Émilie Vast‘Plantes vagabondes’ translated from French(Thames & Hudson) Subtitled “The amazing story of how plants travel”, this visually stunning book from French creator Émilie Vast illustrates seed dispersal and the role of each featured seed plays in its ecosystem. The book showcases 10 different journeys, from ‘flying’, ‘floating’, to ‘being eaten’ and finally ‘helped by …
in translation
The story behind the Art: Régis Lejonc and “The Garden of Inside-Outside”
Today I am really delighted to welcome French illustrator Régis Lejonc to Library Mice to talk about The Garden of Inside- Outside (Book Island), which he illustrated, and which is released today. It is always with glee that I welcome any French language picturebook in translation, and The Garden of Inside-Outside, written by Chiara Mezzalama …
BLOG TOUR: The Ice Sea Pirates
The Ice Sea Pirates (Gecko Press) written by Frida Nilsson, with illustrations by David Barrow, and translated from Swedish by Peter Graves is the story of ten-year-old Siri and her little sister Miki who live with their elderly father in an Arctic archipelago. One day, while they are out gathering snowberries, Miki is abducted by the …
The Children’s Book Show presents Timo Parvela and Virpi Talvitie
The Children’s Bookshow kicks off this week in London and over the next few weeks will bring authors from home and abroad to thousands of children across the country . On 24 November, Finnish author/illustrator duo Timo Parvela and Virpi Talvitie will be in London talking to children (more information here). Their book, Bicycling …
Book recommendations on Kinfo
We have undoubtedly entered a new golden age for children’s literature; the quality and variety of children’s books being published these days is astounding and very comforting, sealing the future of what is a vital component of any childhood. However, the sheer volume of books published can become a bit of a hurdle for parents looking …
FRENCH FRIDAY: Clémentine Beauvais on “Piglettes”, translations and French YA
Three girls. A summer holiday. One epic road-trip. And sausages. Piglettes (Pushkin Press) follows Mireille, Astrid and Hakima as they embark on a trip of a lifetime to reach, by bicycle, the Palais de l’Elysée on 14th July from their home in Bourg-en-Bresse. All have different motives for getting there, but they share the same motivation …
My Pictures After the Storm and the art of translation
Many people seem to hold the misconception that being able to speak two languages automatically qualifies you as a translator. It could not be further from the truth. Literary translation is not merely about words; the translator does not mechanically work as a bilingual dictionary. Translating, like writing, is a creative activity; a translator needs to think …
Picturebook Carousel: 2017 Greenaway Medal Longlist (4)
The Journey Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye Books) The Journey explores the very current and heart-wrenching theme of people fleeing their war-torn home in a way that is pitched perfectly at the intended audience. Using traditional fairy-tale imagery (folksy artwork, dark forests, ogre-like figures etc), Sanna creates a narrative which deals with a powerful theme while …
Creativity galore with Hervé Tullet
If you are already familiar with French illustrator Hervé Tullet’s books, you will not only instantly recognize his bold style, but also know that he loves to promote fun and creativity with books. His latest two offerings are no exception! My Stencil Kit (Thames and Hudson) combines a large art pad style book with …
Just Like Tomorrow
Faïza Guène (Definitions) Kiffe kiffe demain, translated by Sarah Adams Doria is fifteen, a beur (French of Arabic descent) living in a soulless high rise in suburban Paris. Painfully shy, struggling at school, obsessed by TV programmes, she lives alone with her illiterate mother after having both been abandoned by their violent good for nothing …