7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #673:
Featuring a Blizzard of Picture Books
January 12th, 2020 by jules
Know one reason I appreciate the picture books in this BookPage picture book round-up I wrote? They are books about snow, and at this point, snow is something I can only dream of here in Tennessee. (It’s a record-breaking 70 degrees outside as I type.) Okay, we did have some flurries before the holidays. Just a bit. For that, I’m grateful. I hope we see some more.
The picture book round-up includes Ellen Yeomans’ Some Snow Is …, illustrated by Andrea Offerman; Snowy Race, written by April Jones Prince and illustrated by Christine Davenier; and Gary D. Schmidt’s and Elizabeth Stickney’s Almost Time (pictured above), illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Again, that is here if you’d like to read more about these books.
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 better half and I celebrated our 20th weddding anniversary this week.
2) Reading Thanhha Lai’s Butterfly Yellow aloud to my daughters.
3) Friends for brunch.
4) Good book conversations.
5) Frances Quinlan’s “Rare Thing” (which, incidentally, she wrote about a child).
6) I love these thought-provoking conversations about giving the Caldecott an “international makeover” — Leonard Marcus’s piece, as well as Martha Parravano’s.
7) Figuring out that my favorite musician was interviewed on Fresh Air back in 1994 and giving it a listen. (I’ve been a fan since 1987, so I’m not sure how this slipped past me. 1994 was the year I graduated from college. I suppose I was a bit distracted then.)
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Good morning. I am ready for snow books as the Portland area is bracing and expecting snow. Such anticipation!
I’m going to find these in the library.
Jules, thanks for. BUTTERFLY YELLOW. It’s on hold at the library. Isn’t it great to have book conversations?
My kicks:
1. Snow anticipation.
2. Day trip to pick up wine.
3. New Year poetry postcards.
4. Finished OTHER WORDS FOR HOME by Jasmine Warga.
5. Also finished IN HOFFA’s SHADOW by Jack Goldsmith. If you saw The Irishman, this is a great follow up book.
6. Paying it forward.
7. Reading the CYBILS poetry finalists (Other Words…is one)
Good morning, Imps!
Jules: Happy anniversary, you two!
Jone: Enjoy the poems!
My kicks:
1) Opportunities
2) Movies
3) TV
4) Good stories
5) Catching up
6) Potential
7) Support
SNOW!! What wonderful, happy books about snow.
As Jone said, this is perfect timing as Portland is gearing up for Snowpocalypse 2020.
CONGRATULATIONS & HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Jone – yay for day trips to pick up wine, goodness knows we’ve got lots of great places to choose from. (I am partial to White Rose Estate & Willakenzie, but so so many great wines here.) I’m eagerly awaiting the snow too.
Little Willow – love kicks 4-7 – good stories, catching up, potential and support are such great kicks.
My kicks this week:
1) Hoping for a good snowfall.
2) Breakfast Friday morning with an old friend in town for a short visit.
3) On an 80’s and 90’s movies kick right now & watched The Jane Austen Book Club and really enjoyed it.
4) Watched Papi Chulo last night and it was a good and realistic portrait of grief & nice to see Matt Bomer play a character that was a complete mess.
5) Doing the #Create2020 workshop and very much enjoying taking time to set the tone for the new year.
6) Having this month off of work (mainly, still doing some small bits of work). Having the time to really rest and recover from what has been a whirlwind year/two years of work is something I am truly thankful for.
7) Currently rehabbing an old soccer injury that I finally got have fixed and am really pleased with my recovery and progress. Slow and steady for small gains that will pay off big time in a few months.
7.5) Daisy greeting a friend of mine she hadn’t met yet. Everyone is her new best friend and it is so awesome to see what a sweet, gentle, loving velvet hippo she is. Dogs are awesome.
Bonus kick – as awful as the bush fires in Australia are (I cry watching some of the footage, the devastation and loss of so many animals is so heartbreaking) seeing so many people rally to chip in to help out is really wonderful. Whether its donations or US firefighters going over to help, or koala sniffing rescue dogs, its really moving to see the international response to the crisis. Hoping the fires are contained soon so recovery can progress apace.
Looking forward to future that continues to unite us -have a great week Imps!
Jone, lemme know what you think of Butterfly Yellow! Happy almost-snow.
LW: Movies. Hmm. As in, you are in a new one?!
Rachel: Have you been following Celeste Barber’s fundraising for Australia on IG? It’s incredible. … Love that you’re getting some much-needed time off. Yay, Daisy too!
Have a good week, you all … those of you getting snow, enjoy!
Jules – no I hadn’t seen Celeste Barber’s fundraising, but will check it out asap – thanks for the heads up!
It’s nearly midnight here but I am determined this year to visit 7-Imp on Sundays at the very least.
Thank you Jules for these snow books. I have not seen any of them yet. I’ll be looking for them at the library and my favorite indie book shop. This has been one weird winter. We go from bitter cold and snowy (not nearly as much as last year) to mild and rainy in the course of hours. Happy anniversary to you both, too.
Hooray for the poetry reading, Jone.
I have to admit, I’ve been watching a lot more movies this week Willow, so hooray for movies.
I’m with you Rachel on Australia and dogs. We are of the same heart.
My kicks this week:
1. Cooking favorite soups
2. Writing posts about multiple books on my blog but . . .
3. Deciding to cut back on posting on my blog to three days only per week
4. Reading lots and lots of 2019 fiction and nonficton picture books
5. Inter-library loans
6. Full moon
7. Walks and snuggling with Mulan plus she makes me laugh over and over every day. Who could ask for anything more?
Have a super week.
Rachel: Celeste set out to raise something like $30,000, and she’s now at about something like 75 million? It’s INSANE. Beautifully insane. Also, she may be the best thing about Instagram, generally speaking.
Margie: What’s your very favorite soup? Stay warm!
Jules: I have three current favorites.
https://damndelicious.net/2015/02/18/easy-thai-shrimp-soup/
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/cozy-autumn-wild-rice-soup/ I cook this one in the slow-cooker and use the coconut milk.
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/253025/baked-vegetable-soup/ I did not add all the salt they suggest but did add garlic and thyme. I put in 16 oz of mushrooms
Thank you, Margie! I might have to try some of these.