{"id":770,"date":"2007-07-08T00:10:11","date_gmt":"2007-07-08T06:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=770"},"modified":"2007-07-14T06:56:36","modified_gmt":"2007-07-14T12:56:36","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-18-featuring-bob-graham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=770","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #18: Featuring Bob Graham"},"content":{"rendered":"

Look, everyone, it’s Kate and Rosy and Dave and the whole family there for our
7 Kicks list this week! There’s Kate’s dad, who has relinquished — for Dave’s sake — his favorite, sunniest spot for sitting and reading. And there’s Dave, jumping up exuberantly for a kiss. We are able to bring you this Bob Graham illustration this week (*), thanks to Candlewick<\/a><\/strong>. This happens to be the title page spread from Graham’s sequel to “Let’s Get a Pup!” Said Kate<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, which is entitled “The Trouble with Dogs
. . .” Said Dad<\/a><\/strong><\/em> — just released by Candlewick in June and reviewed here<\/a><\/strong> a couple weeks ago by Jules. We are huge<\/em> fans of Kate and her family and were excited to see them return. And there seems to be a lot of shared love out there in the kidlitosphere for Kate and Rosy and Dave, so we worked with Candlewick to get permission to share an image from Mr. Graham. We thank him (and Candlewick) kindly, and here’s what he had to say about the new book and some of his other titles, as well (for the record, we decided to link the book titles he mentioned here; it’s not that he instructed us to do so):<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sometimes I like to imagine what life might be like for the characters in my books outside the confines of the front and back covers. What happens after the book is closed? Up till now I have never written a sequel- somehow, for me, a second story often stands in the shadow of the first, but I thought this quiet story needed to be told, (punctuated by little bits of shouting.) <\/p>\n

Being also the illustrator of the book, I have shown that Kate and her family live in a semi industrial inner urban suburb, and while drawing the pictures I was surprised to see the family from another of my books, Oscar’s Half Birthday<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, picknicking in the park where Kate runs her dogs. Of course! they live in the same city, (I hadn’t realised,)- and I now see they live in the same city as Max<\/a><\/strong> and Jethro Byrd<\/a><\/strong> and Queenie, One of the Family<\/strong><\/a><\/em>. They all live within a few blocks of each other and wander in and out of each other’s lives. Dimity Dumpty’s<\/a><\/strong> family perform regularly up the road. <\/p>\n

It’s a brilliant city, I’m not exactly sure where it is, (either the eastern or western seabords,) Max and his Superhero family have absolutely nothing to do in their fight against crime. The worst thing that ever happens in this city is the occasional overdue library book. And above all, even though lots of them have their strange little ways, they are a pretty tolerant bunch, (and the music in the pubs at night is brilliant!) And every so often you might find someone in this town who will sit on the floor rather than disturb their dog on the sofa. <\/p>\n

And they’re worth writing about.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Let’s get to our lists then, shall we? For anyone new, 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is our weekly tradition of listing Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week (whether book-related or not), and everyone is welcome.<\/p>\n

* * * * * * * Jules’ list * * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

1). Our first blogversary<\/a><\/strong>, which we celebrated yesterday!<\/p>\n

2). Remy Charlip<\/a><\/strong>. His A Perfect Day<\/strong><\/em><\/a> was read at Nashville Public Library’s<\/a><\/strong> story time this week, along with Fortunately<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. I became familiar with Fortunately<\/em> right after Brian Selznick’s Hugo Cabret<\/a><\/strong><\/em> came out this year (and comparisons were made); in fact, it scares my three-year-old for some reason. But I hadn’t seen any other Charlip books (I know, I know. Shame on me as a children’s librarian and hopeless children’s literature geek). Now I want to read them all. A Perfect Day<\/em> is perfect. I need a Remy Charlip 101. I’ll begin here<\/a><\/strong> with this wonderful post at the excelsior file<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, which I remembered seeing back in January. <\/p>\n

2\u00bd). Speaking of their story time, remember this<\/a><\/strong>? Well, the library funding didn’t get cut. Excellent. {See here<\/a><\/strong> — pretty funny stuff, though I shudder at how they assume all of us there are a) from Bellevue and b) “pert” soccer-moms}. <\/p>\n

3). Sara<\/a><\/strong> now has a blog<\/a><\/strong>! And I can’t even believe<\/em> that one of my posts inspired her first entry<\/a><\/strong>. I’m terrifically flattered. <\/p>\n

4). Speaking of that post<\/a><\/strong> . . . because of it, I had the opportunity to correspond with Karen Peris<\/a><\/strong> of The Innocence Mission<\/a><\/strong>, whom I really admire as a writer and musician.<\/p>\n

5). The tribute (written by Regina Hayes) to James Marshall in the most recent issue of The Horn Book<\/em><\/a><\/strong>. And Susan Patron’s Newbery acceptance speech, which I’ll comment on next week (for a particular reason which shall remain mysterious right now). And I just found an online version of Maurice Sendak’s tribute to Marshall, which opens George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. I’ve always loved this. Here’s how it begins: <\/p>\n

“The picture book is a peculiar art form that thrives on genius, intuition, daring and a meticulous attention to its history and its various, complex components. The picture book is a picture puzzle, badly misunderstood by critics and condescended to by far too many as merely a trifle for ”the kiddies.” Children are routinely patronized, and thus so are we who spend our creative lives entertaining them and nourishing their spirit. Given this minefield of confusions and uncertainties, when such a work turns out looking as easy as a James Marshall picture book, it says everything about the man. Marshall is the last of a long line of masters that began in the late 19th century with the pre-eminent English illustrator, Randolph Caldecott; then continued in our century with Jean de Brunhoff in France and Edward Ardizzone in England; and then via Tomi Ungerer arrived full blast in America, where the laurel wreath settled finally, splendidly, on the judicious, humane, witty and astonishingly clever head of James Marshall.”<\/p>\n

If interested, here’s<\/a><\/strong> the rest of what Sendak had to say (though you need to subscribe — free-of-charge — to read it). <\/p>\n

6). Alkelda<\/a><\/strong> is my new exercise partner. How is that possible when she lives in the Pacific Northwest and I live in the South? She’s a magical storyteller, you know . . . Okay, seriously — we just decided to be Accountability Partners. I have to report to her when I actually exercise and vice versa. And it just might work. I don’t want to let her down and have her make me the protagonist in some Children’s Book That Never Was (those posts of hers are terrifically funny and clever, but she could, say, put me in the middle of this<\/a><\/strong> or something as punishment\/incentive for not sticking to my get-healthier goal). <\/p>\n

7). I’m out of room — so three, quick things in one: I got a really thoughtful gift from author Nancy Crocker. My girls just saw their first real<\/em> rainbow (which brings to mind Kevin Henkes’ Caldecott acceptance speech for Kitten’s First Full Moon<\/em>). And (last but far from least), Robin Brande<\/a><\/strong> is working her tush off on this 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference<\/a><\/strong>, and the RSVP list is growing longer! (And I’ll be there — I can hardly believe that either — and can’t stinkin’ wait<\/em> to meet everyone! Cross fingers that Eisha can make it, too) . . . <\/p>\n

* * * * * * * eisha’s list * * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

1* Our Blogversary. I can’t believe it’s been an entire year. Just not possible. The best thing about it, though, is that it’s given me an excuse to email\/phone\/bother Jules almost every single day<\/em> for a whole year. I talk more to her than I do to my friends who live in the same town.<\/p>\n

2* That Bob Graham picture, and what he said about it. I want to live in that neighborhood. And I want a dog like Dave. Or maybe a dog that looks like Dave but acts a little more like Rosy.<\/p>\n

Miles & Lindsey3* Got more Miles pics this week, including this one from Father’s Day. Somehow in all of this new nephew business I keep getting surprised that my brother is a dad<\/em>. As in, Happy Father’s Day, Dad<\/em>.<\/p>\n

4* My mom is doing very well with her broken wrist. She even went back to work already. Times like this I hate being so far away, but family and friends are taking good care of her, bringing her takeout from Cracker Barrel and such so she doesn’t have to try to cook. Thanks, everyone.<\/p>\n

5* My co-workers threw a goodbye party for me at work Friday, with cake. And afterwards I went out with a couple of friends. This is the month of long goodbyes, and even though I know I’ll be back to visit, it’s making for a lot of bittersweet moments.<\/p>\n

If Nobody Speaks\u20266* One of these friends told me that she’s reading If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things<\/em><\/strong><\/a> based on my frequent<\/strong><\/a> ravings<\/strong><\/a> about it<\/strong><\/a>, and she loves it. Not just loves it, but she showed me that she’s only on page 81 and has already marked four passages for inclusion in her excellent quote notebook. I’m so pleased to have converted another soul to the Church of St. McGregor.<\/p>\n

7* Planet Unicorn<\/strong><\/a>. I discovered it a couple of weeks ago, and I have to keep rewatching the four existing episodes just to hear Cadillac exclaim “I’m standing here, and I’m hot!” in episode 2, or just to get down with my bad self to the excellent theme song.<\/p>\n

Is it just me? It may be just me…<\/p>\n

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* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

* “THE TROUBLE WITH DOGS \u2026” SAID DAD. Copyright \u00a9 2007 Blackbird Design Pty Ltd. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA on behalf of Walker Books Ltd., London.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Look, everyone, it’s Kate and Rosy and Dave and the whole family there for our7 Kicks list this week! There’s Kate’s dad, who has relinquished — for Dave’s sake — his favorite, sunniest spot for sitting and reading. And there’s Dave, jumping up exuberantly for a kiss. We are able to bring you this Bob […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-seven-good-things-before-monday"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}