It’s 7/7/07 — Our Blogversary (or, uh, Blog’s Birthday —
well, you get the idea)!
well, you get the idea)!
July 7th, 2007 by Eisha and Jules
–Lewis Carroll,
Alice’s Adventures in WonderlandApproximately one year ago we started this little ‘ol blog about seven imps — no, wait . . . That’d be seven impossible things before breakfast, but since then, we have been abbreviated to the delightfully mischievous and roguish “7-Imp,” which we love.
The real story is that during July of last year the two of us had decided to do this blog thing and were writing reviews/composing posts. WordPress would not make the categories we chose for our reviews (“Adult Fiction,” “Intermediate,” “Picture Books,” etc.) appear until we assigned at least one post to each. So, last July we were composing a post for each category in order to have all our categories appear when we first showed up in our little corner of cyberspace. That would be why our first post is dated August 1st, but we were really giving birth to 7-Imp (ew) in July. Yup, here was 7-Imp’s first post ever — a review of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love (whom Jules is still determined to interview one day, but she digresses). Ah, those were the days.
Plus, we’re celebrating the blogversary today anyway, ’cause 7/7/07 is more fitting for our somewhat numerological and rather sibilant blog . . .
We had these elaborate plans for our blogversary; primarily, we wanted to have this contest-for-illustrators in which we made a call for submissions for an image (think a logo, of sorts) fitting for our blog. We would then pick the most savagely creative and awesome one (not to replace Tenniel’s Alice image up there in our header, but just to tack on the right column of our blog’s template). We even talked about flat-out boldly asking some of our very favorite illustrators for a 7-Imp image to put forever-and-always on our blog’s template, but we decided not to. Jules, in particular, thought of how folks are always assuming that storytellers (and even performing arts sign language interpreters) are going to volunteer their talents and time when really they are supposed to get paid for what they studied and what they do, and . . . well, we didn’t want to seem as if we were doing the same for all of the obscenely talented illustrators out there who normally get paid for their work and talents and time (well, we were going to offer our undying love and adoration as payment, but still . . .).
So, we’re now, uh, doing nothing elaborate to celebrate! Just saying it’s our birthday and hoping you’ll party down in spirit with us. How about this, which is from Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry, a most-excellent anthology of children’s poetry, which Jules recently raved about here:
Squashed tomatoes and stew!
Bread and butter
In the gutter
Happy birthday to you!”
(A traditional British street rhyme, which we assume is in the public domain — and Jules’ daughters are currently obsessed with this wonderfully irreverent little ditty and look for every. possible. opportunity. to sing it loudly) . . .
Woo hoo! Happy birthday to this here blawg!
Thanks to everyone for reading our blog over the past year and for letting us become a part of such a vibrant, smart, fun, and impressive community of folks who care about children’s lit (and, uh, the handful of adult novels we’ve reviewed. Do you even know that we set out to review books for all ages, but I swear, we’re 99% children’s lit here at 7-Imp, aren’t we?). Anyway, we put that statement in big, bold letters, ’cause we really and truly are grateful and want to be sure you see that . . . We are honored to be in your cyber-presence, especially since we thought we would mostly be talking to ourselves when we started this blog. How exciting and fun this year has been!
Here’s to talking about literature, to one-year blogversaries, to all of our readers and fellow bloggers, and to whatever this year may have in store for us . . .
{Quick Note That We Just Have to Add: Don’t miss tomorrow’s or next week’s 7 Kicks lists, ’cause we’re excited about our featured illustrators!} . . .
I wish I’d been reading you from the beginning. But now I have your lovely archives to dip into whenever I need a blast of fresh thoughts. So many interviews! So many books! So many links!
Many squashed tomatoes to you! Big hugs!
Eisha and Jules,
Happy Anniversary! 7-Imp is one of THE BEST kidlit blogs! You provide your readers with so much information about new books, with great interviews, with thoughtful Poetry Friday posts…and on and on and on. You ladies ROCK!!!
E & J,
Thanks for being here. I stand in awe at the work you put into your blog and, for better or worse, I would not be around the kidlit blogosphere myself were it not for you guys.
Here’s to another fabulous year, and many more.
Happy happy happy bloggiversary!! It has been so great getting to know you through your blog. 🙂 Keep up the good work!
Many happy returns of the day to y’all. Hats off to the excellent work you two do here.
Happy blogiversary! I would totally take 7Imp to the prom.
Happy blog birthday!
(Jules, I owe you email — swamped today, but will get to it later.)
Happy blogoversary and squashed tomatoes to you! Sounds like a fun party!
Thank you all very, very much.
David, since your blog is one of our very favorites, telling us that you wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for us is extremely flattering.
Thanks again for all the nice comments . . .
Yeah, thanks everybody! This community – of which you’re all part – has been such an unexpectedly delightful reward of doing this little blog thing. We’re so happy to be here, cyber-hanging with all of you.
Oh, golly. Bread and butter in the gutter, indeed. You guys are the best. Do us a favore and stick around another year or two, wouldja???
My birthday song for you . . .
My birthday song for you . . .
with help from The White Rabbit and Alice!
Happy Blogversary! We’re just one day apart!
Happy Blogiversary!! I can’t imagine how the Kidlitosphere ever got along before your interviews and 7-kicks, and general joy in the whole business of reading children’s books.
Happy Blogiversary! It’s been wonderful to see your blog blossom. All your boldness and creativity have really paid off. Thanks for doing what you do!
Great song, Little Willow! And thanks again to all our BBFs (Best Blogger Friends).
Happy blogiversary! I totally forgot to celebrate mine — my second blogiversary was back in May. Ah well — next year!
Wow! You gals are awesome. Here’s to many more!