{"id":4404,"date":"2017-07-23T00:01:44","date_gmt":"2017-07-23T06:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=4404"},"modified":"2017-07-22T20:16:59","modified_gmt":"2017-07-23T02:16:59","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-544-featuring-mariachiara-di-giorgio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=4404","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #544: Featuring Mariachiara Di Giorgio"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nHow about another import today, dear Imps? Last week<\/a><\/strong> we had a German one; today is one from Italy. <\/p>\n

Professional Crocodile<\/a><\/strong><\/em> was originally published in Italy this year but is also seeing publication here in the States in early August (Chronicle Books). It’s a book conceived by writer and publisher Giovanna Zoboli<\/a><\/strong>, who is also one of the founders of the Italian children’s book publisher Topipittori<\/a><\/strong>, and it’s illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n

In this wordless story, readers follow a crocodile during the course of his day. The illustrations are divided into panels of various sizes, though some spreads are continuous, full-bleed ones. The crocodile dresses and behaves as if human. Di Giorgio’s dynamic city scenes will beguile readers; there’s a lot to pore over and take in, and there’s a good dose of humor in the details. At one point, when the crocodile hops on a crowded train, we see mostly humans but also a few other animals. Hmm. … Where is he heading?<\/em> child readers will wonder. <\/p>\n

He’s actually heading for the zoo. Once there, he removes his clothes in a locker room and then waltzes right into his enclosure where, on the final spread, humans gape at him through a glass partition. <\/p>\n

Does the crocodile enjoy this? Given the very first illustration, where we see him sleeping in his PJs at home and dreaming of lying in a swamp at night, perhaps he does love his “job” at the zoo? Is this a 9-to-5 engagement he’s expected to do, maybe paid to do, maybe even dreads<\/em> doing? Author and illustrator don’t tell us. It’s left to readers to decide. I suppose his professional obligations can be seen as either absurd and depressing (which, come to think of it, is how many people feel about their jobs) or<\/em> content and fulfilling, depending on who’s reading. <\/p>\n

Here are a few spreads. …
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(Click either image to enlarge and see spread in its entirety)<\/em><\/center>
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(Click to enlarge spread)<\/em><\/center>
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(Click to enlarge spread)<\/em><\/center>
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\nPROFESSIONAL CROCODILE. Copyright \u00a9 2017 by Topipittori. First published in the United States of America in 21017 by Chronicle Books LLC. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher.<\/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

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *<\/strong><\/font>
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1)<\/strong><\/font> The 13th Doctor!
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