{"id":4985,"date":"2019-11-03T00:01:58","date_gmt":"2019-11-03T06:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=4985"},"modified":"2019-11-02T10:51:24","modified_gmt":"2019-11-02T16:51:24","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-662-featuring-rudy-gutierrez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=4985","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #662: Featuring Rudy Gutierrez"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nNic plays the double bass and, after a performance at his school (where he pulls off an “epic solo”), he heads to his grandfather’s, the giant instrument strapped to his body like an over-sized backpack. As he wields his way through the busy city streets \u2014 managing to carry the instrument as gracefully as possible; getting past a vicious dog; overcoming the rain and disparaging comments from other children (“nice tie, chump”) \u2014 he hears music in the city noises (the “whoosh, whoosh” of windshield wipers) and the rain (“plunk, plunk, plunk”) until he’s safe and warm at granddaddy’s. Granddaddy Nic is also a musician, and waiting with him are his friends \u2014 a drummer, a saxophonist, and a trumpet player. It’s time to make music. <\/p>\n

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This is the dynamic, kinetic Double Bass Blues<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (Knopf, October 2019), written by Andrea J. Loney<\/a><\/strong> and illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez<\/a><\/strong>. Loney’s economical text captures the noises and dialogue of the city streets; Gutierrez’s illustrations \u2014 with their geometric designs, swooping lines, and vivid colors \u2014 are all movement and energy, as you can see in the spreads featured here today. It’s a story about resilience, family, community, and (best of all) music.
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\nDOUBLE BASS BLUES. Text copyright \u00a9 2019 by Andrea J. Loney. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2019 by Rudy Gutierrez and reproduced by permission of the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, New York.<\/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> I always look forward to the announcements of the New York Times\/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children\u2019s Books, and they announced the 2019 list<\/a><\/strong> on Friday. <\/p>\n

2)<\/strong><\/font> My daughters dressed up as Pearl and Amethyst for Halloween. Steven Universe<\/em> forever. <\/p>\n

3)<\/strong><\/font> Their friends dressed up as Moomins<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n

4)<\/strong><\/font> Lucy Dacus<\/a><\/strong> covering “In the Air Tonight” for Halloween:
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