![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/HisShoes-7imp1.jpg\")
<\/a>\n
This morning at Kirkus<\/em>, I discuss two favorite summer picture book titles, Nina Crews’<\/a><\/strong> The Neighborhood Sing-Along<\/em> (Greenwillow, May 2011) and Meg Medina\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> debut picture book title, T\u00eda Isa Wants a Car<\/em> (Candlewick, June 2011), illustrated by Claudio Mu\u00f1oz<\/a><\/strong>. Nina Crews will be visiting 7-Imp next week for a breakfast interview, but first I take a look at her latest title (though her Jack and the Beanstalk<\/a><\/strong><\/em> comes out next month, and I’m looking forward to seeing that, too). The link is here<\/a><\/strong> this morning. <\/p>\n That Kirkus<\/em> link is here<\/a><\/strong>, if you missed it last week, and below are some spreads and early sketches from Calef. I thank him for sharing. <\/p>\n (Opening this post and pictured right are Brown’s renditions of Lear’s Owl and Pussycat. You may click on the illustration at the top of the post to see the entire spread from which each image comes, along with Lear’s poem, “The Owl and the Pussycat,” in its entirety.)<\/p>\n Enjoy. <\/p>\n <\/p>\nLast week, I weighed in on Chronicle Books’ new picture book collection of Edward Lear’s<\/a><\/strong> nonsense poetry, as “masterminded” by Daniel Pinkwater<\/a><\/strong> (who visited 7-Imp here<\/a><\/strong> in 2009) and illustrated by Calef Brown<\/a><\/strong> (who visited with his elephant<\/a><\/strong> that same year). <\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>
\n
In his hat a Railway Ticket; (But his shoes were far too tight.)”<\/em>
— From “Some Incidents in the Life of my Uncle Arly”
(Click to enlarge image)<\/center><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>
\n
In spite of all their friends could say, \/ On a winter’s morn, on a stormy day, \/
In a Sieve they went to sea!”<\/em>
— From “The Jumblies”
(Click to enlarge and see spread in its entirety, including poem)<\/center><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>
\n
And they bought an Owl, and a useful Cart, \/ And a pound of Rice, \/
and a Cranberry Tart, \/ And a hive of silvery Bees…”<\/em>
— From “The Jumblies”
(Click to enlarge and see spread in its entirety, including poem)<\/center><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n
she carried a parasol and wore a bonnet of green silk…”<\/em>
— From “Mrs. Blue Dickey Bird”<\/center><\/p>\n<\/a>
\n<\/a>
\n
With the Quangle Wangle Quee.”<\/em>
— From “The Quangle Wangle’s Hat”
(Click to enlarge spread)<\/center><\/p>\n