{"id":5201,"date":"2020-10-04T00:01:20","date_gmt":"2020-10-04T06:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=5201"},"modified":"2020-10-03T11:43:58","modified_gmt":"2020-10-03T17:43:58","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-711-featuring-kenneth-kraegel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=5201","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #711: Featuring Kenneth Kraegel"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nI love the newest book from author-illustrator Kenneth Kraegel<\/a><\/strong>. It’s a board book called This Is a Book of Shapes<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (Candlewick, September 2020), and it is suprising and fun and subversive. <\/p>\n

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You all know those board books that introduce basic shapes. That’s how Kraegel kicks things off here: “This is a circle. This is a square. This is a triangle.” On thick pages, we get big, bold shapes, slightly textured (they appear wood-grained) and featured in solid colors. There are no other images on these three spreads. The verso features the shape; the recto, the text. <\/p>\n

But then turn the page to see expectations subverted: “This is an emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill.” (Cue the giggles.) And so it goes with more basic shapes, interrupted by more absurdity. I love it. These spreads with the more ridiculous, imaginative scenarios are more detailed, filled with color. <\/p>\n

There’s even a rimshot of an ending with a very deadpan joke involving a pineapple. What more could you ask for? <\/p>\n

Perfect for your older board book readers, this one will cause a stir at story time. Here are two of the wilder spreads:
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(Click spread to enlarge)<\/em><\/center>
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(Click spread to enlarge)<\/em><\/center>
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(Click cover to enlarge)<\/em><\/center>
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\nTHIS IS A BOOK OF SHAPES. Copyright \u00a9 2020 by Kenneth Kraegel. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.<\/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> It actually feels like Fall!<\/p>\n

2)<\/strong><\/font> Long walks. <\/p>\n

3)<\/strong><\/font> Allie Brosh’s new book<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n

4)<\/strong><\/font> This week! The celebration of the 2020 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards begins!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

5)<\/strong><\/font> This piece<\/a><\/strong> from author-illustrator Elisha Cooper. <\/p>\n

6)<\/strong><\/font> When Little Willow points me toward a new song from Guy Garvey<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n

7)<\/strong><\/font> I love this post from author Kate Hoefler<\/a><\/strong> on Instagram:
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\u2764\ufe0f<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Kate Hoefler<\/a> (@katehoefler) on