7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #516: Featuring Carin Berger
January 1st, 2017 by jules
Good Night! Good Night!
It’s a miracle this post is even up. I’ve lost track of the days, as one is wont to do during the holidays. I’ve had fun not working (mostly), not making plans, and (mostly) not firing up my computer.
Happy New Year, dear Imps! It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means I normally feature a student or debut illustrator, but I’m breaking the rules today. I’m happy to feature artwork from Carin Berger, which has become another 7-Imp tradition of sorts for me. It just occurred to me that there have been a few years (here and here, as but two examples) where Carin has visited the site to share art early in the year. So, I think 2017 should be no exception.
Today, she’s sharing preliminary images and final art from Good Night! Good Night! (Greenwillow), on shelves this month. Rendered via cut-paper collage, Carin tells the story of one bunny-mother’s efforts to get her bunnies into bed. As she attempts to tuck them in, they find every reason in the book (dances! monsters! jumping beans!) to stay awake. It’s a book that, as the publisher likes to note, almost reads like a call-and-response text, as the mother cumulatively lists all the routines they’ve engaged in to get to sleep (stories, songs, hugs, kisses, etc.) Each time a very awake bunny yells out a new no-sleep tactic, mama is sure to add it to her list.
The dark night-time spreads are occasionally interrupted by brighter hues as the bunnies successfully put off bedtime with each new excuse, and Carin’s textured cut-paper pieces have a pleasing simplicity about them. Both art and text are expertly suited to the youngest of listeners. I want to borrow a toddler or preschooler, just to share this one with them.
Here are some more process images and final art, and I thank Carin for sharing.
(Click each to enlarge)
(Click either image to see spread in its entirety)
(Click to enlarge)
GOOD NIGHT! GOOD NIGHT! Copyright © 2017 by Carin Berger. Published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, New York. Process images and final art reproduced by permission of Carin Berger.
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.
1) Christmas in our new house.
2) One of my Christmas wishes came true, and I was given John Lewis’s March trilogy. And it’s so good.
3) Eisha visited! Here we are.
4) Home-made bread.
5) Two shows at the Ryman in the past few weeks.
6) And one of those shows was Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, who sang A NEW SONG.
7) Riding on my bike right into a recycling bin, like the giant clutz I am, only resulted in some bruises, not any broken limbs.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Happy New Year, Jules!
I am a huge Carin Berger fan so this new book and process art are a joy to see today.
I am so happy you had a very Merry Christmas in your new home. I hope to read the March trilogy too.
My kicks for this week:
1. Sunshine today and no wind so far
2. Finding a wonderful new vet for Mulan; the poor pup has one thing after another
3. Still reading great 2016 books while looking forward to 2017 books. Have you read Matthew Cordell’s Wolf in the Snow? Wowee!
4. New recipes
5. Actually got to sleep six straight hours one day this week
6. Hanging artwork
7. Outside with Mulan
Have a wonderful new year everyone and a great week
Happy new year, everyone! Let’s make it a good one.
HI EISHA! (In capital letters so you can hear the volume at which I happily greet her.) So glad that you got to visit.
Jules: Yay for new house, new songs, happy visits, and happy holidays. Heal quickly now.
Hello to Carin and the happy bunnies!
Margie: Hope you and Mulan find a new vet who is both compassionate and knowledgeable. Sleep is fantastic. Congratulations on that, seriously.
My kicks from the past week:
1) Rest
2) Visits
3) Writing
4) Consideration
5) On my own time
6) At my own pace
7) Hope, always
My best books of 2016 list is up at Bildungsroman, if anyone wants to check it out. It’s a very short list. I set the bar very high.
Margie, I wish the best for Mulan, and I’m glad you finally found a good vet. And, yes, I love Matt’s new book. Reviewed it for BookPage, and that will post at their site when the book comes out.
Little Willow: Thanks for the tip about your list! I like your fifth and sixth kicks.
I hope you both have a wonderful new year!
Happy New Year!
Love this book – the idea, the bunnies, the blue – what a gorgeous blue. Looking forward to seeing it. We like going to sleep books at our house.
Nice to see some kicks – good ones!
My Kicks:
1. feeling better and better since my surgery. Hoping for the all-clear to drive next week.
2. Ashley Bryan’s Freedom Over Me
3. tea time with my aunt
4. beautiful afternoon for a slow walk with my Littler – in a warm fleece.
5. beautiful rain these past few days continuing to reduce our drought and feed our dying trees.
6. The latest Flavia de Luce novel – this girl is SO much fun.
Happy week everyone!
Allison, I’m so glad the surgery went well. Take it easy, and take care. Happy new year!
Allison: Sending you healthy thoughts!
Jules: I _finally_ treated myself to two Elbow albums: The Takeoff and Landing of Everything and Leaders of the Free World. I’ve listened to both albums many times over the years but didn’t own them until today. 🙂
LW: WOOT! I think they have new music coming out this year.
No one writes quite like Guy Garvey.
Jules: Ha! I just saw that they have a new album coming out in February and immediately swung by here to see if you knew yet. 🙂
I look forward to your review on Matthew’s book, Jules. Today is publication day!
I love your final kick Little Willow.
Sending you healing thoughts Allison.