Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

 
I’ve got a review over at BookPage of Silvia Borando’s Black Cat, White Cat, originally published in Italy last year. This English translation comes to us by way of Candlewick Press (August 2015).

The review is here, and below is a bit more art from the book.

Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry �

(Click to enlarge spread)

 
This morning over at Kirkus, I take a look at Julie Paschkis’ newest picture book. That link is here.

* * *

Last week I wrote here about Pamela Zagarenski’s The Whisper (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, October 2015). Today I’ve got some art from the book.

Enjoy.

Read the rest of this entry �

— From Macanudo #3

 

— From Written and Drawn by Henrietta

 
Since I chatted (here) last week with cartoonist Liniers, I’m following up today here at 7-Imp with art from the wonderful Written and Drawn by Henrietta (starring Henrietta and her cat Fellini), coming from TOON Books in late September, as well as his third collection of Macanudo comic strips from Enchanted Lion Books, called simply Macanudo #3, coming in October.

Enjoy the art!

Read the rest of this entry �

 
Author-illustrator Greg Pizzoli visits 7-Imp today to tell us a bit about his newest picture book, Templeton Gets His Wish (Disney-Hyperion, May 2015). I like this story and the way it swings from desperation to elation à la Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Templeton’s feelings are intense, as the feelings of young children tend to be, and in the end he sees the great error of his ways. It’s a book that unabashedly embraces its morality, and I look forward to sharing it with groups of children.

I don’t need to tell you the storyline, because Greg does so below. And I don’t need to describe the art, because Greg also shares some below. I thank him for visiting.

Let’s get right to it. … (p.s. This is the second time Greg’s visited 7-Imp this year. You have read Tricky Vic, right?)

Read the rest of this entry �

“There were five of them. And they were waiting. …”
(Click to enlarge and see spread in its entirety)

 
I’ve got a review over at BookPage of Kevin Henkes’ newest picture book, Waiting (Greenwillow, September 2015).

This is one of the best picture books I’ve seen this year. I said this the other day about Mac Barnett’s Leo: A Ghost Story, illustrated by Christian Robinson. My, so many superlatives in one week, but they are both excellent books.

I know that on the first Sunday of each month at 7-Imp, I feature student illustrators, but I gotta take a break today to show you Henkes’ superb artwork.

The Waiting review is here, and below is a bit more art.

Enjoy.

Read the rest of this entry �

“Anna Hibiscus starts to cry. ‘Wha’ happen?’ Papa asks.
‘Everybody is busy with Double Trouble!’ cries Anna Hibiscus.
‘Nobody has time for me.'”
— From Atinuke’s Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!, illustrated by Lauren Tobia
(Click to enlarge spread)

 

“It is the first snowfall of the year.”
— From Emily Jenkins’ Toys Meet Snow, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

 

From Stephen Savage’s Where’s Walrus? And Penguin?
(Click to enlarge spread)

 
This morning over at Kirkus, I take a look at Pamela Zagarenski’s The Whisper. That link is here.

* * *

Last week, I wrote here about new picture books that feature the happy return of some beloved picture book protagonists, including Stephen Savage’s Where’s Walrus? And Penguin? (Scholastic, August 2015); Atinuke’s Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus!, illustrated by Lauren Tobia and whose cover is pictured here (Kane Miller, September 2015); and Emily Jenkins’ Toys Meet Snow, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky (Schwartz & Wade, September 2015).

I’ve got a bit of art from each today. Zelinsky shares some early sketches and cover sketches as well.

Also, since we’re on the subject of Lauren Tobia’s artwork, I’m adding in a couple of spreads from Fran Manushkin’s Happy in Our Skin, published by Candlewick last month.

Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry �

“I never want to pander [to] or patronize kids. They aren’t idiots.
They’re just below eye level.”

 

This morning over at Kirkus, I talk to Argentine cartoonist Ricardo Siri, otherwise known as Liniers. We talk about a few things, including his newest book, Written and Drawn by Henrietta.

That link is here.

Until tomorrow …

* * * * * * *

Photo of Liniers taken by Nora Lezano and used by his permission.

“Later Leo would not be able to say where the idea came from. He threw the bed sheet over himself and flew at the thief, who was so frightened he dropped all the salad forks. Leo chased the man into a closet, then slammed the door shut
and locked him inside. It was very well done.”
(Click to enlarge spread)

 
Over at BookPage, I’ve got a review of Mac Barnett’s Leo: A Ghost Story (Chronicle, August 2015), illustrated by Christian Robinson. That review is here.

And I’ve got a bit of art from the book here today. The only thing these spreads today are missing is the wonderful character of Jane, but you’ll just have to find a copy yourself so you can meet her. Oh, wait! She’s in the bottom right corner of this image:

 


 
I think this is one of the year’s best picture books thus far. Definitely a favorite for me.

Enjoy.

Read the rest of this entry �