7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #592: Featuring Anne Hunter

h1 June 24th, 2018 by jules


“Possum climbed down. A chipmunk hopped by. ‘Where’s your brush pile?’ she squeaked. ‘Gone,’ sighed Possum, ‘washed away.’ ‘Oh! Bad luck,’ the chipmunk sympathized.
‘I could help you dig a new home,’ she offered. ‘Dig?’ he asked. ‘Yes, you know,’ she said. ‘We’ll dig a bedroom, bathroom, larder …’ Possum’s eyes widened.
‘Yes,’ said Possum. ‘That sounds very nice.'”

(Click to enlarge spread, which is sans art)


 

Today, author-illustrator Anne Hunter visits 7-Imp again (she also visited early last year and, in fact, gave a sneak-peek at this book back then) to share some preliminary images and final art from Possum and the Summer Storm (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 2018). This is the story of Possum and his family, finding themselves homeless after a thunderstorm. There’s not a brush pile in sight after the heavy winds and rains. “Don’t worry, children,” Possum says. “We’ll find a new home.”

Various animals in the forest — a chipmunk, a muskrat, a wasp, and an oriole — chip in to help and eventually figure out how to fashion a new home for the Possum family. I love to see Anne’s watercolors and am pleased she’s stopped by 7-Imp to share some. And I think this story of reaching out to help those in need is just what we need to read right about now.

Anne is just finishing her next book, Where’s Baby?, coming from Tundra Books in 2020. She describes it as having a style that has “been lurking in the wings for years, and I finally did it.” But for now, let’s take a look at Possum

 

Some Early Sketches:


 


Sketch of page one
(Click to enlarge)


 


(Click to enlarge)


 


(Click to enlarge)


 


(Click to enlarge)


 


Cover sketch
(Click to enlarge)


 

Some Final Art:


 


“Thunder crashed. Wind howled.
The possum family watched as the creek rose.”

(Click to enlarge spread, which is sans art)


 


“‘Hang on tight, children!’ Possum yelled as
their brush pile home was swept downstream.”

(Click to enlarge spread, which is sans art)


 


“A wasp flew by. ‘What’s happening here?’ she buzzed.
‘Possum’s brush pile washed away,’ answered the muskrat.
‘He needs help building a new home.’
‘I can make a comb of chewed wood and saliva. It might make nice windows,’
said the wasp, and she set to work.”

(Click to enlarge spread, which is sans art)


 


“As they stood admiring the wasp’s delicate handiwork, an oriole flew in.
‘I heard there was some building going on and thought
you might need my help,’ he sang. ‘Everyone knows a nest is best!
Why sleep on the damp ground when you could swing in a nest! Let me show you!”

(Click to enlarge spread, which is sans art)


 



 

POSSUM AND THE SUMMER STORM. Copyright © 2018 by Anne Hunter. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. All images used by permission of Anne Hunter.

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 * * *

1) You all have seen this by now, right?

She rules.

2) ALA Annual is happening this weekend (in New Orleans), and I’m not there, but I’m still excited to know wonderful speeches are being made (tonight will be the Caldecott, Newbery, and Wilder speeches) and book-lovers are uniting. Also, I’m lurking at photos on social media.

3) The plush creatures my oldest daughter sews.

4) Chocolate torte and home-made biscuits.

5) Mancala.

6) Sing, Unburied, Sing.

7) Progress on a writing project.

What are YOUR kicks this week?





6 comments to “7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #592: Featuring Anne Hunter”

  1. I love these watercolors by Anne Hunter. What a terrific book.
    Jules, I wish I were A LA as well. Someday.
    My kicks:
    1. Finishing checkout from the library. Officially, officially done.
    2. Lunch with a friend.
    3. Poetry workshop.
    4. Grandgirl.
    5. Speaking truth.
    6. Time on the deck.
    7. Walking.
    Have a great week.


  2. Good morning to the Imps and the possums and the forest creatures!

    Welcome back, Anne!

    Jules: Go drummer go! Love the happy laughter at the end. Good luck with your writing!

    Jone: Yay!

    My kicks from the week:
    1) Movies
    2) Musicals
    3) Checked
    4) Double-checked
    5) Calm
    6) Buoyant
    7) Good


  3. Hi Jules! I have been absent here for a while, but popping in today! The possum book feels like nourishment for the soul! Thank you for sharing this lovely book. Also thank you for the drumming girl video! I am so impressed, and that made me smile. She is fresh air!

    Jone, your week sounds lovely, especially visiting with loved ones and time on the deck! Little Willow, your kicks are many important ones. My favorite is calm.

    Mine:
    1. More summer with lots of hiking adventures
    2. Chalk art fun
    3. Movie night
    4. Reading
    5. Shaved ice
    6. Checking boxes on to do lists
    7. Teaching the kids to play some card games (they are hilarious bluffers: “my cards are SOOO good…”)


  4. Happy Sunday Imps!

    Love this story of all the animals helping possum rebuild. Such great expressions from the animals and movement in the illustrations – especially the storm howling and the wasp’s windows.

    Jules – that little girl rocks. Chocolate torte, yum. Those plush creatures sound great, I admire those who can create via sewing, as I can barely sew a button back on. Just added Sing, Unburied, Sing to my reading list.

    Jone – congrats on being done, so much yes to speaking truth, and time spent in this amazing summer weather.

    LW – Love your kicks of movies and musicals and your last 3 kicks read like an awesome checklist for a great day.

    Dow – what a lovely week, summer hiking, reading, shaved ice, movie night and playing card games all sound like a recipe for the perfect summer.

    My kicks:
    1) Great result for a v.v. deserving client.
    2) Hectic work week of catch-up, with the satisfaction of checking things off the to-do list.
    3) Got invited to a Saturday night at Roller Derby with a very fun group of friends. It was impressive, and the Rose City Rollers came from behind to pull out a win in the last few minutes.
    4) World Cup games!
    5) Made time for a massage this week – so relaxing.
    6) Birthday breakfast in the backyard made in part with raspberries from my garden.
    7) Signed up for Summer of Proust 2018 https://summerofproust.squarespace.com/what-this-is/
    7.5) Getting to spend a lazy Sunday with Daisy for my birthday today. Couldn’t ask for a more perfect day.

    Have a wonderful week Imps!
    7)


  5. Jone: Happy OFFICIAL IT’S-REALLY-HERE Retirement!

    LW: Buoyancy. Your best trait (of many excellent traits).

    Hi, Dow! If you have any great movies to recommend for movie night, please do share. (I’m having trouble finding some that hit the sweet spot of: My girls are older and can handle more sophisticated stuff, BUT neither likes to be scared.) Happy summer, and happy hiking.

    Rachel: TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? TODAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … I finished the novel today. I could hardly put it down. It is so, so good. … Glad you had a rewarding work week. For a second, I thought you had played roller derby. (Have you ever done that?)

    Have a good week, you all, and Rachel, party all week!


  6. Thank you Jules! Looking forward to reading that novel. I have never played roller derby – soccer is as rough a contact sport I could handle. Those roller derby ladies are super strong and super tough – it was intense!


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