7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #479: Featuring Akiko Miyakoshi
April 17th, 2016 by jules
I keep watch.”
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Hi, dear kickers! I’m back from my research trip and happy to be kickin’ again.
I write weekly columns for Kirkus, and when I write about picture books over there, I always like to follow up later, here at 7-Imp, with art from the books I write about. That’s on account of being a big illustration fan. I don’t normally do that on Sundays, but I’m a bit behind from being out of town.
All that’s to say that a couple of weeks ago, I wrote here about Akiko Miyakoshi’s The Storm (Kids Can Press, April 2016), and so today I’m sharing some art from the book.
Enjoy!
There’s a bad storm coming.'”
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I look at the sky, it gets darker and darker …”
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The storm!”
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THE STORM. Copyright © 2009 Akiko Miyakoshi. English translation © 2016 Kids Can Press. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher.
1) I really enjoyed looking through the James Marshall Papers at UConn. So much art. So many sketchbooks. I miss the smell of the boxes.
(AND this Southerner did well, driving her rental car through snow and ice on Monday. I didn’t even accidentally run over any UConn students, though I did get a campus parking ticket on day one!)
2) I also got to talk to a handful of people up there, where he lived, who knew and loved him. People, it turns out, really like to talk about Jim, given his generous personality when he was alive.
3) I finally visited the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art!
4) I met so many talented and friendly people and colleagues in both Connecticut and Massachusetts—and saw some old friends—that it’d take too long to list them all. I’m grateful for all the hospitality.
5) A dear friend got some good medical news, and I got to visit her yesterday. Fingers are still crossed for even more good news for her this week.
6) I met with a friend yesterday to join forces as critique partners on projects. (I really need this, because if I’m working alone, I tend to talk myself out of things. Also, her project is pretty great, but I have full confidence you’ll see it on bookshelves one day in the near future.)
7) Rhubarb-orange pie.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
I love the illustrations in grey tones with just the blue.
Jules, what will you do with all the info about James Marshall? A book?
My kicks:
1. Time to write at a retreat two weeks ago. Was at the coast.
2. Time in Idaho over spring break.
3. Returning from.Spring break refreshed (although end 9f last week was challenging).
4. Watching oldest grandgirl swim 150 laps yesterday for her swim-a-thon.
5. Oldest grandgirl spending night with us last night.
6. Poetry workshop with Paulann Petersen yesterday.
7. Catching up with my blogs today
Have a great week.
Hello, Imps! Hello, Akiko Miyakoshi! Hello, kitty in the pictures!
Jules: So glad that you had fun. I knew you would. 🙂 Stay positive and collaborate/critique/connect! Crossing fingers for your friend.
Jone: Yay for a break. Congrats to the grand.
My kicks from the past week:
1) Seeing is believing
2) Reactions
3) Focus
4) Breathe
5) Support
6) Go
7) All right
Love these illustrations, especially the transition from the foreboding ones to the happy blue skies.
Jules – so happy you had such a great time doing research, navigating the snowy roads, & had lots of great people to meet up with. Rhubarb-orange pie? wow, share details please.
Jone – hurray for writing retreats at the coast, grangirls swimming laps, & poetry workshops!
LW – love Seeing is believing, and go!
My quick kicks this week:
1) Sunshine!
2) A Timbers win last night!
3) Almost at a goal I’ve set for myself.
4) The Americans keeps getting better & better.
5) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is back!
6) Netflix night on the sofa with Daisy the snugglebug.
7) Volunteering to help with the flowers for a friend’s wedding. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
7.5) Awesome result for a client.
Have a great week Imps!
Jone, a book is the idea, yes. Baby steps! Glad you got a break (and had writing time). When does the school year end? Soon?
Thanks, Little Willow! Kick #1: Is it a show? I hope so.
Oh, the pie, Rachel. My friend I visited in the hospital went on about this great Nashville bakery I’d not experienced, so on my way home, I stopped and got some exciting pie slices, including the rhubarb-orange. It’s definitely different, but I love trying new flavors that are unexpected and make your taste buds dance a bit. …. I’m glad you reminded me about Kimmy Schmidt, and I gotta try The Americans one day. Love your last kick.
Have a great week, all!
Kicks #1-7: Saturday morning. It was a big enough kick to get me through the next few weeks. I have equal confidence in your project. Thankful to be sharing the journey with you!
I’m thankful too, Emmie!