7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #596: Featuring Paul Hoppe

h1 July 22nd, 2018 by jules


“He calculates, backs up, and shoots at the perfect time.
The crowd goes wild. WAAAAAA!!!”

(Click spread to enlarge and read full text)


 

In Mina Javaherbin’s Neymar: A Soccer Dream Come True (FSG, May 2018), illustrated by Paul Hoppe, readers meet international soccer star Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (a.k.a. Neymar) as a boy. He lives with his family in his grandpa’s house in Brazil and dreams of soccer stardom.

Young Neymar often plays with his father, whose own dream of “stardom” ended when he was injured in an accident as a child. One day Neymar is pegged by a soccer coach as having talent and begins to coach with him. When a new youth-league division of the local soccer team is created, Neymar plays for them and learns “the rhythms of soccer.” Eventually, he begins to play for Real Madrid’s academy in Spain, though Neymar longs for his home in Brazil. He misses his family, his mother’s cooking, and playing with his friends in the street. And so he returns. From there, Javaherbin lays out his rise to stardom after Neymar is invited to play for Santos’s major league.

 


“The ball is flying directly toward the goal. Wait! Who’s that? …”
(Click spread to enlarge and read full text)


 

Telling his story in an imagined first-person voice, Javaherbin focuses on Neymar’s love for and devotion to his family. In her closing author’s note, she writes about her connection to Neymar’s story and even how she, as a child, also engaged in pretend soccer matches in her home. Paul Hoppe’s illustrations capture the energy and movement of the game, and he places the reader in the midst of the action, as if we’re right there on the field.

 


“I love playing soccer with him. I’m learning his expert moves.”
(Click spread to enlarge and read full text)


 

I may not be a big sports person myself, but I understand there was a lil’ soccer game recently, and this picture book is the perfect read for soccer fans everywhere, coming down from the World Cup high.

 



 

NEYMAR: A SOCCER DREAM COME TRUE. Text copyright © 2018 by Mina Javaherbin. Pictures copyright © 2018 by Paul Hoppe and used by permission of the publisher, Farrar Straus Giroux, New York.

 

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) Because of ComicCon, there was quite a bit of Doctor Who buzz this week (case in point). I may have gotten teary-eyed more than a few times.

2) Dinner with a friend and my first time at Nashville’s Plaza Mariachi.

3) I love so much of what Parker Posey says here.

4) The book trailer for our family’s current read-aloud:

 



 

5) This Velvet Underground cover from Lowland Hum:

 



 

6) Staying up with my girls to watch Janelle Monae on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert:

 



 

7) Happy to see pieces like this from author Erica Perl.

What are YOUR kicks this week?





5 comments to “7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #596: Featuring Paul Hoppe”

  1. Good morning, Imps! Hi Paul!

    Here’s to everyone who makes their dreams come true.

    Jules: I enjoyed the new Doctor Who adverts and I’m looking forward to the new season!

    My kicks from the past week:
    1) Auditions
    2) Assistance
    3) Assistants
    4) Assertive
    5) No is a complete sentence
    6) Thank you
    7) Respect


  2. Love this book – yay soccer and yay for making dreams come true.

    Jules – great links as always, that book trailer cracked me up, I am guessing thebook is a fun read. So much love for both Parker Posey and Janelle Monae.

    LW – so much yes to kick number 5!! Using the No muscles can be hard, and there are times when I feel ridiculously proud of myself for doing so.

    My kicks this week:
    1) Finally getting a dificult work project right.(With lots of help along the way.)
    2) A work event at an outdoor location – socializing and learning, two of my favorite things.
    3) Taking Daisy for an air conditioned drive along the Columbia River on a too-hot day. Just the sight of the bllue blue water has cooling effects.
    4) Started watching Pushing Daisies as my next series. Gosh, Lee Pace sure is dreamy.
    5) Devoured Michelle McNamara’s “I’ll Be Gone In the Dark.” So good, and so sad on so many levels.
    6) Getting to see a favorite old friend who’d come to town for a quick visit.
    7) Finding a new patio bar in town with great views and a good menu.
    7.5) Summer sunshine and everything blooming.

    Have a great week Imps!


  3. Good afternoon/evening from the coast.
    What a terrific book about following your dreams.
    Jules, there is so much to love about Stephen Colbert.
    LW: 6 and 7, yes!
    Rachel: thanks for the book rec and where’s the patio bar?
    It’s the annual family Seaside trip. And that wraps up my kicks, 1-7. Have a great week.


  4. Little Willow: That fifth kick is makin’ my day.

    Rachel: Thanks for the TV and book recs. Love your first kick, as well the summery feel of ALL of them.

    Jone: Enjoy the vacation!

    Have a good week, you all.


  5. Jone – The bar is Xport, at the new Porter Hotel, downtown fairly close to the river. not as high as Departure, but better patio and different views. Enjoy the beach!


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