{"id":4758,"date":"2018-11-11T00:01:26","date_gmt":"2018-11-11T06:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=4758"},"modified":"2018-11-10T18:01:12","modified_gmt":"2018-11-11T00:01:12","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-612-featuring-chris-raschka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=4758","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #612: Featuring Chris Raschka"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nBecause it is beautiful and because I thought we could all use a shot of hope and love this week, I’ve some spreads here today from Chris Raschka’s<\/a><\/strong> newest picture book, Paul Writes (a Letter)<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, published by Eerdmans in September. <\/p>\n

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In this 40-page picture book, readers meet St. Paul the Apostle, who is seen penning the letters people still read today, letters that had an immense influence on Christianity. “A couple thousand years ago, there lived a man named Paul,” the book opens, Raschka noting that Paul converted (“began to believe in the story of the life and teachings of Jesus”) in midlife and wrote letters to those he had met while traveling the Roman Empire. Raschka captures the letters’ main themes and shows many sides of Paul. Booklist’s<\/em> review writes that Raschka “distills the material to its essence and brings close the messages of love and hope,” and they also note that “the letters frequently name the women as well as the men who were early Christians, an often overlooked part of Christianity.” <\/p>\n

On the final spread, Rascha writes:<\/p>\n

Some biblical scholars doubt that Paul wrote Hebrews. Who did? We don’t know who did for certain. I’ve chosen the parts that sound like Paul to me. And believe me, or believe me not, this one man, Paul, by writing letters to his friends, changed the world.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You can get a better sense of this book by peeking at some of its spreads, which is what I have here today. I always LOVE to see Raschka’a watercolors. Let’s do it. …
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(Click either image to see spread in its entirety)<\/em><\/center>
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(Click either image to see spread in its entirety)<\/em><\/center>
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(Click either image to see spread in its entirety)<\/em><\/center>
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(Click either image to see spread in its entirety)<\/em><\/center>
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\nPAUL WRITES A LETTER. Text and illustrations \u00a9 2018 Chris Raschka. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.<\/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 record number of women elected to Congress and this upcoming New Yorke<\/em>r cover by Barry Blitt<\/a><\/strong>: <\/p>\n

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An early look at next week's cover, \u201cWelcome to Congress,\u201d by Barry Blitt: https:\/\/t.co\/a5jgW9jTun<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rgBX23R2pO<\/a><\/p>\n

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) November 9, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n