June 6th, 2021 by jules
Well, we’ve not yet officially met the first day of summer here in the U.S., but with my own daughers out of school, it sure feels like it. What better book to celebrate with than Gideon Sterer’s It Began with Lemonade (Dial, May 2021), illustrated by Lian Cho. (Remember Gideon Sterer from this glorious book, published earlier this year?)
June 3rd, 2021 by jules
If you’re a regular reader of 7-Imp, you know that author-illustrator Elisha Cooper is fond of creating a compelling case for his books.
I reviewed Elisha’s newest book, Yes & No (Roaring Brook, April 2021), for the Horn Book. That (starred!) review is here, if you’re so inclined to read more about this wonderful book, illustrated (as I note in my review) in the same style as the Caldecott Honor-winning Big Cat, Little Cat.
Today here at 7-Imp, Elisha shares an essay — instead of waxing on about his own book (though, fortunately, he does briefly mention the beautiful case for Yes & No) — about the case covers of some of his favorite picture books. As the picture-book fan I am, I love this post and his eye for color, design, and what generally makes a good case. I’m about to teach this summer my picture book grad course, and you can bet that when I talk to my students about design, I’ll send them to this post. I thank Elisha for sharing.
Let’s get to it. Read the rest of this entry »
June 1st, 2021 by jules
In Julie Flett’s dedication to her father in her newest picture book, We All Play / Kimêtawânaw (Greystone, May 2021), she writes: “Growing up with you taught me about our connections to the land that inspired so much of the work that I do.” Indeed, this new book features that very thing — animals at play in the natural world (swimming, running, sniffing, yipping on the land) and the human children that play in much the same ways. It’s a book with spare, plainspoken language, perfect for the very young children at whom it’s aimed, and bold, uncluttered images to draw their eye. It’s spectacular in its seeming simplicity.
May 30th, 2021 by jules
That review is here, and below are some spreads from the book.
May 27th, 2021 by jules
Forman said in a statement at the release of Curls:
In 2014, I personally witnessed that despite being in the time that we are in, and all of the work that has been done, children of color at a very young age — even three to four — are still often viewing themselves and their hair and skin color as less than.
May 25th, 2021 by jules
It’s my pleasure to welcome Andrew Prahin to 7-Imp today. I reviewed his newest picture book, Ship in a Bottle (Putnam, May 2021), for BookPage — that review is here, if you’d like to go read about it — and then invited him to come share some process images behind the making of this very entertaining book. He shares generously today, and for that I thank him.
Let’s get to it!
p.s. Don’t miss this 2014 7-Imp post about Andrew’s debut picture book.
May 23rd, 2021 by jules
Author-illustrator Paul Schmid’s newest book, a board book called Bunny! Don’t Play with Your Food (Andrews McMeel Publishing, April 2021), features an unforgettable (and determined) protagonist. Bunny gets a carrot for a snack, and what follows is nothing less than sheer drama (even some terror), thanks to Bunny’s abundant imagination. Bunny becomes a Bunnysaur, a Tiger Bunny, a Space Hero, a Giant Sea Monster, and even a zombie. Such drama, spawned by this one snack.
May 20th, 2021 by jules
Martha and I are wiping the cyber-dust off of Calling Caldecott over at the Horn Book to check in on the year thus far in picture books.
Head here for more!
May 18th, 2021 by jules
May 16th, 2021 by jules
I love a good story about a misfit. Enter Kelly DiPucchio’s Not Yeti (Viking, May 2021), illustrated by Claire Keane. I’ve a review of this one over at BookPage.
That review is here. Below are some spreads.
Enjoy!
