Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

“Mamas call. Vini! Come!
We play on.”

 
It’s a pleasure to have a visit today from illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara, who lives and works in Chicago. Her first picture book, The Field (NorthSouth Books, March 2018) — written by Baptiste Paul (this is also his debut), who was born and raised in the West Indies — is about an exuberant game of futbol (soccer). Everyone splits into teams of “friends versus friends” to play, even powering through a tropical rainstorm. (Mud doesn’t stop them.) Baptiste bases the story on his experiences growing up in Saint Lucia and peppers the text with Creole words, as spoken in Saint Lucia.

Before illustrating, Jacqueline taught high school art and photography. She won the inaugural We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) Illustration Mentorhsip Award, as well as the WNDB Walter Grant. Below, she shares some process images, as well as a bit of final artwork, from the book and also talks about her other work in the field of illustration.

I thank her for visiting. Let’s get right to it.

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“Shade your eyes from a bright CIRCLE.”
— From Kate Riggs’ Shapes All Around,
illustrated by Laëtitia Devernay
(Click to enlarge spread)

 

— From Steve Light’s Black Bird Yellow Sun
(Click to enlarge spread)

 

“You can climb inside and there read a book.”
— From the board book edition of Jane Yolen’s What To Do With a Box,
illustrated by Chris Sheban

 
Things — that is, three brand-new picture books — are all-in-the-family over at my Kirkus column today. That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Kate Riggs’ Shapes All Around, illustrated by Laëtitia Devernay (Creative Editions, March 2018); Steve Light’s Black Bird Yellow Sun (Candlewick, March 2018); and the board book edition of Jane Yolen’s What To Do With a Box (Creative Editions, April 2018), illustrated by Chris Sheban.

I’ve art from each book today.

Enjoy!

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“It is a compliment to me that my books are published in North America, as it is the opportunity to unite a very fragmented world.”

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Over at Kirkus today, I talk with Colombian illustrator Rafael Yockteng, pictured here, about his newest picture book, written by Jairo Buitrago — On the Other Side of the Garden (Groundwood, March 2018).

The Q&A is here. Next week, I’ll follow up here at 7-Imp with a bit more art from the book.

Until tomorrow …

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Photo of Rafael Yockteng taken by Gabriela Montoya.

 
Looks like I’ve got cumulative tales on the mind lately. Today’s book — Jane Yolen’s A Bear Sat on My Porch Today (Handprint/Chronicle, March 2018), illustrated by Rilla Alexander — is, just like the book I featured on Sunday, another entertaining cumulative story. Jaunty rhymes, quick pacing, and Rilla’s exuberant retro illustrations mark this story of a bear who makes an appearance on a young girl’s porch, making himself at home.

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“These are the NESTLINGS, tufted and pink, that cracked the eggs, brittle and blue, that lay on the grass, fresh and sweet, that cushions the weeds, dotted with seeds, that bind the mud, soft not soupy, that plasters the straw, rough and tough, that covers the string, long and strong, that wraps round the twigs, not too big,
that anchor the nest that Robin built.”
(Click to enlarge spread)

 
I’ve some art today from Denise Fleming’s new picture book, This Is the Nest That Robin Built (Beach Lane, March 2018). This is what the Kirkus review calls an “avian revision of a classic rhyme,” and that would be “This Is the House That Jack Built,” the popular cumulative rhyme. Here we meet the animals — squirrel, dog, horse, pig, mouse, and more — who, in one way or another, contribute to a nest (made of twigs, string, straw, mud, weeds, and grass) that a robin builds for her fledglings. The narrative’s structure is a cumulative one, just like the classic rhyme upon which it’s based, and these full-bleed spreads, which includes a gatefold towards the end, put readers right in front of the action. We are up close with these creatures, all the better to see the bold colors and textures of Fleming’s artwork. “After 28 years of paper-making,” she told me, “I decided to try a new medium. I make monoprints (using a gelatin plate) with texture and color and then cut up the prints and collage the bits and pieces. … I also use foam printing in the illustrations.” She says she will soon make a process video, which I look forward to seeing. Read the rest of this entry »

“‘On the night of the blue moon, anything can happen,’ said the boy.”
— From Sara O’Leary’s The Boy and the Blue Moon,
illustrated by Ashley Crowley

 

“This is not a valentine, since it’s got sharper edges than dainty old lace.”
— From Carter Higgins’ This Is Not a Valentine, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins
(Click to enlarge spread)

 
Today over at Kirkus, I’ve got some brand-new board books.

That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about some picture book valentines. I’m following up with art today from Carter Higgins’ This Is Not a Valentine (Chronicle, December 2017), illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins, and Sara O’Leary’s The Boy and the Blue Moon (Godwin Books/Henry Holt, February 2018), illustrated by Ashley Crowley.

Enjoy!

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Last week over at Kirkus, I chatted with Jen Yang about her new graphic novel, The Prince and the Dressmaker (First Second, February 2018).

That chat is here, and I’m following up with some art from the book today.

Until tomorrow …

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“You are a burst of joy and … I love you.”
(Click to enlarge spread, which is sans text)

 
Here’s something a bit different today.

It’s not often that I feature novelty books here at the blog, including pop-up books. For one, you all know I love to show you the art inside of a book, and it’s challenging, for a couple of reasons, to show you pop-up art. But I’m going to do my best today. The book is from David A. Carter — I Love You: A Pop-Up Book (Abrams), which was actually released at the tail end of last year.

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“I don’t go anywhere.
Everyone comes to me.”
— From Marianna Coppo’s Petra

 

— From John Himmelman’s Floaty

 
Valentine’s Day might be over, but I’m extending the celebration this week with some books, old and new, over at Kirkus today.

That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about John Himmelman’s Floaty (Henry Holt, January 2018) and an Italian import, Marianna Coppo’s Petra (Tundra, February 2018). I’m following up today with art from each book.

Enjoy!

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“For a while, I’d wanted to write a story about a character whose super power was making clothes that transformed the wearer. I couldn’t think of a premise that fit until I was watching RuPaul’s Drag Race one day, and suddenly everything clicked. I’ve also wanted to do something fun, like a Disney princess movie but with more queer themes attached, and everything fell in line perfectly from there.”

* * *

Over at Kirkus today, I talk with Jen Wang, pictured here, about her new graphic novel, The Prince and the Dressmaker (First Second, February 2018).

The Q&A is here. Next week, I’ll follow up here at 7-Imp with a bit more art from the book.

Until tomorrow …

* * * * * * *

Photo of Jen Wang taken by Ye Rin Mok.