Library and Archives Canada
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca
This archived Web page remains online for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated. Web pages that are archived on the Internet are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats of this page on the Contact Us page.
 |
    |
        
|
In this story, the author presents a traditional Caribbean tale. The tale is about the "diablesse," a half-demon, half-human creature who kidnaps children so she can take them far away to live with her in the mountains where their parents will never be able to find them. One stormy night while grandmother is rocking the baby, someone knocks on the door. The grandmother opens it and comes face to face with a beautiful, tall and elegant woman who is seeking refuge from the storm. Three times she asks to hold the baby. The grandmother, suspicious of these repeated requests, refuses to let the stranger hold the baby. Because of her repeated refusals, the beautiful lady leaves. The next day, the grandmother sees that the lady left her prints: a foot and a cloven hoof. She had seen the diablesse in person. The legend reminds children that they must never trust strangers, even if they seem nice. The story may frighten some children but will please those who enjoy a goose bump or two. The denouement comes quickly. The full-page illustrations are magnificent. They have warm, velvety colours with an exotic flavour. The tale's framework is effectively supported by the images. MLG
Anatole, the vegetarian vampire, and Virginie, the mortal, are the happy but exhausted parents of twins Jean-Loup and Marie-Soleil. Since their birth, there has been nothing to indicate whether the twins will be worthy of the title vampire, like their paternal ancestors, or whether they are simple mortals, like their mother. Grandpa Boris is in despair because, more than anything, he wants to take a vampire grandson or granddaughter to Transylvania to present to the family that remains there. Vampire stories have fascinated the young and the not so young for a long time. Marie-Andrée Boucher Mativat has been able to create a kind, sympathetic vampire while keeping alive the mysterious traditions that surround them. At the end of the story is a short questionnaire about reading the book, an original touch. The illustrations by François Thisdale are amusing and complement this type of story, helping the children make the transition between picture books and novels without illustrations. JHP
Carabine, the mother of the little sorceress Galatée, decides to take a vacation just like everyone else. She rents a country cottage in the Mesmer area, and Galatée's aunt and grandmother join them on the journey. After a long and difficult car trip -- so they can be just like everyone else -- they arrive at a dilapidated house. But, with a few magic spells, the house becomes a very comfortable place. As soon as the first night falls, a ghost named Joe MacFarlane, who is going to draw them inexorably into a series of unimaginable adventures, visits the household. The black-and-white illustrations round out the text and add to the story's eerie atmosphere. CM
Notdog, the ugliest dog in the village, and our inseparable detectives, Agnès, John and Jocelyne, have their work cut out for them. During the corn festival, things are disappearing, others are starting to fly -- even Notdog vanishes into thin air. Is it magic or illusion? With illustrator Daniel Sylvestre, Sylvie Desrosiers once again carries children and adults alike off into a fascinating mystery. JHP
Jacob Deux-deux et le vampire masqué is the story of Jacob, a little boy to whom everything happens in twos. One day when his father sends him on an errand, he ends up in prison for not having shown the proper respect to the local grocer. It all happened because of his habit of finishing his sentences by repeating the ending twice. During this adventure, our hero meets several gloomy characters, including the fearsome Hooded Fang, who terrifies all children. Thanks to his courage and determination, Jacob manages to emerge victorious from his adventure. Mordecai Richler wrote Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang for his youngest son, whose name is the same as that of the story's hero. Just like traditional fairytales, there is a message in this story: courage and determination can help us get through many of even the most difficult situations, irrespective of our age or physical abilities. The illustrations are integrated into the text and enable the reader to visualize the story's characters. LL
For years, her parents, grandparents, uncle and aunt have been telling her there is a dragon in the grotto of Mont-la-vie Park. Anique needs nothing more to prove her courage. So, one beautiful day, she announces to her parents that she is going to confront the monster; she wants to settle the matter once and for all. Arriving at the den, she takes a deep breath and enters. Timidly, she calls out, "Is anyone there?" Suddenly, a deep voice answers her and, lo and behold, the real thing appears! That's when the negotiating starts. He tells her that according to Dragon Law, he must burn her to ashes. However, things do not transpire as expected for either of them. Anique Poitras offers us a refreshing story. She leads us into a world of secret regrets, sorrows we don't dare reveal. She shows us that there are solutions in life; all we need is the will and the ability to open up to those who wish us no harm. It's a message of love and comfort. The words flow smoothly across the pages. It's a pure delight. The illustrations by Céline Malépart are joyful and show us that sadness, joy and happiness can be expressed effectively through words or through the vibrantly coloured drawings that embellish this marvellous text. PB
Isabelle, a twelve-year-old girl who comes from a broken family, always spends her Christmas holiday with her grandparents. A solitary daydreamer with a fertile imagination, she leads her grandfather into a magical adventure. During one excursion with her grandfather, she sees a white horse. Then, on their next excursion, she discovers the identity of the animal: it is the magnificent Snow Unicorn. Of course, the adults don't believe her, but thanks to her determination, Isabelle shows them that unicorns really do exist. Seeing only the monetary or scientific side of things, the adults want to use the unicorn for profit. Isabelle, with the help of her grandparents, will manage to keep the unicorn's secret and save it from the selfishness of humans. The text by Claude D'Astousis is well written, with carefully chosen vocabulary, well-structured sentences and a whimsical style that will please children who enjoy imaginative tales. The illustrations by Diane Lacasse and Jocelyne Thiffault are attractive and enhance the story. LL
Rapapipe the magician leads an easy life because, with a simple wave of his wand, he can make anything he wants appear. Like a king, he has his castle, magnificent gardens, ponds and animals. All he needs to make him happy is a princess -- he'd like her to be beautiful and endowed with fine qualities. Enough daydreaming! Rapapipe decides to make a young lady appear. But his wand isn't working properly, so the princess who appears has neither the charm nor the appearance he imagined. However, young Élise's boldness opens Rapapipe's eyes to the relationship he has both with other people and with things. He is moved as he listens to Élise's story of her ancestors and the inhabitants of Île-aux-Mille-et-Une-Pierres. Élise discovers, among other things, that Rapapipe is a lover of music and an excellent dancer. These moments of happiness must, however, come to an end, but not before promising to meet again to see each other's transformation. Who, honestly, hasn't wished to make the ideal princess appear? This tale, illustrated with refinement and full of humour, shows us that happiness is not instantaneous. We do discover, however, that a wave of a magic wand can sometimes help us learn more about others instead of judging them too quickly. JMB
Joséphine, Juliana's grandmother, has not returned to the family manor since she was 15 years old. She has also been keeping the other members of her family away because of the curse that hangs over the manor. Joséphine decides to donate the family homestead to the government by adding a clause to her will, which she has made Juliana sign. However, when Joséphine tragically dies, Charles, Juliana's father, steals the envelope containing the clause. Although deeply saddened by her grandmother's death, Juliana agrees to move into the manor with her family. She moves into the room Joséphine used to occupy and it is there that the ghost of her young grandmother appears to her. Juliana is the only person who can see her and talk to her. Joséphine finally unveils her secrets: each time she has loved, her loved ones have died, she could not escape from the curse. The ghosts that once haunted Joséphine now appear to Juliana, who will attempt to free her grandmother from their grasp. The intrigue in La Malédiction will please the fans of fantasy literature: ghosts and spirits who try to relive tragic events and amorous passions. How far will they go to change the past? The temptation is great… JMB
|
