7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #642: Featuring David Ezra Stein
June 16th, 2019 by jules
(Click to enlarge)
Hush, Little Bunny (Balzer + Bray, January 2019), written and illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist David Ezra Stein, is a new take on a traditional lullaby. And as many classic lullabies do, it reminds children that their caretaker is there to protect, comfort, and nurture — unconditional love in its purest form. Here, we have a small rabbit with its father, who plays with, protects, guides, feeds, and amuses his child — all told in the same sing-song rhythms as the lullaby upon which it is based.
David visits 7-Imp today to share some of his process images, as well as final paintings from the book. This is a sunny, light-infused palette with many full-bleed spreads that invite readers into the natural world to explore with the creatures. I love to see the energetic lines of David’s work. Let’s get right to it so that the art can speak for itself, and I thank him for sharing. (And be sure to scroll down to see Bun Bun.)
(Click each to enlarge)
And if that big blue sky clouds over …”
(Click to enlarge spread)
I’m still gonna love you all year long.”
(Click to enlarge spread)
So, here is Bun Bun.”
HUSH, LITTLE BUNNY. Copyright © 2019 by David Ezra Stein. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher, Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins, New York. All other images reproduced by permission of David Ezra Stein.
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) The Adventure Zone at the Ryman Auditorium this weekend was very fun.
2) Surprises in the mail.
3) It only took me 15 years to get to it, but I love Iron & Wine’s Our Endless Numbered Days.
4) I heard Ocean Vuong speak at Parnassus Books this week about On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. I’m looking forward to reading it.
5) My smart friend and colleague Dean Schneider visited my grad course this week. I’m glad my students got to hear him.
6) Katherine Rundell has a new novel!
7) In honor of Father’s Day, I share this, which I love.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
What a lovely reworking of that lullaby, & perfect for today. Bun Bun is a cutie!
Jules – Glad you and the girls had fun at The Ryman (its on my bucket list to see a concert there. I will get there one of these days). And hooray for surprises in the mail, and so excited the new Katherine Rundell novel! Just pre-ordered it.
My kicks this week:
1) Listening to the new Bruce Springsteen album Western Stars, so good: https://open.spotify.com/album/6BhqPpIgY83rqoZ2L78Lte
2) US Womens National Soccer team plays Chile in the World Cup today!
3) First raspberries of summer have appeared on my raspberry bushes.
4) Another busy work week – 3 great results for clients. (Dismissals, hooray!)
5) Finished the last book in the Mister Max series by Cynthia Voigt.
6) Morning coffee with Daisy.
7) Making plans to travel with my niece (meetup in another city.)
7.5) Feeling grateful for having good, fun memories with my Dad.
Have a wonderful week Imps!
Good morning, bunnies and Imps!
Hi David and Bun Bun!
Hi Jules and fam and students!
Hi Rachel and Daisy!
My kicks for the past week:
1) Performances
2) Teamwork
3) Laughter
4) Music
5) Perseverance
6) Persistence
7) Reunions
Rachel, love to hear about your successes at work. I’m jealous of your raspberry bushes too. Need to try that. It’s my favorite fruit. If you ever come to the Ryman, maybe I can SEE YOU!
Little Willow: ‘Reunions’ sounds like a fuzzy-warm kind of kicky.
I adore this book by David Ezra Stein. To see his process makes it even more special. I will be adding a link of this post to my blog post. You raise up the work of authors and illustrators beautifully, Jules. I am so grateful for you.
Thank you for reminding me about the Katherine Rundell book. Sometimes I like to order books from the UK and the US. This will be one of them. It’s interesting to see the cover differences.
Wowee! A new Bruce Springsteen album. Thanks to you Rachel. I saw him at MSU eons ago. I was so close to the stage when Clarence was playing his sax my heart vibrated.
When you have laughter in your kicks Little Willow, I know all is right with the world.
My kicks:
1. I finally have the huge hill in front of my house cleared of weeds and brush. It takes about 3 hours to mow everything but it looks so good.
2. My 21 shrubs are planted in front of the front porch.
3. Some friends helped put together three bookcases and some 4 by 4 foot square garden boxes.
4. Sunshine after days of rain
5. Finishing 2 MG books today; This Was Our Pact and Emmy in the Key of Code—all the stars for both
6. Baby bunnies
7. Walks, play and snuggles with Mulan
Have a wonderful week everyone.
Jules – When I manage to hit Nashville we will definitely have to meet up! (That’s on my bucket list too.) Raspberry bushes are super easy to keep happy,my 2 are in separate sunny corners in my yard.
LW – can’t pick a favorite of your kicks this week, they all sound wonderful and they all sound very much like you.
Margie – wow! Your Springsteen concert experience sounds so amazing – especially since you got to see him with Clarence! Have you seen the Netflix special of his Broadway show? His stories about his dad being his hero, and both his parents growing up, were so vivid and moving. He is such a good storyteller, whether spoken or sung.
Margie, three new bookcases! Score! Hugs to Mulan. And I am grateful for YOU.