Marcelle Ferron, a colorful life
Marie Barguirdjian
Marie Barguirdjian, author, consultant and speaker in arts and children’s literature, has more than once combined her passions and knowledge to invite us to meet artists who have left their mark on the Quebec landscape. After her wonderful albums on Jean Paul Riopelle and Alfred Pellan, here she offers us the discovery of the work of Marcelle Ferron. “Marcelle the luminous, the brilliant colorist, the free and committed woman, artist for peace” is revealed here by the broad strokes of her biography and, above all, by her works, which make “the shapes, the lines dance and sing and colors. For this iridescent, thoughtful immersion designed to reach a young audience, Marie Barguirdjian takes up the challenge of making abstract art accessible, where the imagination brings “strange and mysterious forms” into the world, carried by generous colors. An album that wishes to extend Marcelle Ferron’s wish: “Putting beauty in the life of the city. »
Children’s editorial, in bookstores
Sowing suns
Andrée Poulin and Enzo
Prolific author of several award-winning works, Andrée Poulin proposes to join forces with the equally prolific illustrator Enzo. This isn’t the first time the two artists have joined forces, having collaborated in 2016 to deliver the poignant There is no room with us (Québec America, 2016), which recounted the crossing, on a makeshift boat, of two children exiled from their country at war. Once again, the tandem approaches the war, but rather than experiencing it from the inside, it takes place in a distant country. We then meet Théo, “safe in his house”, but “distraught by the images of destruction seen on television”. Questions race through his head, to which the adults offer no soothing answers. In this graphic novel in free verse, we follow the quest of this young boy who seeks “how he could help build peace”.
The short scale, February 14
Going from afar
Caroline Dawson and Maurèen Pavoinec
Caroline Dawson Does she still need an introduction? After the resounding success of Where I hideshe continued with What are youand now she offers us a first youth album, Going from afar. Although the author is taking her first steps in the genre, she knows the paths that lead to it well, having been involved in the Montreal Youth Literature Festival for several years. We will also recognize themes that are dear to her since she invites us to find little Caroline, who “must take the plane to start a new life far, far, far from home. A country where there is snow. Where people speak an unknown language. Where you will have to relearn everything…” For the occasion, his story will be crowned with illustrations from Maureen Pignonecwhose talent has been shining for several years, at an astonishing rate, and who notably signed no less than eight titles last year.
La Carnole, March 6
Loujain dreams of sunflowers
Lina Al-Hathloul, Uma Mishra-Newbery and Rebecca Green
Loujain Al-Hathloul is a Saudi women’s rights activist who fought several difficult and dangerous battles, which unjustly landed her in prison, where she was tortured. Her inspiring journey was recognized, in particular, by a candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and now her sister, Linaas well as’Uma Mishra-Newbery, also an activist for women’s rights, set out to tell a poetic fable inspired by her life. Illustrated by Rebecca GreenAmerican artist whose work has been recognized by the New York Times, the story invites us into the daily life of Loujain who, every morning, “remembers his dream of flying to the field where a million sunflowers grow. “She has wings, but where she lives, girls aren’t allowed to fly.” A ban that will not prevent Loujain Al-Hathloul from achieving her dreams, inspiring many young girls in the process.
400 shots, March 5
Once is not custom
Talk about sex
Maude Painchaud-Major
The taboos that stifle sexuality and its practices are still numerous. Maude Painchaud-Major, founder of the Sexplicite organization, trainer and speaker in sexuality education, intends to help young and old alike to unravel the embarrassment that tenses up the subject. Collaborator of the collective Free the panties (Remue-ménage, 2021), his first essay, which will appear in the “Radar” collection from Écosociété, urges us to “deconstruct the norms and injunctions linked to sexuality” by presenting in particular “alternative models that allow us to imagine other ways of experiencing our gender, sexual relationships, the couple.” A proposal which promises to be embodied in life stories by emphasizing the importance of developing egalitarian relationships in order to support “the adults of tomorrow towards more harmonious relationships and more fulfilled psychosexual development”.
Ecosociety “Radar”, May 7