7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #739: Featuring Blanca Gómez
April 18th, 2021 by jules
I’ve a review over at BookPage of Bird House (Abrams, April 2021) by author-illustrator Blanca Gómez. It is a beauty, and you can read why over there. The review is here.
Below are some spreads. A Spanish edition of the book is also being released. See here!
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so it could fly around the living room.”
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BIRD HOUSE. Text and illustrations copyright © 2021 Blanca Gómez. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher, Abrams Books for Young Readers, 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.
While I am exceedingly grateful to have received my second vaccination this past week, it has me feeling pretty rough. I prefer being horizontal to vertical right now, so I’m going to keep this short. My kicks, one to seven, are that I got vaccinated and YAY, SCIENCE. But having said that, I’m going to go lie down again.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Hello, Kickers —
Jules, your review makes obvious that Blanca Gómez’s book is a lovely and just barely possible thing to encounter before breakfast. Thank you, and her, for the gentle comfort of an appetite I didn’t even know I had!
Congrats on jab #2, Jules, and I hope your side-effects are soon in the past; the future just feels a bit more chamomile, y’know?, after you get past your current ragged state.
I’m getting ready to head to NJ this week for a socially-distant visit to spend a few days each with family, mainly my 89-year-old Mom, whom I haven’t seen in a couple years. (Rather apprehensive about leaving The Missus by herself for that time, but she insists it’s a good opportunity for us not to have to look at each other, haha. It certainly hasn’t been the retirement either of us planned!) So for now, I’ll just say I’m confident I’ll find many multiples of 7 impossible kicks while up there.
But I did want to offer here a “Sunday Reading” feature which The New Yorker is offering over the next couple days: a collection from their archives of articles about children’s books. The set includes features about Maurice Sendak, Madeleine L’Engle, Beatrix Potter, Judy Blume, Gyo Fujikawa, and — probably inevitably — Dorothy Parker’s 1928 review of The House at Pooh Corner. You can find links to the pieces here, in the intro.
Hope you all have been well. Have a wonderful week!
Jules, what a fabulous book. The illustrations are so bright and I love the colors.
I hope you feel better, Jules, remember the vaccine is doing its work. And yay for science.
Jes, I hope your trip to NJ goes.well. Looking forward.to exploring the link you gave us.
My kicks:
1. Traveling to see a friend, north of Seattle.
2. Bookstore!
3. Baby birds in my hanging planter.
4. Sunshine.
5. Sitting on the deck.
6. Reading.
7. Creating.
Have a great week.
Happy Sunday, Imps! Hope you’re all doing well.
Hi Blanca! Congratulations on the release of your book! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Jules: Feel better soon! YAY SCIENCE!
JES: Enjoy your visit.
Jone: That sounds like a very peaceful, joyful week.
My kicks:
1) Worthwhile
2) Knowing your worth
3) Space
4) Time
5) Patience
6) Steady
7) Ready
Hi Imps! I love this story and these illustrations, especially how inside the house feels so safe and warm.
Jules – yay for that second vaccine and yay science! Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Jes – safe travels and I hope you have good visits with family. Will check out that link later.
Jone – what a wonderful week you’ve had, sunshine, travel, bookstores and baby birds are so lovely.
Little Willow – love your kicks this week, but especially kicks 1 and 2. Knowing your worth is a super power.
My kicks this week:
1) Sunshine
2) Hummingbirds
3) The Oscar nominated short doc “A Concerto is a Conversation” is a very worthwhile way to spend 13 minutes. Its a loving conversation between a grandfather and grandson, with a history lesson happening in-between. (Free on YouTube)
4) Fresh chicken and duck eggs from a family that loves their chickens and ducks. Fresh eggs from well-loved chickens and ducks are simply amazing.
5) I committed to riding 50 miles on the indoor bike this weekend and I’ve only got 18 miles left til I reach that goal.
6) A phone call with a friend I had not talked to in months. We could not stop laughing, it was some much needed joy.
7) Getting sent a video of Daisy sneaking treats at her rehab – she is such a funny dog!
7.5) Daisy is having surgery tomorrow to remove a small tumor and a small bump. The kick part is that they caught the tumor in time and that while anesthesia is always harder on the older pups, our vet and their staff takes such good care of Daisy that I know she will be in good hands.
Have a wonderful week Imps!
John! Enjoy your trip, and thanks for that link!
Jone, how I miss traveling (and seeing friends INSIDE in person!). Glad you got to take that trip.
Little Willow: Love your evocative kicks, but I especially love the very wise second kick.
Rachel: Thanks for reminding me about the Oscar-nominated shorts. I had made a mental note last week to look them up. I love your 4th and 6th kicks, in particular. GOOD LUCK TO DAISY! Sending good wishes to her.
Have a good week, you all!
Daisy: Sending you lots and lots of healthy vibes and lots of strength and hugs! 🙂
Rachel: Hugs to you, too. Keep us posted. A Concerto is a Conversation was lovely.
Jules and Little Willow – thanks so much for the good thoughts for Daisy!
Little Willow – so glad you liked it! The love between grandfather and grandson was so beautiful to see.
In case you’re looking to see more of the Oscar nominated short films and docs (and anything else), this has a list of where everything is streaming:
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/watch-oscar-nominated-movies-online-free-stream-1234931866/
Little Willow, yes to knowing your worth!
Rachel, I hope all goes well Miss Daisy. BTW, I loved the video of her stealing treats.
Ooh, thanks for the list, Rachel! Perfect.
Hey y’all, quick Daisy update. Everything went well, and she’s recovering nicely. Thanks again for all the good thoughts sent her and my way!
YAY! Give her a hug from us all.