Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

“The next day seemed to last forever. But finally, when the Moon was shining over the lake and the summer wind was ruffling the leaves of the trees, Chris ran next door.”
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I’ve got a review over at BookPage of Chris Hadfield’s The Darkest Dark (Little, Brown, September 2016)), illustrated by The Fan Brothers. That review is here, and I’ve got a couple of spreads from it to share here at 7-Imp today.

You may have seen from earlier this year The Fan Brothers’ The Night Gardener. If you didn’t see it, it’s your lucky day: You can see a handful of spreads from it here at their site.

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“… We made music! / When we stole time / we laughed, we danced. …”
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I have a review over at BookPage of Ashley Bryan’s new book, Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, September 2016). That is here, and today I share a few spreads from the book.

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It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means it’s time to feature a student or up-and-coming illustrator. Today, Jessica Boehman visits, and I’ve actually wanted her to visit for a long while now, but … well, it gets busy in 7-Imp Land. I’m glad she’s finally here.

Jessica also teaches art (and art history) in New York, but she talks more about that below. It’s a pleasure to feature her art today, which manages to be both fresh and timeless. Let’s get right to it, since she also tells us a bit about her work. Please note that you can see more of her art at her site, at Facebook, and on Instagram.

I thank her for visiting.

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“The Uncorker’s heart was a glass vessel filled to the brim.”
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Pictured above is a preliminary image from Erin E. Stead’s illustrations for Michelle Cuevas’ The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles (Dial, August 2016), as well as a spread from the book. I have a review of this picture book over at BookPage (here), and Erin visits today to talk a bit about the art and to share some images.

I thank her for sharing. Let’s get right to it.

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“In his green living room are seats, saucers, statues, and two socks.
Where are Grandad’s socks?”
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This morning here at 7-Imp, I’m highlighting some spreads from Brian Cronin’s The Lost House: A Seek and Find Book, coming to shelves at the end of September from Viking. The book was just given the Gold Medal by the Society of Illustrator’s Original Art 2016 jury. (Read here for more information.)

In this story, readers enter a world of electric, saturated hues, meeting two grandchildren who are ready to head to the playground with their grandfather, but they can’t quite get out of the house. Grandad is forgetful and keeps asking them to help him find what he needs — his socks, his teeth, his umbrella, his bow tie, his cloth tote bag, etc. (though I like how the Publishers Weekly review notes: “To call this a seek-and-find book doesn’t come close to conveying the eccentricity of newcomer Cronin’s creation”).

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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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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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“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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Today’s post is a bit of a sneak peek at an upcoming picture book from Groundwood Books. Geraldo Valério’s Turn on the Night will be out this September, but I’ve got a few spreads from it today.

This is the wordless tale of a girl, at night, who’s fallen asleep, book in hand. This book looks very similar to Valério’s very story. Suddenly, the creature in the pages of the book leaps out through the window, and the girl is nowhere to be seen. Readers realize she has become the wolf-like creature who has leaped out of the house. The following pages show her as the wolf having a night-time adventure with the rooster just outside of her home, as well as a deer they meet. They fly to a star, the rooster grabs it, and the wolf returns to her home, lighting up the stringed lights around the headboard on the girl’s bed — really, he lights up her entire room. There, suddenly, is the girl again, sleeping happily.

It’s a simple, but magical, plot with Valério’s rich colors; the palette is dominated by deep blues and lush greens. He captures with a seeming ease the euphoria of dreams of flight, as well as the cryptic nature of dreams, even ones that leave you with a smile on your face. The Publishers Weekly review writes that there is a “giddy sense of possibility” in this story. Indeed.

Here are a couple more spreads. Enjoy!

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“A boy sheep is a ram. He has horns. The horns do not come off.”
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I’ve got a review here over at BookPage of Jeanne Birdsall’s My Favorite Pets: By Gus W. for Ms. Smolinksi’s Class, released by Knopf this month. Here at 7-Imp today, I’m featuring some of the books spreads from Harry Bliss.

Enjoy!

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