{"id":2621,"date":"2013-08-18T00:01:45","date_gmt":"2013-08-18T06:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2621"},"modified":"2013-08-18T00:01:53","modified_gmt":"2013-08-18T06:01:53","slug":"7-imp%e2%80%99s-7-kicks-344-featuring-lauren-tobia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2621","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #344: Featuring Lauren Tobia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The amazing Anna Hibiscus who lives in amazing Africa is back<\/em>, you all! (I’m not just engaging in hyperbole for fun. “Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa” is how these books tend to open.)<\/p>\n

If you’re wondering whom I’m talking about, I’ll send you here<\/a><\/strong>, if you’re so inclined to read. That was a 2011 Kirkus<\/em> column I wrote about the very delightful Anna Hibiscus<\/em> chapter book series from Kane\/Miller. Anna’s appeared in a picture book as well, featured here<\/a><\/strong> at 7-Imp in 2011, and now she’s in a new one, Splash, Anna Hibiscus!<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (also from Kane\/Miller). In a nutshell, Anna is a young African girl, living in a commune with her huge family (including a Canadian mother). The series is top-notch reading for children and has been recognized by the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (2011). The books are written by Atinuke, a Nigerian storyteller, who spent her childhood in both Africa and the UK and now lives in Wales, and illustrated by British artist Lauren Tobia<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n

In this new story, Anna’s at the beach with her family. She loves the waves but wants to play in the water with a family member — any<\/em>one who will just stop being busy to participate in her joy. <\/p>\n

Lauren shares some art today (sans text), as well as a couple of sketches. I thank her. <\/p>\n


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Front endpapers<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

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Title page illustration<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

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“‘Joy! Clarity! Common Sense! Will you come and play in the waves with me?’ asks Anna Hibiscus. ‘No, no!’ laughs Joy. ‘We are too big now for playing,’ says Clarity.
‘And we are too busy,’ says Common Sense. Anna Hibiscus stamps away.
She wants to splash in the laughing waves. And she wants to splash with somebody!”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

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“”Papa?’ asks Anna Hibiscus. ‘Don’t interrupt,’ says Anna’s father.
‘Wait until I have finished talking.’ Anna Hibiscus waits a long time.
But the men don’t ever stop talking.”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

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Sketches<\/em>
(Click each to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

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SPLASH, ANNA HIBISCUS! Copyright \u00a9 2013 by Atinuke. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2013 by Lauren Tobia. Published by Kane\/Miller, California. All images used with permission of Lauren Tobia.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Note for any new readers: 7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome. <\/p>\n

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *<\/strong><\/font>
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1)<\/strong><\/font> Sam Phillips writes some wise words here<\/a><\/strong>. I like how she turns to art in emergencies. I get that. <\/p>\n

2)<\/strong><\/font> Look.<\/a><\/strong> Someone stole my punk rock band name. <\/p>\n

3)<\/strong><\/font> The Smiths’ lyrics meet Peanuts<\/em>.<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n

4)<\/strong><\/font> Another peek at Neko Case’s forthcoming CD<\/a><\/strong>. Looking forward to it. <\/p>\n

5)<\/strong><\/font> Opportunities. <\/p>\n

6)<\/strong><\/font> I’m reading Cheryl Strayed’s<\/a><\/strong> tiny beautiful things<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, and in one piece, she writes in a very stinging and funny way about how hard parenthood is, but it’s this below that made me put the book down and mutter, ‘oh, wow’:<\/p>\n

[Your children] will also give you everything back. Not just all they take, but many of the things you lost before they came along as well.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

7)<\/strong><\/font> This<\/a><\/strong> is such good news, and Colbert’s take on it made me laugh and cry:<\/p>\n

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