Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

 
Today, I’ve some illustrations from The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney (Schwartz & Wade, May 2019), written by Alice B. McGinty and illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle (who is also the creative director of Illustoria magazine).

This is the story, set in 1930 in Oxford, England, of (as the book’s sub-title tells you) Venetia Burney, the only child to have named a planet. In the book’s opening spreads, we are invited into her world, as we walk with her and her schoolmates outside in a classroom lesson about the solar system. Venetia and her mother live with her grandfather, a former Oxford library head, and the inquisitive girl loves to tell him all about her lessons. Venetia is fascinated by not only outer space, but also Greek and Roman mythology; she’s intrigued by the links between science and literature. So, when a new planet is discovered . . . Read the rest of this entry »

 
Over at Kirkus today, I’ve got an upcoming picture book from author-illustrator Carlos Aponte.

That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Andrea D’Aquino’s A Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa (Princeton Architectural Press, September 2019). I’m following up with some art from the book.

Enjoy!

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Back in March, the Horn Book posted about new picture books for “embracing friendship and community.” David Soman’s How to Two (Dial, March 2019), which I reviewed for the Horn Book, is included in that post, as well as three more excellent picture books. That is here.

If you missed Soman’s book earlier this year, be sure to find a copy. It’s a keeper.

 
In case you missed it earlier this year, by chance, I’m spotlighting the engaging ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market from Mexican American artist and illustrator Raúl The Third. This was released in April from Kwame Alexander’s new imprint, Versify. Read the rest of this entry »

 
Over at Kirkus, I’ve got Andrea D’Aquino’s upcoming biography of artist Ruth Asawa, A Life Made by Hand.

That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Joowon Oh’s Our Favorite Day (Candlewick, September 2019). Today, I’ve some illustrations from the book.

Enjoy!

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(Click to enlarge)

 
I’ve a review over at BookPage of Kwame Alexander’s How to Read a Book (Harper, June 2019), illustrated by Melissa Sweet. That review is here, and today at 7-Imp I’ve some art from the book. Melissa also shares some process images, for which I thank her.

Enjoy!

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“My mom and I bundle up together under the covers
in our new home in the country far from the sea.”

 
I’m sorry to do this to you, dear Imps, but I’m writing about a book today that won’t be on shelves till September. I try really hard not to do this — to write about books that you can’t get your hands on for a while. But for various reasons I’m sharing it today. It’s Julie Flett’s Birdsong (Greystone Kids), and it’s a beauty. Since I have a chance to share some art with you today, I thought I’d go ahead.

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— From Samantha Cotterill’s This Beach Is Loud!

 

— From Isabelle Arsenault’s Albert’s Quiet Quest

 

“The book is in your lap, or in your hands, or in someone else’s.”
— From Julia Denos’s Here and Now, illustrated by E. B. Goodale
(Click to enlarge spread)

 
Over at Kirkus today, I’ve got the picture book debut from author-illustrator Joowon Oh.

That is here.

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Last week, I wrote here about Isabelle Arsenault’s Albert’s Quiet Quest (Random House, June 2019); Samantha Cotterill’s This Beach Is Loud! (Dial, June 2019); and Julia Denos’s Here and Now (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, September 2019), illustrated by E. B. Goodale. I’m following up here today with some art from each book.

Enjoy!

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“Margaret Wise Brown lived for 42 years. This book is 42 pages long. You can’t fit somebody’s life into 42 pages, so I am just going to tell you some important things.”
(Click to enlarge spread, which is sans text)

 
I’ve got a review over at BookPage of Mac Barnett’s The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown (Balzer + Bray, May 2019), illustrated by Sarah Jacoby. It’s a book in which every time Brown is mentioned (as one of my observant book club members noticed), the text says “Margaret Wise Brown.” Not just “Margaret.” Every single mention. I love it.

My review is here, and here today at 7-Imp are some spreads from the book. Let me add: If you are interested in reading this book, I also highly recommend you read this Q&A with Mac and Sarah at 100 Scope Notes, as well as Carter Higgins’s Q&A with Sarah at Design of the Picture Book.

Until later …

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I’m sending you to the Horn Book today. I reviewed Jessica Lanan’s The Fisherman & the Whale (Simon & Schuster, May 2019). If you’re so inclined to read it, the review is here at the Horn Book’s site. It’s a splendid wordless tale, this one.

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