7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #684: Featuring Felicita Sala

h1 March 29th, 2020 by jules



 

I’ve three glorious spreads below from Dianne White’s Green on Green (Beach Lane, March 2020), illustrated by Felicita Sala. In a spare and eloquent rhythmic text, White takes readers through the seasons of a year — from spring to winter. “Yellow the flower,” the book begins. “Yellow the seed. Yellow and black the buzzing bee.”

Colors dominate these sensory observations; readers go from the yellows of spring to the blues and turquoises of summer to the browns of fall to the whites of winter. But we see faithful green every season. Each season seamlessly flows into the next, thanks in large part to the choices of illustrator Felicita Sala, who draws parallels on many spreads. For instance, in spring the child whose family we follow in the story stomps in a puddle; in the next spread it’s summer, and the child’s in the same position, stomping into a wave on the shore. We also watch as the belly of the child’s mother grows. She is pregnant, and the baby finally appears on the final two spreads.

It is a tight-knit, loving family Sala paints here, a family who loves to be outdoors. And these spreads are filled with such delightful, rewarding details that this is one for reading repeatedly.

Sala’s beautifully composed spreads feature richly colored illustrations rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencils. They really are quite stunning. See for yourself below.

 


“Yellow the flower. Yellow the seed. Yellow and black the buzzing bee.”
(Click spread to enlarge)


 


“Blue the coral. Blue the shell. Blue and white the foaming swell.”
(Click spread to enlarge)


 


“Brown the squirrel. Brown the mouse. Brown the trees around our house.”
(Click spread to enlarge)


 


(Click cover to enlarge)


 

GREEN ON GREEN. Text copyright © 2020 by Dianne White. Illustrations copyright
© 2020 by Felicita Sala. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher, Beach Lane Books, 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) I haven’t been out of my neighborhood in more than two weeks (and I may have forgotten how to drive a car), but my family and I are healthy, and I hope that all of you are too. I worry, and I hope you all still have your health, loved ones, jobs, homes, and everything in between.

2) I’ve got lots of good books to read.

3) And Wingspan to play.

4) Season two of My Brilliant Friend.

5) Somni’s new album, Home, is a good one when you want to turn off the world and hear some interesting sounds.

6) Same for this album below, if you like piano:

 



 

6½) Plus, all of Dustin O’Halloran’s piano music is a must-have for me right about now.

7) A request for staying safe that includes my favorite musician, Sam Phillips (pictured very-bottom-left):

 



 

What are YOUR kicks this week?





5 comments to “7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #684: Featuring Felicita Sala”

  1. I’m so glad to see Dianne’s book here. She was at a Highlights workshop with me two years ago. We need green more than ever right now.
    Jules, I’m with you about driving. We did go to a local nursery which has abundant safe social distancing in place.
    My kicks:
    1. Watching the birds on the deck.
    2. And the squirrel.
    3. Taking walks.
    4. Taking naps.
    5. Planning for National Poetry Month.
    6. Books. Reading THE LIBRARY BOOK by Susan Orleans.
    7. Sun breaks.
    Have a good week.


  2. Love the illustrations today and the reminder of the seasons and new growth.

    Jules – glad you and yours are safe and healthy and you have books and good music to help sustain you. Thanks as always for the links.

    Jone – bird watching, walking, napping and reading all sounds like a lovely week.

    My kicks this week:
    1) Finally watched John Sayles’ movie “Lone Star” and loved it, such great storytelling and subtle performances. Not surprised I loved it, but not sure why it took me so long to get to it – I also really loved “The Secret of Roan Inish” by the same director.
    2) The Oregon State Parks Whale Watching livestream. Have seen 5 grey whales this morning and earlier in the week it was so thrilling to see a pod of Orcas swimming in Depoe Bay.
    3) Tara Stiles free yoga class livestreams on Instagram. She puts them up to be accessed anytime (since 8 am EST is 5 am here I am grateful for that.) Something about her voice and casual attitude I find very calming.
    4) Watched “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and was blown away. Everything in that movie was so beautifully done.
    5) Currently reading Octavia E. Butler’s “Parable of the Sower.”
    6) This tweet, because who doesn’t love cake for breakfast? https://twitter.com/asociologist/status/1244219350762115072
    7) Daisy is good company. One of my daily goals is to take a picture of her every day, and its a good thing she has such a big personality, because she provides me with different photo shoot options – just yesterday she was “helpful” by raiding the recycling and then putting herself in timeout in her crate.
    Bonus Kick – the myriad ways we are all finding to stay connected with one another – including coming here every week to find the good. This is such a scary sad and worrying time, and so many things are not great, yet seeing all the different ways people are trying to reach out, and to help one another, in ways big and small, gives me hope.

    Stay safe and well everyone!


  3. Thank you Jules for featuring this lovely book today. I need to revisit some of my favorite Debussy music.

    Jone: National Poetry month is right around the corner. I plan on reading some novels in verse I have been saving. There is solace in poetry.

    Rachel: Oh, the Oregon State Park Whale Watching sounds lovely.

    My kicks:
    1. Waking up to birdsong after weeks of silence.
    2. Blessed rain
    3. Tulips and daffodils starting to poke through the soil
    4. Posting a picture a day of Mulan
    5. Getting ready to add two raised-bed gardens
    6. Having a home, food, heat. I have been at home since March 6. I think I can make it for another month but then I will have to get more food.
    7. Walks with Mulan in our yard. There are many more people walking on our development road, so I am not leaving my property any more.

    Sending love to you all. Be well.


  4. Hi Imps! I hope you are all healthy and safe.

    Hi Felicita! Thank you for the lovely seasonal colors.

    Jules: Books and music and entertainment = yay! Did you hear Elbow’s new acoustic live performance album? Additionally, they also performed Weightless from their separate homes and posted it on YouTube.

    Jone: I appreciate interacting with birds and squirrels.

    Rachel: Daisy sounds like a wonderful helper.

    Margie: I’m glad you still have a place you can walk.

    My kicks:
    1) Music
    2) Movies
    3) Reading
    4) Connecting
    5) Creating
    6) Help
    7) Safety


  5. Here I am!

    Jone, neat that you got to hear Dianne speak at a workshop. Enjoy your novel — and walks and naps and squirrel-sightings.

    Rachel: We also watched Portrait of a Lady on Fire (after I typed up my kicks), and RIGHT?! Have mercy, it is beautiful. What performances! Love that bonus kick — hear! hear! Hugs to Daisy.

    Margie: Birdsong and tulips. Lovely. So glad both you and Rachel are posting pics of Mulan and Daisy. Continue to stay safe, and enjoy the yard!

    Little Willow: Yes, I saw that Weightless performance and meant to email you. Glad you caught it. I didn’t hear the new album, so thanks for the heads-up!…. Stay safe, LW!

    Have a good week, you all.


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