Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

 

There have been several heartfelt tributes to author Patricia McKissack written in the past week or so, since her death on April 7. Tennessee’s own Chapter 16 pays tribute to her work at their site today, as she was born and raised here in middle Tennessee (and, as you will read, Nashville Public Library has some special art from one of her stories on its walls).

That is here.

“We go so high I can see far out to sea.”

 
I’ve got a review over at BookPage of Joanne Schwartz’s Town Is by the Sea (Groundwood, April 2017), illustrated by Sydney Smith. You can head here to read the review, but let me say one more time here at 7-Imp: This is one of the most beautiful picture books you’ll see this year. In fact, this is one of the most beautiful picture books you’ll ever see. (Those are some serious words, but I mean them.)

I’m following up here at 7-Imp today with some art from the book, and Sydney also sent what he calls some sketches and B-sides. I thank him for sharing.

Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry »

“To tell you the truth, I have a feeling I’m not like other people. …”
(Click to enlarge spread)

 
This week at Kirkus, I’ve got the outdoors on the mind. That is here.

* * *

Last week, I wrote here about Jacques Goldstyn’s Bertolt, so I’m following up with some art from the book today.

Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry »

“In nature, almost every surface is patterned or varied; tree bark, sand, grasses, even snow is made up of individual snowflakes, if you look closely. Human-made materials tend to be more uniform and monotone — plastic, drywall, paper. I think those natural surfaces that show more and more detail the closer you look are extraordinarily beautiful and, I suppose, that is what I am aiming for when I make a picture, a complexity that you don’t see at first glance.”

* * *

Today over Kirkus, I talk with author-illustrator Kenneth Kraegel about his new picture book, Green Pants (Candlewick, March 2017).

That Q&A is here this morning.

I’ll have art from the book here at 7-Imp next week.

* * * * * * *

Photo of Kenneth Kraegel taken by Brooke Collier.

 
Over at BookPage, I’ve got a review of Deborah Hopkinson’s A Letter to My Teacher (Schwartz & Wade, April 2017), illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. That is here, and I’m following up today with a bit of art from the book.

Until Thursday …

Read the rest of this entry »

Today, debut author-illustrator Corinna Luyken visits to talk about The Book of Mistakes (Dial), which will be on shelves in mid-April.

This beautiful book, which celebrates the imaginative, playful spirit of an artist letting mistakes guide her work, is more than just an embracing of the artistic process, both messy and lovely. It’s also quite the odyssey, one that takes readers on unexpected paths, opening minds and perspectives. I don’t want to say much more than that, because I wouldn’t want to ruin the reading experience for you. You really want to see this one — and not just for the journey of the mind it takes you on. The art is also exquisite and the palette, warm and inviting.

Another reason not to go on and on is that Corinna is here, visiting today to tell us all about the book — and share lots of art. I thank her for visiting! Let’s get to it so that we can hear more.

Read the rest of this entry »

“… They danced around the kitchen.”
— From Laurel Snyder’s Charlie & Mouse,
illustrated by Emily Hughes

 


— From Dori Hillestad Butler’s King & Kayla
and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats,
illustrated by Nancy Meyers

 

“Pig dreamed she was flying with Goose. …”
— From Rebecca Bond’s
Pig & Goose and the First Day of Spring
(Click to enlarge spread)

 


— From Patricia MacLachlan’s Barkus,
illustrated by Marc Boutavant
(Click to enlarge spread)

 

This morning over at Kirkus, I write about Jacques Goldstyn’s Bertolt. You don’t want to miss this book. My thoughts are here.

* * *

Last week, I wrote here about some new easy readers — Rebecca Bond’s Pig & Goose and the First Day of Spring (Charlesbridge, March 2017); Laurel Sndyer’s Charlie & Mouse (Chronicle, April 2017), illustrated by Emily Hughes; Patricia MacLachlan’s Barkus (Chronicle), illustrated by Marc Boutavant and coming this June; and Dori Hillestad Butler’s King & Kayla series, illustrated by Nancy Meyers (Peachtree).

Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry »

 
Last week here at Kirkus, I chatted with Lorena Alvarez about her new graphic novel, Nightlights (Nobrow, March 2017).

I’m following up today with some art from the book. (Pictured above is Alvarez’s self-portrait, which I love.)

Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry »

“Malala is born at dawn in 1997. …”
— From Raphaële Frier’s Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education,
illustrated by Aurélia Fronty
(Click to enlarge spread)

 

“One morning John sat down to a huge breakfast Ma Sally had cooked for him …”
— From Rachel Himes’ Princess and the Peas
(Click to enlarge spread)

 

“The first time Sophie left the ground with Jean-Pierre,
she watched the earth fall slowly away. …”
— From Matthew Clark Smith’s Lighter than Air: Sophie Blanchard,
the First Woman Pilot, illustrated by Matt Tavares
(Click to enlarge)

 

— From Victoria Turnbull’s Pandora

 
I wrote here at Kirkus at the end of March about some new picture books with multi-faceted, groundbreaking, innovative, and/or otherwise complex women of all stripes, both real and fictional.

I’m following up today with art from each book — Rachel Himes’ Princess and the Peas (Charlesbridge, April 2017); Matthew Clark Smith’s Lighter than Air: Sophie Blanchard, the First Woman Pilot, illustrated by Matt Tavares (Candlewick, March 2017); Raphaële Frier’s Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education (Charlesbridge, February 2017), illustrated by Aurélia Fronty and first published in France in 2015; and Victoria Turnbull’s Pandora (Clarion, April 2017).

And while we’re on the subject of Victoria Turnbull, I’ve got some spreads from her Kings of the Castle, coming later this month from Candlewick. Because, why not?

Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry »

 

If you get a chance to interview the legendary Patricia McKissack, you definitely say yes. I got to chat with her for Tennessee’s wonderful Chapter 16. You can click on the image above to head to the interview and read her words of wisdom.