Best chums Big and Little—a turtle and a squirrel—do everything together until one day when Big inexplicably retreats into his shell. After many unsuccessful attempts to coax him out, Little has no idea what to do. So he intuitively does what any friend would do. BIG HID is a lovely story set in a rich, beautifully saturated palette by Roisin Swales. A perfect read-aloud for toddlers and preschoolers. Forthcoming from Flying Eye Books in early August.
We love seeing a city through an artist’s eyes, and in this case, Cat Seto’s. Her new Impressions of Paris: An Artist’s Sketchbook contains a mélange of illustrations, notes and vignettes that uncover the many facets of this glorious city—from the quotidian to the ornate, the celebrated landmarks to the small, charming details tucked away in its tiny corners and crevices.
Cat shows us her art that has been inspired by the City of Lights, centering around four main principles—color, pattern, perspective and rhythm—and how this tremendous city continues to engage artists and creatives who draw on its beauty, history and joie de vivre to inspire their own work. Will we take this incredibly lovely guide with us to Paris one day? Mais oui!
Impressions of Paris: An Artist’s Sketchbook was written and illustrated by Cat Seto and published by Harper Design. Click here for a charming preview of the book. You can see where her impressions of Paris and life in San Francisco connect at @paristosf.
The latest installment of #whataverysreading. Her favorites of the bunch—Fuku Fuku: Kitten Tales and the new Daisy Dreamer series. We’d love to hear which great books you all are flipping through this week, and which ones are in your stacks waiting to be read.
An unlikely relationship strikes up between two individuals who have strange but wonderful stories. They—a big black bear and a boy named Archie—feel misunderstood by everyone in their respective worlds but find solace in their newly forged friendship and willingness to listen to one another. Zanni Louise’s sweet narrative is wrapped up like a gift in the most gorgeous illustrations by David Mackintosh. The page spreads of Archie and the Bear feel vibrant yet soft, and are full of mood. His play with type, distinctive graphic elements and deft layering of watercolors, ink, pencil, charcoal and kraft paper come together to create one of the most unique picture books we’ve seen this year.
Archie and the Bear was written by Zanni Louise, illustrated by David Mackintosh and published by Little Hare Books. Publication date is May 1 in Australia and is available at Book Depository for international readers.
We’re sailing out of the week with the quirky, charming, delightful (but never frightful) Vampirina.
“When the summer moon is full, a beach trip is an epic way to spend the night.” With the heat wave descending on our area this weekend, we’re in complete agreement.
The Vampirina Ballerina series was written by Anna Marie Pace, illustrated by Le Uyen Pham and published by Disney Hyperion.