{"id":5176,"date":"2020-08-30T00:01:43","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T06:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=5176"},"modified":"2020-08-29T13:54:55","modified_gmt":"2020-08-29T19:54:55","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-706-featuring-sydney-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=5176","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #706: Featuring Sydney Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nI’ve a review over at BookPage<\/em> of one of the most splendid picture books you will see this year. I Talk Like a River<\/em> (Neal Porter Books\/Holiday House, September 2020), written by Jordan Scott<\/a><\/strong> and illustrated by Sydney Smith<\/a><\/strong>, is nothing less than a masterpiece. <\/p>\n

My review is here<\/a><\/strong>, so you can read my thoughts over there if you are so inclined. <\/p>\n

As always, I have some spreads from the book to show you here at 7-Imp today, but illustrator Sydney Smith also shares some preliminary images (for which I thank him). If you read 7-Imp, you’ll know from previous Smith visits that you’re in for a treat. Pictured above is an early painting from Sydney, followed by the final art (the opening to the book’s dramatic double gatefold spread).<\/p>\n

Enjoy! <\/p>\n


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Some Final Art:<\/em><\/font><\/strong><\/center>
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“I wake up with the sounds of words each morning all around me.”<\/em>
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(Click either image to see spread in its entirety<\/em><\/center>
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“My dad takes me to the river. We walk along the shore
looking for colorful rocks and water bugs.”<\/em>
(Click spread to enlarge)<\/center>
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Preliminary Images:<\/em><\/font><\/strong><\/center>
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An early cover<\/em>
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\nI TALK LIKE A RIVER. Text copyright \u00a9 2020 by Jordan Scott. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2020 by Sydney Smith and reproduced by permission of the publisher, Neal Porter Books\/Holiday House, New York. All preliminary images reproduced by permission of Sydney Smith.<\/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’s Kicks * * *<\/strong><\/font>
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1)<\/strong><\/font> This starred book review<\/a><\/strong> for my dear friend Tanita’s<\/a><\/strong> new book (coming in November!). <\/p>\n

2)<\/strong><\/font> This chat<\/a><\/strong> with two brilliant women. <\/p>\n

3)<\/strong><\/font> Adia Victoria<\/a><\/strong>:
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