7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #482: Featuring Isol

h1 May 8th, 2016 by jules


(Click to enlarge)


 

Hello, dear kickers. I’ve got an alphabet book today, one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. It’s from Argentine author-illustrator Isol, who won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2013.

Daytime Visons: An Alphabet comes to readers this month by way of Enchanted Lion Books. Isol originally wrote it in Spanish. As she points out in the book’s closing note, “These images were first created using Spanish letters as Spanish is my mother tongue. Translating them into English involved a kind of reinvention. It was fun getting these scenes and characters to enter into a new conversation in English, where they found new ways to live together.” (She goes on to note that she had a lot of help from the wonderful Claudia Zoe Bedrick, as well as Elisa Amado.)

If you get you get your hands on a copy of the book—or even if you just look at these spreads here today (though I highly recommend the actual book)—you’ll appreciate the challenge Isol had in front of her with the translations, because this isn’t your typical alphabet book. Take a look at these illustrations here as but a sample: They tell evocative, sometimes delightfully cryptic stories that swing back to the featured letter on the page. There’s no “A is for apple” here; these are mini, open-ended stories that gently nudge children to ponder the untold narratives swirling around them. There are moments of beauty and tenderness; there are moments of mystery and even fear (check out the spread opening this post, my favorite); and, always, there is wonder.

It’s a delicious work of art, this one.

I’ll stop talking to let you look at more art. Enjoy!

 



(Click either image to see spread in its entirety)


 



(Click either image to see spread in its entirety)


 


(Click to enlarge)


 



(Click either image to see spread in its entirety)


 


(Click to enlarge)


 

DAYTIME VISIONS: AN ALPHABET. Copyright © 2016 by ISOL for the text and illustrations. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher, Enchanted Lion Books, Brooklyn.

 

Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.

 

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *

My kicks 1 to 7 are that my birthday was this week, and I’m happy to be 44 and still on the planet and surrounded by people I love.

Plus, PEANUT BUTTER CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE ON TOP.

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone who mothers in all the ways one can in this world.

What are YOUR kicks this week?





10 comments to “7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #482: Featuring Isol”

  1. I LOVE, love, love Isol’s work. Thanks for this, Julie.
    And happy birthday week, my dear.
    Kicks this week: more packing to move, mattress on the floor because frame is packed, grooming the poodles, being able to still send my mother a card and call with how much I love her.


  2. Love the soul that is Isol…her illustrations are magical…my kicks are tons of roses inside and outside! sleepy do nothing evenings as we glide into good weather months…and gratitude for having work to do that I love…


  3. What gorgeous & unique illustrations – equal parts striking, funny, & haunting – I love this alphabet book!

    Jules – CAKE! Oh my that sounds like a wonderful birthday cake. So glad you have had a great birthday week!

    Wendy – grooming the poodles is a kick I can relate to, and yay for cards & phone calls of love to your mom.

    Toni- sleepy do nothing evenings sound amazing. As does good weather.

    My kicks this week:
    1) Sunshine
    2) Gorgeous sunsets, & getting the chance to capture snaps of some of them.
    3) A sweet smelling Daisy dog after yesterday’s bath.
    4) Finished “Me Before You” and now looking forward to the movie.
    5) A good day at work & getting a hug from a happy client because of it.
    6) The Rock Clock & getting woken up by Dwayne The Rock Johnson singing to me to get my candyass out of bed – makes me smile every morning.
    7) Family Dogs New Life Gala last Sunday. (Its the shelter that brought Daisy up from California.) Lovely time & they surpassed their fund-raising goals so they can continue to rescue & help pups in need.
    7.5) Blazers are still in the playoffs!
    9) Good memories of my awesome Mom to keep me warm & make me smile.

    Jules said it best, so Happy Mother’s Day to all those who mother in every way one can!


  4. Love that dangerous yellow Question!


  5. Happy Sunday, Imps! Hope you are having a wonderful day, especially the parents out there.

    Cool art, Isol.

    Happy birthday week, Jules! 🙂

    Wendy: Have a safe move.

    Toni: Gratitude is the best kick.

    Rachel: Yay for helping critters in need!


  6. Hi Wendy! Where are you moving?

    Hi Toni. Thanks for bringing roses to mind. What a colorful kick

    Rachel: Kick #7 is especially kick-ass. Your last one is pretty great too. Was just talking today about an old home where we could always see the sunset so clearly, like it was on stage. I miss that. There’s a lot to be said for seeing sunsets.

    John! Hi!

    Little Willow: I hope the absence of kicks does not mean you had a lousy week. Oh please oh please.

    Have a good week, all!


  7. This looks wonderful! I just saw the Kirkus review, so it was already on my radar. Thanks for showing the art!!


  8. You’re welcome, Maria! My pleasure.


  9. Jules: Oops – I typed up a list of kicks and then forgot to post it while I was commenting on the kicks of others! 🙂 My week was very okay!


  10. Oh, good!


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