Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

So. I’ve been wanting to conduct this interview for a while. Author/illustrator Peter Brown is here to visit. He’s made several really good picture books and is on my illustrator-to-watch list, but here’s where he really outdid himself: Did you see last year’s The Curious Garden, published by Little, Brown in April? It’s what the New York Times called “a quietly marvelous picture book.” Betsy Bird called it “just about the perfect balance of message and text” in her detailed, as always, August 2009 review. It was one of my favorite picture books from last year, though I didn’t cover it at 7-Imp, so consider me making up for that today—plus some—with this interview. (In fact, in 2008, Peter stopped by to show us some early art from The Curious Garden, if fans of that title would like to go back and explore.)

“Singular style” is a phrase we hear often in the world of illustration, and Peter, undoubtedly, has nailed his with his smooth, stylized, rather retro vibe, playful perspectives, frequent use of earth tones (except for that glorious, blooming garden in The Curious Garden), and tongue-in-cheek visual humor. With Peter’s picture book debut, The Flight of the Dodo, Publishers Weekly called him a promising new talent. Since then, he’s used his droll humor to bring us even more delights, including the precocious, offbeat, and endearing Chowder, the canine star of two of Peter’s titles. Read the rest of this entry �

Here’s one of the many great things about featuring some spreads from D.B. Johnson’s newest title, Palazzo Inverso, this morning: I can post these images right-side-up or upside down. I could be hammered on, say, an entire bottle of Courvoisier and screw up the images, and they would still work. (I don’t know why I said that. I don’t even own any Courvoisier. Not to mention I would never Blog While Hammered. That sounds like a support group, doesn’t it? Oh, and not to mention I can’t remember the last time I was hammered. But isn’t “Courvoisier” fun to say?)

I am, arguably (but just maybe arguably), author/illustrator D.B. Johnson’s Biggest Fan. I have already made clear the many reasons why in my March 2009 interview with him. Or, as Daniel Pinkwater nailed it in his 2009 7-Imp interview, D.B. Johnson is a genius. ‘Nuf said.

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I’m making a quick art stop this morning to show you some spreads from the beautiful new picture book from Jacqueline K. Ogburn and Italian illustrator Nicoletta Ceccoli, titled A Dignity of Dragons: Collective Nouns for Magical Beasts, to be released next month by Houghton Mifflin. I’ve got an early copy and contacted Nicoletta about sharing some art from it. (You may remember that she visited 7-Imp in 2008, and in fact, she shared in that post some spreads from this book, telling me at that time that the book was an interesting theme for her.)

The book is exactly what the sub-title tells you, a collection of clever, evocative terms Ogburn conjured up for over thirty magical beings — from kirin (“a judgment of”) to were-jaguars (“a slinking of”) to minotaurs (“an amazement of”) to thunderbirds (“a storm of”) to just about everything else under, over, around, and in between. Ceccoli’s art gives the book a dream-like, ethereal feel. Here’s the cover art: Read the rest of this entry �

I’ve got a couple of spreads to share this morning from the 50th anniversary edition of author/illustrator Michael Foreman’s first illustrated title, The General (published by Templar Books). And that’s ’cause I adore Foreman’s work and oh heavens why wouldn’t I take any and every opportunity to feature him? Read the rest of this entry �

So, here’s something I’ve always wanted to do: Chat with author Alison McGhee. And she’s here today to help me realize that goal. Alison is the author of a whole slew, to be precise, of really wonderful picture books I’ve admired over the years, but she also writes for all ages. And I mean ALL, and this I love. She is, in point of fact, a former Pulitzer nominee and a #1 New York Times bestselling author.

If, by some wild chance, you don’t recognize her name, you very likely will recognize some of the books she’s penned for children and teens. Here are just a few, in no particular order. Call it a random sampling of Alison-McGhee greatness: Read the rest of this entry �

Tao Nyeu is an illustrator relatively new to children’s literature on whom I have a close eye (as well as Kirkus, who wrote in their review of Tao’s first title that it was an “intriguing, nuanced debut from an artist to watch”). She’s quickly becoming one of my favorites and sealed the deal with the artistry on display in her latest book, Bunny Days, released by Dial Books in January. Bunny Days features three slapstick tales of six curious rabbits; one paternal, ever-patient, and very wise Bear; and Mr. and Mrs. Goat, who are simply about their chores in the countryside, only to have their plans foiled by the inquisitive rabbits. The writing is good, and there’s a lot of humor, but it’s Nyeu’s stylized art that really stands out, what Publishers Weekly once described as possessing an “Art Nouveau-meets-psychedelic feel.” And if you saw her 2008 debut, which initially began as an MFA project, Wonder Bear, you know what I mean.

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Well now, what a beautiful day it is in my world, and I fervently hope it’s beautiful in yours, too. No matter how you celebrate it, happy Easter to my dear, sweet readers. (Yes, I mean that “sweet” business. I can say without reservation that no one’s ever been mean here at 7-Imp Camp and that you all are not only mighty well-behaved, but also collectively one classy bunch.) And happy Spring, too. Do you see here in the illustration to the left that we’re all having some pancakes for breakfast this morning? Did you bring your forks?

I do hope that at least a few of you take a break from egg-hunting today to come see the work of brand-new author/illustrator Adam Gudeon, whose first picture book is scheduled for release in Fall 2011. That’s right: It’s the first Sunday of the month—and BOY HOWDY, HOWDY BOY I never thought March would end, what with Tennessee’s freaky-long, freaky-cold (for us) winter, but I digress—and it’s on these first Sundays that I shine the spotlight on a student illustrator or someone otherwise new to the field. Adam is brand-spankin’-new to the field, and it looks like the field will benefit from it. He’s here to show us some art work, tell us what he’s up to, and tell us how he got to that place. I thank him for stopping by. (Oh, and I thank him truly and madly and deeply for the kind comments on 7-Imp below. We can’t move forward till I express that gratitude. Okay. Done. Now Adam gets the floor.)

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You’d think I would have timed today’s interview with children’s poet Joyce Sidman, pictured here in her happy place, to mark the very first day of National Poetry Month 2010. But, no sirree, I’m simply not that organized. But what good timing, as Joyce is one of the country’s most talented children’s poets and has brought us some excellent picture books. (Or, if you want the professional’s opinion: “Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched.” And that would be School Library Journal.) And, though I can’t claim any master organization on my part on this first official day of a month-long poetry celebration, I’ve very simply always wanted to chat with Joyce, have her over to the 7-Imp ranch (it was the 7-Imp bungalow on Tuesday; I’m feeling more expansive today) to talk about her work.

Joyce also has a brand-new poetry collection out, illustrated by Beckie Prange and released by Houghton Mifflin this month, titled Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors. It’s everything I expect from a poetry-meets-science Joyce-Sidman title: The evocative poetry, at its heart, celebrates life; honors its mysteries; and gently nudges readers to open their eyes already to our always beautiful, but oft-ignored, natural world. “Sidman’s words are vivid and affectionate,” writes Publishers Weekly about the new book, which—as the sub-title tells you—celebrates the biologically prosperous species of the world. “Sidman delights with another gorgeous collection of poems,” adds Kirkus.

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If I may say so myself, here’s dedication for you: I seem to have the rotten ‘ol stomach bug from which my husband suffered over the weekend. Since 90% of this post on Elisha Cooper’s brand-new picture book, Farm (to be released by Orchard Books in April), was already done before the unwelcome visitor arrived, I’m going to go ahead and post. Yes, it’s four a.m. (you know when you’re too sick to sleep properly?), and I sit here—barely vertical, since food is my sworn enemy right now—with my trusty laptop we’ll call…um…Trusty.

Now, I had planned for this introduction here to Elisha’s new book to be so eloquent and beautiful and pitch-perfect that you 7-Imp readers would say to yourselves, “Selves: Now, why in the big wide world won’t some professional review publication hire Jules to write for them?” It was going to be stupendous and awe-inspiring and leave you misty-eyed and perfectly nail this beautiful book.

No? Well, maybe one day.

For now, you’ll have to accept this humble introduction — and believe me when I say this picture book is worth your time. It is a detailed, intimate look at a contemporary farm, one that looks at modern family farms with a clear eye and with great reverence. It’s luminous is what it is. When I first got my review copy, I recall gasping lightly at that gorgeous cover. And spending about five minutes just taking in the colors and composition and all-around Elisha goodness. If the room weren’t spinning lightly, I’d do my usual bit in which I tell you what the professional reviewers have said about the book thus far, but you can hit a site like Barnes and Noble (my favorite for compiling reviews clearly in one spot, though supporters of independent bookstores should know I always link to IndieBound when I can).

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Here Comes the Garbage Barge (Schwartz & Wade Books, February 2010) is one of the most striking picture books I’ve seen this year. I’m rather ashamed to say I had the chance to interview both the author, Johah Winter (who wrote, amongst other great titles, this fabulous book), and Chris Sickels of Red Nose Studio, who created the art for the book, but I’ve had so much on my plate lately that I had to turn down that opportunity. This PAINS me. And I really hope that I can chat with them at a later date. At the very least, I have two spreads from the book to show you today.

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