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<\/a>But THERE’S MORE. While we have Jason on the mind, I thought I’d also show some illustrations from his next book, on shelves in March, The Catawampus Cat<\/em> (Crown Books for Young Readers). This one is illustrated by Australian artist Gus Gordon<\/a><\/strong> (who visited 7-Imp<\/a><\/strong> way back in 2010 and whose art from 2013’s Herman and Rosie<\/em> is here<\/a><\/strong>). Gus sent some spreads (sans text) from the book. I love this book, which has a lot to say about seeing the world from one’s own unique angle, and I think that pretty much Gus was the perfect illustrator for this one. It is filled with laugh-outloud details for those who look closely enough. (In fact, I’m opening this post with a tiny<\/em> detail from one of the spreads, though it’s hard not to open with an image of the catawampus cat himself. Anyway, in this spread, which you’ll see below, a whole bunch of townfolks appear, but this little moment—which you’ll miss if you blink—made me laugh out loud. I think that both Jason and Gus must understand what a funny word “pants” is.) <\/p>\n <\/p>\n p.s. This Fall in the U.S., we’ll see Gus’s Somewhere Else<\/em> (Neal Porter Books), which is about a non-flying duck named George Laurent. But more on that later!<\/p>\n Enjoy the art! GREAT, NOW WE’VE GOT BARBARIANS! Text copyright \u00a9 2017 by Jason Carter Eaton. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2017 by Mark Fearing. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.<\/em><\/p>\n 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 1)<\/strong><\/font> I visited Michigan this week (my first time) — specifically, Ann Arbor. It’s a charming town. <\/p>\n 2)<\/strong><\/font> I got to meet some of the folks at the Children’s Literacy Network<\/a><\/strong>, who invited me, and learn about their good and important work. <\/p>\n 3)<\/strong><\/font> I visited a lower-income elementary school and witnessed third-graders picking out three brand-new books each, thanks to the Children’s Literacy Network. (And this school’s librarian was dynamite-good at her job.) I met a volunteer for the Children’s Literacy Network, who visits prisons with brand-new books for the inmates to read (onto CD) to their children. (I want to do a Q&A with her about this, because it sounds like a really powerful program, so more on that later, I hope.) <\/p>\n 4)<\/strong><\/font> I was in Ann Arbor to talk about picture books (and why they are such wonderful things) at Literati Bookstore<\/a><\/strong>. It’s a lovely bookstore, and it was a good turn-out and a good conversation. <\/p>\n 5)<\/strong><\/font> Making new friends and seeing old ones (and meeting Wednesday). <\/p>\n 6)<\/strong><\/font> I figure you’re sick of me talking about Laura Marling’s<\/a><\/strong> upcoming CD, so I won’t post here the video of the third song she’s released from it (though we have to wait till March for the whole album). But I can link to it, right? It’s here<\/a><\/strong> — and another FABULOUS song. <\/p>\n 7)<\/strong><\/font> A friend found at Paste<\/em> Sam Phillips<\/a><\/strong> (my favorite) performing one of her songs, “Flame,” circa 1991. (And I’ve been a fan for even longer than that.) It’s here<\/a><\/strong>. It’s a brilliant song. Still. After all these years. <\/p>\n BONUS #1)<\/strong><\/font> Speaking of Sam, I love this collage<\/a><\/strong> she made. (I hope that link works when I’m not even on Instagram myself.) <\/p>\n
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illustrated by Mark Fearing:<\/font><\/strong><\/center>
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watching TV and finishing off a bag of chips I’d started earlier in the week.”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge spread)<\/center>
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illustrated by Gus Gordon:<\/font><\/strong><\/center>
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<\/em>(Click to enlarge spread)<\/center>
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and the people were busy people.”
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This is how it was every day, even Tuesday.”
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<\/em>(Click second image to see spread in its entirety)<\/center>
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‘I haven’t seen it in twenty years.’
‘Y’know,’ said Mr. Grouse sweetly, ‘from this angle you look exactly like you did the day we first met.’ They kissed, and on walked the catawampus cat, still askew …”
<\/em>(Click second image to see spread in its entirety)<\/center>
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<\/em>(Click second image to see spread in its entirety)<\/center>
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\nTHE CATAWAMPUS CAT. Text copyright \u00a9 2017 by Just Small Enough Films, Inc. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2017 by Gus Gordon. Published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, New York. Illustrations reproduced by permission of Gus Gordon.<\/em><\/p>\n
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