Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

“He calculates, backs up, and shoots at the perfect time.
The crowd goes wild. WAAAAAA!!!”
(Click spread to enlarge and read full text)

 
In Mina Javaherbin’s Neymar: A Soccer Dream Come True (FSG, May 2018), illustrated by Paul Hoppe, readers meet international soccer star Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (a.k.a. Neymar) as a boy. He lives with his family in his grandpa’s house in Brazil and dreams of soccer stardom.

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Over at Kirkus today, I’ve a Swedish picture book import.

That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Cheryl Bardoe’s Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain (Little, Brown, June 2018), illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Today, I’m following up with some images from Barbara, which include what she calls “inspiration, sketches, little tiny cut-out things, and lots of double-stick tape.” She takes us through the process of creating several of these beautiful spreads, and some final art is included. I thank her!

Enjoy. …

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“‘If you understand tradition and you keep it alive, you will be a great bandleader.'”
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Over at BookPage, I’ve a review here of The 5 O’Clock Band (Abrams, June 2018), written by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and illustrated by Bryan Collier.

I’ve got some spreads from the book here at 7-Imp today.

Enjoy!

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(Click to enlarge cover)

 
I’m doing something a little bit different today and sending you over to the Horn Book. I reviewed Grace Lin’s A Big Mooncake for Little Star (Little, Brown, August 2018), one of my very tip-top favorite picture books thus far this year. (I said that on Friday, too, about this book, but they are both top-five favorites for me.)

The review is up at their site here.

And how about that cover art up there?

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— Illustration by Mudrika Devi in Beasts of India,
edited by Kanchana Arni and Gita Wolf
(Click image to see spread in its entirety)

 

— From Fiona Woodcock’s Look
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— From Andy Mansfield’s See the Stripes
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Today over at Kirkus, I take a look at one of my favorite picture books thus far this year.

That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Beasts of India (Tara, June 2018), edited by Kanchana Arni and Gita Wolf and illustrated by various artists; Fiona Woodcock’s Look (Greenwillow, July 2018); and Andy Mansfield’s See the Stripes (Candlewick, March 2018).

I’ve art from each book today. Enjoy!

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“‘So apartheid was over?’ asked Ziwelene. ‘That’s right. And do you know how he did it?
He got his enemies to sit with him around a table.'”
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I’ve some spreads today from Ambassador Zindzi Mandela’s and illustrator Sean Qualls’ Grandad Mandela, which Mandela wrote with her grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene. This is a follow-up to a Q&A I did last week at Kirkus with Ambassador Mandela and Sean.

Enjoy!

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Travis Jonker and I wrote about the year in picture book art (2017, that is) for the Horn Book’s current issue (the July/August 2018 awards issue).

That is online here now, if you’re so inclined to read it.

Until tomorrow …

From “First Footing: Hogmanay (Scotland)” —
“Midnight! And the bells are ringing! …”
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Here’s a new poetry collection, dear Imps, all about various holidays around the world that celebrate the mark of a new year — Every Month Is a New Year: Celebrations Around the World (Lee & Low Books, May 2018). Though in the U.S. we celebrate in January, many other countries don’t. Here, the acclaimed poet Marilyn Singer shares sixteen new year celebrations all over the globe, both religious and secular, and they are accompanied by Susan L. Roth’s eye-popping mixed-media collage illustrations.

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Over at Kirkus today, I’ve three new picture books that will have you seeing things in new ways.

That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Stephanie Parsley Ledyard’s Pie Is for Sharing, illustrated by Jason Chin. I’m following up with some art here today.

Enjoy!

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“When our publisher first approached us about doing a children’s picture book, we immediately knew we wanted it to be a family endeavor. Madiba’s legacy is something that is a part of the lifeblood of our family, and it was beautiful to be able to share this story together.”

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Over at Kirkus today, I talk with Ambassador Zindzi Mandela (quoted above and pictured left) and illustrator Sean Qualls, pictured right, about their new picture book, Grandad Mandela. Ambassador Mandela, the youngest child of President Nelson Mandela, wrote this book with her grandchildren, Zazi and Ziwelene Mandela (ages 8 and 6, respectively).

That is here.

Next week, I’ll follow up here at 7-Imp with some of Sean’s art from the book.

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Photo of Ambassador Mandela taken by Julio E. Torres.