{"id":3276,"date":"2013-12-08T00:01:06","date_gmt":"2013-12-08T06:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3276"},"modified":"2013-12-07T20:53:46","modified_gmt":"2013-12-08T02:53:46","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-360-featuring-brian-biggs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3276","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #360: Featuring Brian Biggs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sketch and final cover art<\/em>
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Santa gets around any way he can, y’all. <\/p>\n

And author-illustrator Brian Biggs<\/a><\/strong> proves this point in the newest entry in his Everything Goes<\/em> series, called Everything Goes: Santa Goes Everywhere!<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, published by Balzer & Bray this September. This is actually a board book, and it’s good stuff. In fact, I did story time yesterday morning at Parnassus Books<\/a><\/strong> here in Nashville, and I brought this one along. The children there loved the book. There were many laughs, in particular, to see Santa on a speedboat. (And how much do I love the book’s cover? A whole heapin’ lot. Opening this post is the cover art.)<\/p>\n

(By the way, that’s Brian pictured above and right. He painted himself into his new book about what goes on the sea, but more on that book below.)<\/p>\n

I’ve posted before here at 7-Imp about this wonderful series<\/a><\/strong> (see this 2012 post<\/a><\/strong> in which I chat with Brian), which is perfect for the vehicle- and transportation-obsessed child in your life (or even growns-ups). I think it’d be unfortunate, though, to write about these books in such a way to imply they should be limited to only those who like moving vehicles of any sort. They’re such well-crafted books on many other levels, and they’re full of rewarding details. You will often hear Biggs compared to Richard Scarry<\/a><\/strong> when folks write about these books, and there’s a reason: They are spreads to pore over and take one’s time with, spreads full of many stories and running jokes and visual treats. Oh, and they’re educational too. Clearly. But, most importantly, they’re very fun. <\/p>\n

So far in the series, we’ve been treated to these picture books: <\/p>\n

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Covers for <\/em>Everything Goes: On Land<\/a><\/strong> and <\/em>In the Air<\/a><\/strong>
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Out in October was a third one, Everything Goes: By Sea<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, and Brian shares some art and sketches below from that one. (Bonus!) There have also been board books, as well as I Can Read<\/em> beginning readers. His newest board book, released in October, is Everything Goes: What Flies in the Air?<\/a><\/em><\/strong> We’re also treated below to some art and sketches from that one. (Bonus again!)<\/p>\n

But first up is more from Santa himself. Let’s get to it, and I thank Brian for sharing.
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Art & Sketches from Everything Goes:
Santa Goes Everywhere!<\/em><\/strong><\/font><\/center>
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“Canoe”<\/em>
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“Bicycle” (sketch and final art)<\/em>
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“Helicopter” (sketches)<\/em>
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“Helicopter” (final art)<\/em>
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“Sailboat” (sketches)<\/em>
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“Speedboat” (sketch)<\/em>
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“Speedboat” (thumbnail)<\/em>
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“Speedboat” (final art)<\/em>
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Cover sketch<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


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Final cover<\/em><\/center>
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Art & Sketches from Everything Goes: By Sea<\/em><\/strong><\/font><\/center>
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Sketchbooks<\/em>
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Sketches<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

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Sketches: Ferries (before and after)<\/em>
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Final art<\/em>
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Sketch and final art<\/em>
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Final art<\/em>
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Final art<\/em>
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Final art<\/em>
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Final art (the book’s gatefold)<\/em>
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Cover template<\/em>
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Cover thumbnails<\/em>
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Cover as a work-in-progress<\/em>
(Click first image to enlarge)<\/center>
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Art & Sketches from Everything Goes:
What Flies in the Air?<\/em><\/strong><\/font><\/center>
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Jet sketch<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

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Cover art (early and final)<\/em>
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Final cover<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

All images are used with permission of Brian Biggs.<\/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> Have I mentioned that I love the cover of Santa Goes Everywhere!<\/em> somethin’ fierce? <\/p>\n

2)<\/strong><\/font> My daughters and I have been reading aloud Patricia Wrede’s<\/a><\/strong> Enchanted Forest Chronicles<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, and thank goodness for the protagonist, Cimorene. She’s the kind of princess that my girls can stand. (No, really, they seem to have lost all patience for the helpless types. I didn’t even drill this into them). She is bold and fearless and can take care of herself. <\/p>\n

3)<\/strong><\/font> I love seeing music best-of lists at this time of year, like this one<\/a><\/strong>. So much music to explore. (Oh, and look at this<\/a><\/strong>. They wrote, “If Laura Marling\u2019s fourth album, Once I Was An Eagle<\/em>, ended after only five tracks, it would still be one of the strongest pieces of music to be released in 2013.” Why, yes! I happen to agree with that.)<\/p>\n

4)<\/strong><\/font> When I saw Laura Marling live a few weeks ago, she sang<\/em> all five of those songs. <\/p>\n

5)<\/strong><\/font> I love this<\/a><\/strong>. It’s “Bjork Explaining Television Is Everything You’d Imagine Bjork Explaining Television to Be,” and it makes me laugh. (P.S.: “You shouldn’t let poets lie to you.”) (Thanks to Jonathan Bean<\/a><\/strong> for the link.)<\/p>\n

6)<\/strong><\/font> This<\/a><\/strong> is also totally wild (there are unicorns in the Bible?), and I’d like to see Bob Shea<\/a><\/strong> or Bob Staake<\/a><\/strong> illustrate it, wouldn’t you? Also, I kinda want a copy. <\/p>\n

7)<\/strong><\/font> Last week, I mentioned that my girls sang back-up on this CD<\/a><\/strong>, released by a Nashville musician\/puppeteer\/children’s storyteller. Now there’s a video of the song. You might even spot my girls in there. One might even have facial hair. <\/p>\n