Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Here’s a quick post to share some art from Kate Samworth’s Aviary Wonders Inc.: Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual, to be released by Clarion in March.

Now, this is one of the most bizarre picture books I’ve seen in a while, which at the very least brings to my mind this guy exclaiming things like “DON’T BE BORING.” This book definitely has that goin’ for it.

This one is slightly macabre in spots, though I’ve sat here for entirely too long at my keyboard, thinking that “macabre” isn’t precisely the word I want. How about this: The Publishers Weekly review (one starred review of several) calls it “unsettling and unforgettable.” Booklist describes it as “original, somewhat disturbing, and wholeheartedly bizarre (but in a good way!).” Yes, all those things, and I like it — and my own children absolutely delighted in it. This is surely one of the most offbeat picture books I’ve seen in recent years.

Let me back up and tell you what it is. It’s a pretend futuristic catalog that sells bird parts so that you can build your own bird. “Renewing the World’s Bird Supply Since 2031” is the fake company’s motto of sorts (as you can see on the book’s cover). There’s a pretend “About the Company” note, which opens the book. It’s written by the company’s founder, Alfred Wallis, where he states: Read the rest of this entry �

 
If someone were to ask me who some of my favorite author-illustrators for very young children are—those who make books, that is, geared at preschool readers—I’d say that Komako Sakai is most assuredly one of the names at the top of that list.

This month, Gecko Press released the first American edition of Sakai’s Hannah’s Night, which was first published in Japan in 2012. It’s the story of a very young child, who wakes at night and, after failing to wake her sister, explores her home with her cat, Shiro. There’s mystery and wide-eyed wonder (the dark house at night) and mischief here (Hannah giggles as she takes her sister’s music box, notebook, and coloring pencils back to her own bed to play with), and the youngest of readers will thrill at Hannah’s free reign of the home, independent of any grown-ups telling her what or what not to do. There are moments of beauty, too, such as when Hannah hears cooing and heads to the window to see the “prettiest dove she’d ever seen,” something she’s not likely to see during the hustle and bustle of her day.

Sakai’s thick brushstrokes bring a vibrant texture to the story, and I’m enamored with the dark, navy blues of Hannah’s world at night. These are deep, rich shades, made all the more striking when the sun starts to come up — just as Hannah finally gets sleepy.

If her books are any indication, Sakai knows young children very well. Here’s some more art from the book. Enjoy … Read the rest of this entry �

From Clotilde Perrin’s At the Same Moment Around the World:
“At the same moment, in Paris, France, it is seven o’clock in the morning, and Benedict drinks hot chocolate before school. At the same moment, in Sofia, Bulgaria, it is eight o’clock in the morning when Mitko chases after the school bus.”
(Click to enlarge)

From Cindy Jenson-Elliott’s Weeds Find a Way, illustrated by Carolyn Fisher:
“Weeds send their seeds into the world in wondrous ways:
fluffing up like feathers and floating away on the wind.”
(Click to enlarge)

 
This morning at Kirkus, I write about a quiet, little picture book by Natalie Russell, who lives and works in Scotland, called Lost for Words (Peachtree, March 2014). That link is here.

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Last week, I wrote about Cindy Jenson-Elliott’s Weeds Find a Way (Beach Lane Books, February 2014), illustrated by Carolyn Fisher, and Clotilde Perrin’s At the Same Moment Around the World (Chronicle Books, March 2014), first published in France in 2011. That link is here, and today I follow up with some art from each book.

Enjoy. Read the rest of this entry �

“What draws me is a sense of kinship: I like and understand people who venture out to do impossible things, and I feel a bond with those who cannot live without nature, raw and untamed. Those who have a bit of lake water in their veins.”

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Today over at Kirkus, I chat with picture book author and tall-tale queen, Anne Isaacs.

Her newest book, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, is Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (Schwartz & Wade, February 2014), and it’s funny stuff.

That Q&A is here.

Next week, I hope to have art from the book to share.

Until tomorrow …

Photo used by permission of Anne Isaacs.

“Nothing grew. Everything was broken. No one ever smiled.”
(Click to enlarge spread)

A couple of weeks ago, I chatted with British picture book author and zoologist Nicola Davies about her newest picture book, The Promise (Candlewick, March 2014), illustrated by Laura Carlin. I already linked to that here at 7-Imp, yet I completely forgot to share the spread from the book that I have on hand.

So, here it is today, a Laura Carlin-moment. (And, in case you missed it, here’s the Q&A with Nicola.)

Also, here’s a video I found online of Carlin discussing the book:

 

Until tomorrow …

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THE PROMISE. Text copyright © 2013 by Nicola Davies. Illustrations copyright © 2013 by Laura Carlin. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA on behalf of Walker Books, London.

It’s the first Sunday of the month, and when it is such a day ’round these 7-Imp parts, I feature an illustration student or someone otherwise brand-new to illustration.

Today, I welcome student Deborah Hocking. I’m opening today’s post with my favorite of all the pieces she sent. Let’s get right to her introduction, since she’s here to say a few words in addition to sharing art.

I thank her for visiting today. Read the rest of this entry �

 
Well, yesterday’s ALA Youth Media Awards announcements were exciting. Onwards and upwards to 2014, yes?

On Sunday (here) I posted about Patricia Hruby Powell’s Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker (Chronicle Books, January 2014), illustrated by Christian Robinson, which is a terrific book and one of the first this year that makes me want to cheer.

Another new 2014 picture book that really sends me is Andrew Prahin’s Brimsby’s Hats (Simon & Schuster, February 2014), which I recently reviewed for BookPage. I love this book more and more every time I read it, and that’s saying a lot, ’cause I immediately fell for it. It’s really wonderful in many different directions, but I’ll just send you to the BookPage review. (I’m even opening this post with the cover image, which I don’t normally do, because I love it so.)

And then, if you’re so inclined, you can come back here, because Andrew shares some early sketches and final art from the book here at 7-Imp today. See below. I thank him.

Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry �

This past week, a review I wrote for the wonderful folks at BookPage was included in a round-up of theirs, which you can read here. My contribution was a review of Patricia Hruby Powell’s Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker (Chronicle Books, January 2014), illustrated by Christian Robinson. What an excellent book this is. So, you can read all about it here, and today Christian, whose artwork gives me hope for the future of illustration, visits to share early cover designs, storyboards, and photos of some of his original art from the book. I thank him for sharing.

(As a reminder, Christian visited 7-Imp in 2012, and it’s still one of my favorite interviews.)

Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry �

“Oh, I see. When I am lost, I climb a little higher so I can see all around.
Keep walking, Baby Bear. You are closer than you think. And sing a song—
it will make you feel better.
Thank you, dear Ram.”
(Click to enlarge spread)

 
This morning over at Kirkus, I wrote a little something in honor of the upcoming ALA Youth Media Awards. That link is here.

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Today at 7-Imp, I’ve got some spreads (sans text) from Kadir Nelson’s Baby Bear, which I wrote about last week.

Some of the colors in these spreads are a bit off, at least according to my computer, which bums me out. I wish I could ensure accurate color reproduction on everyone’s computers, but this is the best I can do.

Enjoy the art! Read the rest of this entry �

“I meet a lot of kids in my work, kids who have had various kinds of bad starts in life, and I wanted a story that says that a bad start doesn’t mean a bad end, change is possible, and taking power in your hands to change the world is possible”

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This morning over at Kirkus, I have a chat with British picture book author and zoologist Nicola Davies. I’ve enjoyed her books over the years, and her newest, The Promise, illustrated by Laura Carlin, will be out from Candlewick in early March. This one isn’t nonfiction; it’s actually an adaptation of a short story, and it’s Carlin’s debut picture book. There is more at this link.

Until tomorrow …

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Photo of Nicola Davies used by permission of Candlewick Press.