Archive for the 'Picture Books' Category

What I’m Doing at Kirkus This Week

h1 Friday, August 19th, 2016



 

I’ve got a graphic-novel round-up here at Kirkus today.

Until Sunday …

7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #496:
Featuring Jean Jullien and Mathieu Lavoie

h1 Sunday, August 14th, 2016



Pictured above: Illustration from Mathieu Lavoie’s Toto’s Apple
and Jean Jullien’s
This Is Not a Book


 
I’ve got a bit of an international spin here at 7-Imp today with art from French graphic designer and illustrator Jean Jullien, as well as author and illustrator Mathieu Lavoie, who lives in Montreal.

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What I’m Doing at Kirkus This Week,
Plus What I Did Last Week, Featuring Jonathan Bean

h1 Friday, August 12th, 2016



“Real cowboys are as many different colors as the earth.”
(Click to enlarge spread)


 
You won’t find me writing about magazines … well, ever. Until today. This morning over at Kirkus, I take a look at Illustoria, a promising new children’s magazine with a focus on children’s book authors and illustrators.

That link is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Kate Hoefler’s Real Cowboys (Houghton Mifflin, October 2016), illustrated by Jonathan Bean.

Today, Jonathan shares some process images and final art, as well as some thoughts on creating the illustrations for this book. I’m happy he’s sharing that today, so let’s get right to it.

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The Sound of Silence

h1 Tuesday, August 9th, 2016


“Ma, silence.”
(Click to enlarge spread)


 
I’ve got a review over at BookPage of Katrina Goldsaito’s The Sound of Silence (Little, Brown, August 2016), illustrated by Julia Kuo.

The review is here. Below, I’ve got some more spreads from the book. Enjoy!

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7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #495:
Featuring Up-and-Coming Illustrator, Shane Cluskey

h1 Sunday, August 7th, 2016



 
It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means I’ve got a newly-graduated illustrator visiting today to share artwork. Shane Cluskey, originally from Ireland, actually graduated in 2005 from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin (so, he’s not exactly newly-graduated), but he’s currently working on his first children’s book, so I thought it’d be fun to showcase his artwork. As I understand it, Shane is currently living in London.

Shane also says a few words below about his work, so let’s get right to it. I thank him for visiting. (To see even more of his artwork, here’s his Instagram page.)

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What I’m Doing at Kirkus This Week,
Plus What I Did Last Week, Featuring Randy Cecil

h1 Friday, August 5th, 2016


Over at Kirkus today, I write about the debut picture book from Kate Hoefler, Real Cowboys (Houghton Mifflin), illustrated by Jonathan Bean and on shelves in early October.

That link is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Randy Cecil’s Lucy (Candlewick, August 2016), and I’m following up with some art today.

Enjoy!

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On “Double Treasures” with René Colato Laínez

h1 Thursday, August 4th, 2016

The beauty of multicultural books is that they open new doors and windows for readers who are outside the culture. They can live, explore, and enjoy other cultures as they read amazing stories. For the majority of children and adults who were born in the United States, an ‘alien’ is indeed someone from outer space, and they do not associate it with immigrants or immigrant status. For me, as a writer of multicultural children’s literature, it is always important to write authentic stories where my readers can learn and discover the immigrant experience and the experience of living in two cultures.”

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Over at Kirkus, I talk to author and teacher René Colato Laínez, pictured here, about his newest picture book, Mamá the Alien/Mamá la extraterrestre, published by Lee & Low last month.

That chat is here.

Until tomorrow …

* * * * * * *

Photo of Mr. Laínez used by permission of Lee & Low Books.

 

Seven and a Half Tons of Steel

h1 Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016


“There is a ship, a navy ship. It is called the USS New York. It is big like other navy ships, and it sails like other navy ships, but there is something different,
something special about the USS
New York.”
(Click to enlarge spread)


 
Today here at 7-Imp, I’ve got some art from Janet Nolan’s Seven and a Half Tons of Steel (Peachtree, August 2016), a compelling piece of nonfiction illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez.

This is in follow-up to my BookPage review. So, if you’d like to read all about the book, you can head here for the review, and more spreads are below.

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7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #494: Featuring Serge Bloch

h1 Sunday, July 31st, 2016


“And anyone else who wants to join in.”


 
I’ve got a review over at BookPage of Ian Lendler’s Saturday (Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook, July 2016), illustrated by Serge Bloch. That review is here. Below are some spreads from the book; I always like to see Serge’s art.

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What I’m Doing at Kirkus This Week,
Plus What I Did Last Week,
Featuring Ivan Chermayeff and Giselle Potter

h1 Friday, July 29th, 2016


“… and look proudly at my dollhouse.”


 

Please! I was thinking I was thinking I love you a billion a zillion a whillion
a gorillion a hippopillion a rhinocerillion an elephantillion”

(Click to enlarge spread)


 
Over at Kirkus today, I’ve got Randy Cecil’s Lucy (Candlewick, August 2016) on the mind.

That is here today.

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Last week, I wrote here about Sandol Stoddard Warburg’s The Thinking Book (AMMO Books, May 2016), illustrated by Ivan Chermayeff and originally released in 1960, as well as Giselle Potter’s This Is My Dollhouse (Schwartz & Wade, May 2016). Below is a bit of art from each book.

Enjoy.

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