Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (or "7-Imp," if you're in a hurry), created in 2006, is a children's literature blog that features the work of authors and illustrators and is primarily focused on contemporary illustration and picture books. Think of it as a salon where book creators stop by, after getting a cup of cyber-coffee, to share their craft—and where illustrators wake us up with art.
“It's probably something that I've wanted to do for a long time but shied away from because it's the family firm.” Those are the words, as quoted in this 2013 Guardian piece, of British author and illustrator Jessica Ahlberg, whose newest book for children, Fairy Tales for Mr. Barker: A Peek-Through Story, hits U.S. shelves in March.
Jessica’s parents are the award-winning children’s book creators Janet and Allan Ahlberg, who have an impressive bibliography when ...
Monica Brown’s latest picture book, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist David Díaz, honors her family’s heritage in more ways than one. Maya’s Blanket/la manta de Maya is written in both English and Spanish, a tribute to her Latina heritage, and it’s a story based on the time-honored Yiddish song most commonly known in English as “I Had a Little Overcoat,” honoring her Jewish ancestors. It’s also a story, as Monica discusses below, blending realism and a bit of magic ...
It’s a new year, which means new picture books! I’ve had, for a while now, stacks of early copies of 2016 ones. There are several slotted for spring publications that I think are really good, and today in particular I’m going to focus on forthcoming spring collaborations—those books, that is, by author-illustrator duos, whether a familiar pairing or an all-new one. How about I feature seven very possibly winning collaborations before breakfast? Let’s get right to it.
I went to my monthly book club meeting the other night, and there was a lively discussion about favorite holiday picture books. I was woefully underprepared for this gathering and didn’t have my favorite with me, but since it is Christmas Day, I’ll tell you about it now, should it be the case that you haven’t read it. This year, I also discovered another wonderful holiday title—old, but new to me.
Maybe it’s because I’ve still got Star Wars: The Force Awakens on my mind (it was as good as everyone says), but I’ve been thinking lately about new children’s books that feature strong female protagonists, those who aren’t defined by the boys or men in their lives (much like the amazing Rey in the film).
It turns out that one of my favorite books from this year is such a book, Katherine Rundell’s The Wolf Wilder. I’ve been bugging all ...
I’m in the mood this week for a bit of a children’s literature round-up, a list of books featuring fairy tales accompanied by beautiful art. All would make great holiday gifts, if you’re looking for such a thing. Let’s get right to it, shall we?
For your serious fairy-tale fans, I highly recommend two books—Franz Xaver von Schönwerth’s The Turnip Princess: And Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales and The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: The Complete ...
One day, about this time last year, I was driving my children home from school. It turns out that the hour of 3 to 4 p.m. is my sleepy time of day (if I knew why, I’d fix this problem), and I was feeling drowsy as I talked to them about the upcoming holidays. Because I was also focused on oncoming traffic, words weren’t quite coming to me as I bid them—the fatigue and distraction had me focused on ...
In her debut book, the graphic memoir Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey, Özge Samanci writes with unflinching honesty and humor about her childhood in a country under a military government, torn between Muslim fundamentalism and more Western, even secular, values. Though many aspects of this will be new and eye-opening to American readers, Samanci gracefully finds the universal elements in her story, packed with details and vivid memories. The starred Kirkus review calls it “a bright, perceptive bildungsroman ...
Thank you! You’ll get the first email of recommendations from our critics within a week!
Bummer. There was a problem adding your email address. Please try again.
Subscribe to Pro Connect
Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.
