured fairy tale. But Barnett and Klassen’s fresh, nuanced approach provides plenty of laughs and questions to ponder. You can also watch their fun book trailer on Instagram.

When writing about my favorite scary and not-so-scary children’s books, I would visit my local used bookstore to search for some of my favorites. Unfortunately, The Berenstain Bears and the Ghosts of the Forest (1988) and The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat (1989) by Stan and Jan Berenstain didn’t make it into the newsletter, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t spooktacular! Maybe it’s nostalgia, but I still find these books highly entertaining, with just the right amount of spooky and sweet for little ones. After I shared this book on my Instagram, my friend and fellow 1980s nostalgia enthusiast Ginny Branch shared this interesting article with me:

“Berenstain Bears or Berenstein Bears: Does this VHS Prove The Mandela Effect is Real?”

theflipbookmuseum

A post shared by The Flipbook Museum (@theflipbookmuseum)

The Flipbook Museum

Who doesn’t love flipbooks?! The Flipbook Museum is one of my new favorite Instagram accounts. His collection is incredible, and it inspired me to explore the history of the flipbook and animation.

Here’s a brief history of animation:

Which reminded me of one of my favorites Le Voyage dans la Lune / A Trip to the Moon (1902) by Georges Méliès—which is considered the first science fiction film in cinematic history and forever changed the way films were made.

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