{"id":2344,"date":"2012-05-03T00:01:50","date_gmt":"2012-05-03T06:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2344"},"modified":"2012-05-03T08:39:51","modified_gmt":"2012-05-03T14:39:51","slug":"philip-c-stead-visits-7-imp-to-sharewhere-a-story-comes-fromor-how-a-toad-named-vernonended-up-sailing-a-teacup-into-the-great-unknown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2344","title":{"rendered":"Philip C. Stead Visits 7-Imp to Share
Where a Story Comes From…
Or: How a Toad Named Vernon
Ended Up Sailing a Teacup into the Great Unknown"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

You all know I’m a ginormous picture book addict, and I tell you what: Author\/illustrator Philip C. Stead<\/a><\/strong> knows how to send just<\/em> the right content to make this blogger happy. I’ve been trying to convince him to come have one of my standard breakfast interviews for years now, but (lucky for me and my imp readers) he likes to do things differently at pretty much all times and sends me the kind of words and images you see in today’s post (and the goodness he sent last year<\/a><\/strong>) instead. <\/p>\n

I am very good with this. <\/p>\n

And why is that? Well, take today’s post: Phil gets very detailed about the story behind his new picture book, A Home for Bird<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, to be released in June by Neal Porter\/Roaring Brook — the story’s history and how it got to where it is today. He also shares lots of sketches and even pictures of specifically what he uses to make his art. And this time he’s done something different from collage (but he tells you more about that below). Yes, if you’re a fellow picture book fan, his thoughtful words and images will make you happy today, so grab a cup of coffee and won’t you sit for a spell? <\/p>\n

I don’t want to ramble here, as I’d like to get straight to Phil’s words and images. A quick note on the book, though:<\/p>\n

Phil tells you enough about it below for you to get a sense of the storyline, so I won’t waste your time with that. But I do have to say that this book is a thing of beauty and that I highly recommend you find a copy for your own hands, by hook or by crook, in June. My favorite parts? The sunny palette; the subtle humor (I also highly recommend slow readings, as well as repeated ones); the movement that Phil gets in the book’s lines (even in stillness), as well as the textures he pulls off with crayon and gouache; and the surprises for fans of his previous books. (He mentions some below, but I’ll add that you can also spot Frederick<\/a><\/strong> in one spread.)<\/p>\n

Best of all, though? The pulsing heart at the core of this story, told with a beautiful economy: This is about one determined, thoughtful friend who not only doesn’t give up on his companion, but who also finds contentment in bringing happiness to another — and in helping his friend find his footing again (both literally and figuratively). <\/p>\n

Wait. One more thing. Very<\/em> best of all is something I touched upon last year when Phil visited<\/a><\/strong>. And that’s that Phil’s not afraid to color out of the lines (in more ways than one), and he’s not afraid of squeaks and wobbles and lines that aren’t perfect. In a world where publishing is capable of such high-gloss books (which often, to me, lack life), Phil—as I wrote last year—lets the raw materials shine and seems to be telling us that occasional (and intentional) smudges and speckles and exuberant, spontaneous lines and the all-around<\/em> absence of glitz, gloss, and utter flawlessness are things that are not just allowed, but they\u2019re also celebrated.<\/p>\n

And the endpapers? They are not illustrated, but they are a simple, creamy and rich navy blue. I don’t know who made that<\/em> choice, but they’re beautiful. (I just have to quickly throw that in. Am I crazy, or do we not often see such choices in endpapers these days — such rich, dark hues, that is?)<\/p>\n

Thanks to Phil for visiting, and oh! Before we sit down with him, check out the trailer (with music composed and performed by Phil himself) …<\/p>\n