Ever wonder where you can go to escape the hustle and bustle, and read your favourite books? Ever think about where is it that you belong? For all of us who have had these thoughts, this new picture book is a wonderful look at finding “your niche”!
A Place for Pauline by Anouk Mahiout, illustrated by Marjolaine Perreten, is a fresh take on fitting in, finding your place, and searching for somewhere peaceful to read, dream, and imagine. An instant fan of the whimsical cover art, it thrilled me to crack open this picture book and discover it written in a graphic-novel style.
Pauline is the eldest child in a very busy household. She has a sister, a brother, a mom and dad, AND a baby sister or brother joining the family soon. Being the one who arrived first in the family, Pauline is a bit confused about where she fits into the scheme of things. She tries to help but isn’t sure what being helpful entails. She feels in the way of her efforts. Her little sister is, well, little, her brother is a pest and her parents are always busy. Pauline needs a place that suits her dreamy thoughts and quiet reading. Finding that place may not be what she has in mind after all when she feels bored at being secluded away. Besides, is anyone even aware that she is not present in this busy place called home? Is Pauline even missed? That’s when Pauline decides to run away to her grandmother’s, all the way to France! And, Pauline has an elaborate plan figured out on just how to get there.
“My friends tell me …
You’re so lucky. You’re the one who gets new clothes. You can stay up late. Your parents took lots of pictures of you when you were a baby! But I don’t feel lucky. My house is so full of people, it isn’t easy to find my place – even though I got here first. I never really know what I’m supposed to do.”
This is a touching, heartwarming story for all ages. I couldn’t help sympathizing with Pauline and her search for a place of her own, whether it be a physical place of seclusion or one of recognition as an important member and contributor in her busy family. It was a pleasure to join Pauline in her search for a quiet reading spot, to cheer her as she seeks independence, to chuckle at her daydreams and plans, and to understand her need to fit into her family. This book speaks to us all!
A Place for Pauline is a wonderful way to explore the thoughts of escaping the everyday. We may not always appreciate it every day, but it is a discovery of what we love about home. It catches all the feels, and does so in the most charming of ways! It deserves a place in your home or school bookshelf where it can be savoured again and again.
ANOUK MAHIOUT is an author and TV screenwriter living in Montreal, Quebec. She obtained a master’s degree in literature in 2002 (Université du Québec à Montréal), then turned to television, where she worked as a producer and screenwriter for various broadcasts. In 2020, after a year of studying humorous writing (École nationale de l’humour), she created the Pauline series. Pauline, une petite place pour moi, the French edition of A Place for Pauline, won the Prix des libraires du Québec in 2021. She is now working on the animated version.
MARJOLAINE PERRETEN studied design and multimedia at ERACOM (École romande d’arts et communication) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and taught herself animation. She has worked for various production companies and studied directing at La Poudrière in Bourg-lès-Valence, France. She founded an animation film festival in Savigny, Switzerland, and currently works as a director, illustrator and multimedia designer. She lives in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
- Publisher : Groundwood Books (Sept. 6 2022)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 48 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1773066099
- ISBN-13 : 978-1773066097
TMR’s Managing Editor Carrie Stanton has a BA in Political Science from the University of Calgary. She is the author of The Jewel and Beast Bot, and picture books, Emmie and the Fierce Dragon and The Gardener. Carrie loves to write stories that grow wings and transport readers everywhere. She reads and enjoys stories from every genre.