Dear readers, I have another author interview coming up and while I have already introduced you to one of my favorite of her books, Do, Re Mi, I want to review four more here to give you a little more of an appetizer. Suzie Morgenstern has written over 60 books predominantly for children, and won many major French Literary Awards. An American, she moved to France as a young adult, marrying a French mathematician and has spent most of that time residing, working and writing here in the city of Nice. I got to know Susie first when, as school librarian, I invited her to speak during our annual book week. As a very successful bilingual author, she was a huge hit with our students.
Pas (Not) Board Book for children of 0-3
A 24 four page board book for the very young full of an expressive mix of photos and pictures demonstrating that delightful period all toddlers go through of “No”, “again”, “Not!”. Young children will have no problem relating, to grasping or delighting in the message and this period of their lives.
Double Doudou Picture Book for children from 3-6
Arthur takes his comfort blanket (which just happens to be his mum’s bra !) everywhere, EVERYWHERE. : in the garden, to kindergarten, in the subway, to bed… and even to the beach. But a sudden gust of wind and, woops, it is whisked off into the air. It’s a little tricky to recover the item from the coconut tree. An older boy on the beach fails. The gull fails. The giraffe fails. The monkey fails…. I will leave you to discover who succeeds. The happy ending has Arthur reunited with the flying bra. Small children will giggle out loud at the ridiculous story and enjoy the simple, bold stylistic pictures.
Pauline et la “pipi brigade”, Les Questions de Quentin, Rebecca and la ratatouille A book for children of 6-9.
This is P-R of an alphabetical chapter book series. Suzie really captures the interests/actions of this age group in her three short stories .
P – the Pee-Brigade. Susie understands well toilet humour of this age group. Pauline hates the school toilets: everyone noting how much toilet paper you take from the public roll, the fact that the doors reveal you from the knees down etc and like her friends, she chooses to cross her legs all day at school rather than face the embarrassment. Eventually she comes up with the idea of forming the “pipi brigade with her friends, a great solution of solidarity and privacy protection.
Q – Quentin is the archetype of the six year old who never stops asking questions!
R- Rebecca and her brother love to repeat phrases their parents use:
“C’est succulent.”
“C’est exquis.”
“C’est divin.”
Unfortunately none of these superlatives fit what they really feel about their mum’s ratatouille, which they hastily try and make disappear, while pretending to delight in the dinner. Their plan, of course, turns a little awry!
Lettres d’Amour de 0 a 10 (Secret letters from 0 to 10) For ages 8-12
The cadence of the story is soothing and the style is formal and almost old-world in French; I hope the English translation has maintained this French charm, as it is an important element for this story, which reads beautifully out loud. It is the story of how new relationships can open up a whole new world for our lives. The 10 year old orphan, Ernest, leads a precisely predictable and mundane life with his grandmother in a traditional Parisian apartment, with no telephone and no television. Here the hour and content (an apple) of his afternoon snack is as sure as the sunrise. This world is invaded and transformed by an encounter with the new girl in his class, Victoria.
Victoria and her 13 brothers live a life of glorious exuberance, joie de vivre and expansive relationships, in complete contrast to Ernest. Victoria begins to introduce him to her world of possibility and he starts to stray from his dull routine, and one day, discovers a book in the grocery store. He has never been to the grocery store until he meets Victoria, but on this fortunate day, he discovers a paperback that may have the answer to his life-long question; where is his father, and why did he leave him?
Victoria’s love of life (and Ernest) is truly contagious and the reader becomes caught up in this friendship of joyous discovery. Ernest does discover the answer to many of his questions, but more importantly, he, along with his grandmother, discover what it means to really live and love, thanks to a bold little girl called Victoria. “Secret Letters From 0 to 10” is an endearing and charming read. We all need a Victoria to take us out of the ordinariness of life!
This book won the French equivalent of the Newbery Award.
The two picture books reviewed are # 62 and 63 in the There’s a Book Read to Me Picture Book Challenge.
In my 20's, with only my guitar and a rucksack, I wandered the continents, immersing myself in the lives of some wonderful people, projects and stories, which changed the way I view my responsibility to others and this earth. Right now I'm a European transplant in the US who writes books for children and young adults. Stories can help us not only navigate our world but can connect us to others, and allow us to inspire and help each other. I believe that equity and empathy should be at the core of our all actions, words, and stories.
I am also a school librarian and I get a kick out of book-matchmaking! And I use the pronouns she/her.
These books sound fabulous! I’d never encountered an alphabetical chapter book series — sounds like a fun concept — and le double dou-dou sounds hilarious!
I will look forward to this author interview (and you’ve reminded me I promised an author interview on my blog, didn’t I?)
Susie is very versatile. She had also written for young adults, “Les Confessions d’une Gross Patate!”. She lives just down the road, in walking distance, so I shall be dropping in for a coffee and chat on Friday and am very much looking forward to seeing her again.
P.S. I’ve just been to amazon.fr and ordered Lettres d’Amour de 0 a 10, the first Emma book, and Le bonheur est coince dans la tete (sorry I don’t have the accents where they should be!)
Our public library had only one Susie Morgenstern book, Book of Coupons, in translation. I’d rather read them in French! I’m looking forward to expanding my horizons a bit, with these books.
Am so glad you are going to read Lettres d’Amour in French, I think you will really appreciate it in its original version. We don’t have any of the Emma books in our library so look forward to your thoughts.
I truly laughed out loud when I read your review of Double — I never read a children’s book the included a mother’s bra as a blankie. Susie is very refreshing as an author — and I sense that her storytelling is a bit quirky, which I love. Letteres d’Amour caught my attention too. Really lookforward to your interview with her.
Yes, quirky and refreshing are two great adjectives for Susie’s books, Pat.
Hi Joanna, I love how “quiet” the illustrations seem to be – if the covers are any indication. I was reminded of your comment about overcrowded illustrations, for some reason. Haha. I doubt if we have this in our community libraries, so I shall enjoy it vicariously through you and make sure to look for it if and when I visit France. I am also excited to read your interview with her. =)
Yes, very few have been translated, Myra. Have just finished writing up the interview; i think you will enjoy it. She is a warm, intelligent, creative person.
Oh my I am soo lagging behind here. But I laughed out loud at Double Doudou, what an amazing writer this author is. So looking forward to reading your interview.
Isn’t that creative? Susie has a great sense of humour!