{"id":1825,"date":"2009-11-03T00:01:06","date_gmt":"2009-11-03T06:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1825"},"modified":"2009-11-03T00:10:29","modified_gmt":"2009-11-03T06:10:29","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-taeeun-yoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1825","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Taeeun Yoo"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is undeniably backwards, but I’m here to talk a little bit today about a book I have yet to read. It’s called Only a Witch Can Fly<\/strong><\/em><\/a> (published by Feiwel & Friends in August), and it’s by the prolific and talented Alison McGhee<\/strong><\/a>. The illustrations were done by Taeeun Yoo<\/strong><\/a>, who has illustrated enough picture books to count on one hand, but whose work I very much like. Every time she illustrates a new title, I’m all over it. (I featured<\/strong><\/a> two spreads from Yoo’s The Little Red Fish<\/strong><\/a><\/em> way back in ’07, when 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks<\/strong><\/a> was but a wee babe. As I said then, that book is utterly captivating. And it has a CLOTH COVER, which for some reason makes me squealy.)<\/p>\n

I’m eagerly awaiting my library copy of Only a Witch…<\/em>. Crafted by McGhee as a sestina<\/strong><\/a>, it’s been met with rave reviews all around: “This sophisticated picture book is rich with imagination\u2026 More personal, quiet, and transcendent than most Halloween books…” from Booklist<\/em> and “{t}he effortless quiet of McGhee’s words is beautifully matched by Yoo’s pictures — linoleum block prints done in rapturously moody greens and browns” from The New York Times<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, just to name two. (Plus, when Adrienne<\/strong><\/a> tells me a picture book is good, I know I’m gonna like it. And she very much likes this one.)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sure, I haven’t seen the book yet<\/em>, but I’ve seen Taeeun’s others, I am deeply in love with her style, and I think she’s going places. So, I invited her over for a breakfast chat. She’s the first illustrator-interviewee ever, I believe, who has politely requested<\/em> her breakfast-of-choice while we talk: “I’d like to have strong coffee with cream and sugar and blueberry pancakes with a side of fruit, please.”<\/font> Now, see? I like her even more. Courteous and<\/em> knows how to have a good breakfast. Let’s get the basics from her while we set the table for our cyber-breakfast. I thank her for stopping by. <\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: Are you an illustrator or author\/illustrator?<\/font><\/p>\n

Taeeun<\/font><\/strong>: Author and illustrator (but mostly illustrator, so far). <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n

Taeeun<\/font><\/strong>: <\/p>\n