{"id":5069,"date":"2020-03-29T00:01:47","date_gmt":"2020-03-29T06:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=5069"},"modified":"2020-03-28T15:56:41","modified_gmt":"2020-03-28T21:56:41","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-684-featuring-felicita-sala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=5069","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #684: Featuring Felicita Sala"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nI’ve three glorious spreads below from Dianne White’s<\/a><\/strong> Green on Green<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (Beach Lane, March 2020), illustrated by Felicita Sala<\/a><\/strong>. In a spare and eloquent rhythmic text, White takes readers through the seasons of a year \u2014 from spring to winter. “Yellow the flower,” the book begins. “Yellow the seed. Yellow and black the buzzing bee.” <\/p>\n

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Colors dominate these sensory observations; readers go from the yellows of spring to the blues and turquoises of summer to the browns of fall to the whites of winter. But we see faithful green every<\/em> season. Each season seamlessly flows into the next, thanks in large part to the choices of illustrator Felicita Sala, who draws parallels on many spreads. For instance, in spring the child whose family we follow in the story stomps in a puddle; in the next spread it’s summer, and the child’s in the same position, stomping into a wave on the shore. We also watch as the belly of the child’s mother grows. She is pregnant, and the baby finally appears on the final two spreads. <\/p>\n

It is a tight-knit, loving family Sala paints here, a family who loves to be outdoors. And these spreads are filled with such delightful, rewarding details that this is one for reading repeatedly. <\/p>\n

Sala’s beautifully composed spreads feature richly colored illustrations rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencils. They really are quite stunning. See for yourself below.
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“Yellow the flower. Yellow the seed. Yellow and black the buzzing bee.”<\/em>
(Click spread to enlarge)<\/center>
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“Blue the coral. Blue the shell. Blue and white the foaming swell.”<\/em>
(Click spread to enlarge)<\/center>
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“Brown the squirrel. Brown the mouse. Brown the trees around our house.”<\/em>
(Click spread to enlarge)<\/center>
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(Click cover to enlarge)<\/em><\/center>
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\nGREEN ON GREEN. Text copyright \u00a9 2020 by Dianne White. Illustrations copyright
\u00a9 2020 by Felicita Sala. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher, Beach Lane Books, 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 haven’t been out of my neighborhood in more than two weeks (and I may have forgotten how to drive a car), but my family and I are healthy, and I hope that all of you are too. I worry, and I hope you all still have your health, loved ones, jobs, homes, and everything in between. <\/p>\n

2)<\/strong><\/font> I’ve got lots of good books to read. <\/p>\n

3)<\/strong><\/font> And Wingspan<\/a><\/strong> to play. <\/p>\n

4)<\/strong><\/font> Season two of My Brilliant Friend<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n

5)<\/strong><\/font> Somni’s new album, Home<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, is a good one when you want to turn off the world and hear some interesting sounds. <\/p>\n

6)<\/strong><\/font> Same for this album below, if you like piano:
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\n6\u00bd)<\/strong><\/font> Plus, all of Dustin O’Halloran’s<\/a><\/strong> piano music is a must-have for me right about now. <\/p>\n

7)<\/strong><\/font> A request for staying safe that includes my favorite musician, Sam Phillips<\/a><\/strong> (pictured very-bottom-left):
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