7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #725: Featuring LeUyen Pham
January 10th, 2021 by jules
On shelves now is LeUyen Pham’s newest picture book, all about living during the pandemic — Outside, Inside (Roaring Brook). I’ve seen quite a few books published in response to COVID-19, but I think this one does a superb job of capturing the ways in which the pandemic has wreaked great havoc, while also acknowledging the hope that one day this will all end. To be blunt, I’m not fond of the books that spin the pandemic in only positive ways, such as the hey, we may be stuck inside, but we get to spend more time together! approach. (People have died. Let’s do a better job of reading the room.) I would highly recommend handing LeUyen’s book to a child, though. It gets it.
I’ve a review of the book over at BookPage. That is here, if you’d like to read more about it.
I also got to ask LeUyen all about making the book. That chat—in which she talks about cataloging the world as it is (“Outside, Inside was the first time I really allowed myself to paint exactly what I saw”)—is here.
And here at 7-Imp (below) are some spreads from the book.
(Click spread to large)
(Click spread to large)
Some of us worked a little, some of worked a lot …
and some of us couldn’t work at all. We all felt a little different.”
(Click spread to large)
and slides were lonely. Bells didn’t ring, and halls were empty. We had birthdays without parties, shared words without sounds, and reached each other without touching.
The world was changing a tiny bit outside.”
(Click spread to large)
OUTSIDE, INSIDE. Copyright © 2021 by LeUyen Pham. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher, Roaring Brook Press, 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.
1) Georgia!
2) What can I say about the other news this week, you all? It was infuriating. I appreciate voices of reason, such as Bernice King, CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change:
Something that has been made clear:
We need to stop saying “This is not who we are” in “America.”
Indeed, this is not who and what the United States should be, but denial won’t make the injustices and inhumane ideologies less so.
We can’t change without truth.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 7, 2021
There is so much work to do.
3) A wedding anniversary.
4) Piano is one way to my heart, and I’ve worn out this new album, which features pieces from Liszt, Villa-Lobos, Chopin, Grieg, and many more. It’s been particularly appreciated during the news cycles.
5) Long walks.
6) Every time Book and Grudge appear on the screen in Star Trek: Discovery:
7) Stumbling across this poem by Lucille Clifton.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Hi Imps! Hope you are all safe and sound.
Hi LeUyen! Outside, Inside sounds and looks lovely and honest.
Jules: Happy anniversary! Dear Grudge the cat: Hi kitty!
My kicks for the past week:
1) Auditions
2) Schedules
3) Accomplishments
4) Steady
5) Heard
6) Reruns
7) Movies
Hi there. LeUyen, I love this idea of outside and inside…perfect.
Jules, long walks, Georgia, and BKing(heading over to follow.her)
LW, hope auditions go well.
My kicks:
1. Family and friends txting check ins this week.
2. Afternoon pizza and adult drink with a friend.
3. Georgia, indeed!
4. Positive writing feedback.
5. Sourdough.
6. Organizing.
7. Classes.
Have a great week.
hi, i enjoy your website…am i able to subscribe…
(i’m 70, and not the best at computer stuff)
i don’t always remember to check your blog.
thanks, MLGarner
Little Willow: Break a leg, as always, with auditions!
Jone, congrats on the good feedback. Sourdough. Yum.
Mona, hi! Unfortunately, I don’t currently have a way to subscribe to the blog or any kind of mailing list. I really should get on that. If I ever do the subscription thing, I’ll do my best to remember to let you know! Thanks for enjoying the blog.
What a thoughtful, perfectly timed book. The illustrations capture worry and warmth so well.
Jules – GEORGIA!! Plus HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! That album cover is amazing, will definitely check it out.
Little Willow – here’s to schedules, accomplishments and reruns. Break a leg on those auditions!
Jone – hooray for afternoon pizza, adult drinks with friends and good feedback!
Hi Mona!
My kicks this week:
1) GEORGIA!!!
2) Friends in DC are safe and even went out today with about 100 other people to clean up the streets. Good people give me hope.
3) Katherine Rundell shared on her Insta about poet Gerard Manley Hopkins and his last words on his deathbed (of typhoid fever at 44) were, “I am so happy, I am so happy. I loved my life.” (He did not have an easy life.) May we all be so lucky to continue to find happiness in our lives through the difficult times.
4) Listening to the soothing sounds of kd lang today.
5) Ginger lemonade mocktails for dry January.
6) I finished all 4 seasons of Better Things and want to share 2 videos for 2 different reasons. This first one is Randy Rainbow singing the Tom Waits song Martha. Its beautifully done and he has a lovely voice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbLIYEXqWeA
7) This is another snippet from Better Things and it is joyful. The only backstory you need is a Sam and 2 of her daughters, and her mother, perform a choreographed dance as a birthday present for Sam’s oldest daughter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqLJnOyuP_k
7.5) Daisy, who takes walks with me, joins me on yoga mat in the mornings, and occasionally even sort-of joins in when I am dancing around the living room by myself.
This week was just rotten, rage-inducing, and a bit scary. I love knowing Seven-Imps will be here on Sunday as a light-filled safe place to land. Here’s hoping we all have a much better week starting tomorrow.
Rachel, my treat after I get my work done will be to watch these videos. More than one friend has recommended that show to me too.
Love your second kick the most. And that third kick … whoa.
Have a good week!
Thank you for this post and for the Lucille Clifton poem. So bracing!