Tag Clotilde Perrin

The Monster in the Lake / The Kerfuffle

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These are both recent Gecko Press titles – thanks to the publisher and Nicky Potter for sending them for review

The Monster in the Lake
Leo Timmers

Following one duck’s suggestion, four ducks contemplate some fun in the lake. Another however, has concerns about the monster said to be in there, but the others insist there’s no need to worry. Off they go into the water, with three ducks urging the fourth, “Trust us!”. Eric trails reluctantly behind and perhaps this gives him a clearer idea of what is going on beneath the surface.

At each turn of the page readers and Eric see more of the subaquatic reality while his companions remain oblivious despite his loud, “MONSTER!”warning, even insisting that they are the only ones around other than frogs and small fish. It takes Eric’s disappearance to ruffle his friends’ feathers,

though his reappearance soon puts them at their ease again. For Eric, this whole swim has been a truly memorable adventure; as for the others, they certainly won’t know that the monster is far from threatening, rather it’s a playful beastie.

Young audiences will love sharing in Eric’s subterfuge. They’ll love too, Leo Timmers’ bold, bright, whimsical images of the marine characters and the their underwater accoutrements: why though did Eric keep all the fun part to himself?

The Kerfuffle
Clotilde Perrin

Kitty and Pup are neighbours and the best of friends but suddenly everything changes. Kitty eats Pup’s fish, so in return Pup takes Kitty’s slipper. Now the two besties have become enemies and they decide not to see one another any more – ever. To that end they build a wall separating their abodes (the book’s flaps let readers see what is happening on either side.
With the wall complete, peace reigns but then a bunny rabbit appears on top of it. Dog and Kitty both want to make friends with the rabbit and they start fighting over the newcomer.

Now none of them is happy and Rabbit runs off. Eventually however Kitty decides it time to make peace with Dog and a lot of crashing and banging ensues that results in a solution that makes everyone happy.
Demonstrating the pointlessness of building walls, Clotilde Perrin’s clever amalgam of narrative and illustrations with those strategically placed flaps works really well. The illustrations deserve careful perusal as there is a lot going on between bit part players such as a pair of birds that start nesting, as well as a couple of mice.

The Remarkables

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The Remarkables
Clotilde Perrin
Gecko Press

Having made an initial introduction on the title spread, Clotilde Perrin then gives readers a scene showing the abode of each of the thirty eight remarkable children she’s chosen to feature. Thereafter we meet them one by one; some are fantastical whereas others are far closer to reality but each of them has their special talent(s) depicted as a superpower. You will probably find similarities between The Electric Child, the Thunder Child,

the Speedy Child and the Springy Child, each of whom has an excessive amount of energy. The same is true with the Sticky Child and the Rooted Child both of whom are reluctant to leave home though the former can get attached to friends whereas the latter always wants to remain close to its parents.
Imagine having both the Electric Child and the Thunder Child together in your home: they’d surely, as the latter says, ‘shake up the house’.

I found myself laughing at the comic strip style page of an encounter between the Immaterial child and the Diamond child whose home the former visited by passing through the wall, surprising the sparkly one and then inviting Diamond to a game of hide-and-seek.

I couldn’t resist choosing particular children I’ve taught over the years and then trying to match their personalities with characters portrayed in the book as well as immediately thinking of other individuals as I turned the pages: I’m pretty sure I’ve encountered each and every one of Clotilde’s Remarkables at one time or another.

Having met all thirty eight on the pages of this wonderfully quirky book, why not turn to the final spread and work out what type of child you are.

Gotcha!: A Funny Fairy Tale Hide-and-Seek

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Gotcha!: A Funny Fairy Tale Hide-and-Seek
Clotilde Perrin (translated by Daniel Hahn)
Gecko Press

Between the covers of this large format book are three mock-scary monsters just waiting to give you the creeps and to catch the small character from the title page. First there’s a big yellow and decidedly nasty ‘hairball’. Fear not though, there is safety if you seek refuge within the brick house cleverly constructed by the third little pig and so our porcine pal says, this residence is built to withstand monsters.

He’s waiting within, cooking up something delicious and is willing to share it with little human visitors who want to hide from hairballs and the like.

Also on the prowl is the ‘fizzling stinkwort’; this monster uses its gaseous emanations to render you senseless and then consume you, unless you flee forthwith. Where better to hide than what looks like a deliciously welcoming abode with walls of gingerbread covered with confections of all kinds? Therein you will find the self-sufficient children, Hansel and Gretel – kind hosts who can help keep you safe once you’re within those walls.

Having recently consumed its breakfast, the tired-eyed creeper has its mind on the next meal and to ensure staying safe, it’s necessary to fight a way through the creepers covering the walls of Sleeping Beauty’s castle wherein lie sleeping fairytale characters.

However the three nasties don’t give up that easily so don’t think it’s safe just yet …

With the three residences full of amusing references to the stories they come from (and others), as well as flaps to explore and the satisfying disposal of the nasty monsters, this will keep youngsters entertained for ages, and returning for further forays into those favourite fairytale abodes.

Inside the Suitcase

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Inside the Suitcase
Clotilde Perrin
Gecko Press

Right from the epigraph inside the front cover, we know we’re in for something special with this book: “A good traveller has no set plans and no destination.’ Lao-tzu and so it seems is the case with Clotilde Perrin’s young boy traveller.

We first encounter the boy inside a delightful little house tucked away behind the hills wherein he stands packing his red suitcase. We’re invited to open this case and view its contents – a seemingly random selection of items. But wait, read on and the importance of each one will be revealed as the journey progresses; a journey that takes the lad across the ocean in a small boat to land on an unknown beach whereon rests a large rock. Behind this stands a small house somewhat similar to the one the boy has left, but how will he gain entrance? How good is the reader’s memory, for this is now a game involving memory.

Once within, the boy makes a discovery; but what will he do with the tempting object? With a decision made and the item stowed safely in his case, the boy consumes one of the things he’d packed and continues his journey. Now he climbs tall, icy mountains – shiver shiver – is there anything in that suitcase to alleviate the cold he’s feeling? At the top of the mountain glowing in the ice is a hole wherein a host of luminous jellyfish swim. How lovely it would be to join them.

Time to check the contents of that suitcase again …

Strangely, having taken the plunge, there beneath the water stands something totally surprising; what could possibly be inside? … A rarity indeed! And definitely something to stow into that suitcase.

Jiggle, jiggle goes the object as the boy continues on his way until there before him is a dark forest wherein lurks – oh no!

Quick, the suitcase might just hold something useful …

Phew, a narrow escape for sure but so deep and black is the darkness that now the boy requires something to help him find his way: saved by a resource from the case again.

Once the night has gone the boy discovers yet another house but there’s nothing much within except a single seed; but a seed of what?

Best to pop it in the case and move on, and so he does, stopping briefly to remove the last item collected from his case before moving through a dense fog cloud behind which stands …

Yes, the boy’s journey has brought him full circle. Is there anything remaining in his suitcase.? I wonder … memories certainly.

Surprises aplenty await any reader in this cleverly designed book into which much has clearly been put, especially in the placing of images as well as the use of overlapping layers of large, shaped flaps and die-cuts. Features such as these make our discoveries as we follow the boy’s journey, all the more exciting. Then there are some touches of surrealism: that fish flying close to the boy’s home on the final spread for example; I’ll leave readers to discover others for themselves. The illustrations throughout are a delight, full of life and executed in a colour palette that enhances the mysterious fascination of the boy’s journey into the great unknown in this superb neo-fairytale.

Originally published in French, the story was translated by Daniel Hahn.

The House of Madame M

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The House of Madame M
Clotilde Perrin (translated by Daniel Hann)
Gecko Press

Following on from Clotilde Perrin’s super-sized Inside the Villains comes another large format lift-the-flap picture book.
Once again this one immediately snares the reader’s attention as they’re invited to enter and explore the residence of Madame B by an extremely strange-looking being.

Enter if you dare for she doesn’t, so we’re told, live alone in this strange house. There too dwell creepy creatures aplenty, hiding in unexpected places to fill you with the frights.

As you peek inside each room you’ll likely be brushed by cobwebs, scuttled over by spiders, grimaced at by alarming monsters and your nostrils will be assaulted by smells of mould and decay; you’ll feel icy winds and hear creaks as you open doors, lift flaps, and come upon jokes of the weirdest kinds.

Hilariously creepy details abound – lurking in the cupboards, in the pots and pans, even beneath the loo seat, in this veritable treasure trove of frights and giggles for chilly nights.

Assuredly a book to relish far beyond the night of Halloween; this is one to enjoy snuggled in a warm place with a comforting hot chocolate and cosy slippers.

I still have a much treasured copy of Jan Pieńkowski’s awesome Haunted House on my shelves. This slightly more macabre offering will sit alongside it as a 21st century complement.

Inside the Villains

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Inside the Villains
Clotilde Perrin
Gecko Press

Wow! This is a BIG book; it’s also a pop-up, lift-the-flap, pull-the-tab volume wherein we meet three of the biggest villains of fairy tale.

If you’ve ever wondered what really lies behind the three characters, this larger-than-life volume supplies the information. It takes readers deep within and around on a tour of discovery that reveals what’s hidden beneath their clothing, what lurks in their pockets and even behind their ears; and be prepared for a peep at stomach contents.

Each character is immaculately constructed with layers to peel back and investigate. For instance in the wolf (my favourite) we’re shown the working of his grey matter and when you pull a tiny thread, the contents of his stomach – see if you can guess what lies therein – the creature’s been pretty busy of late; either that or he digests his food very slowly.
On the opposite page is a self-written profile of the lupine creature wherein he recounts his dietary preferences and describes himself as having ‘highly developed intelligence, natural cunning and exceptional athletic gifts.’

Unfold the left-hand page and you’ll discover a terrific ‘More About Me’ section with story references aplenty as well as a list of other related tales. Opposite all this is the story of The wolf and the seven little goats.

The giant clearly has several layers of adipose tissue – not surprising as he talks of his ‘insatiable appetite’. Beware his beguiling banter “I’m opening my heart to you’. Hmm! Unfasten his belt and take a look beneath that waistcoat, then have a peek behind his hat.

As for the witch, she sports a feathery cape, perfect for ensuring that the contents of her pocket stays toasty warm. Under her dress and petticoat she has a stash of terrible treasures, so ignore what she says about those pockets full of sweets, if you value your life, her gnashers look evil indeed.
Her hidden story is Alyoshka and Baba Yaga.

Brilliantly conceived and equally brilliantly constructed, Clotilde Perrin takes interactive novelty books to a whole new level.