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Gaspar is going to spend a week with his grandmother Motard. Finally he is going to be able to explore the castle and find enchanted objects, like a magic mirror or a flying carpet. But Gaspar hasn't discovered any magic objects yet. He is very disappointed, until he enters a room crowded with strange objects, including a pair of opera glasses on which a magic spell is written: "See, saw, seen! From your power will emerge the vision of the one I am calling!" [translation] Gaspar recites the spell and finds himself in the room of his cousins Perlin, Pinpin and Picotin, three sprites who spend their time inventing dirty tricks and who are going to show Gaspar everything they know. Mes cousins sont des lutins is part three of the Gaspar series. It's an amusing, well-constructed and likeable mini-novel, supported by charming black-and-white illustrations. AC
Pierre lives with his mother, Verveine, a humble magician, in the ancient city of Zodiaque, an immense city built on a river and controlled by the Visques, marine creatures that kidnap children after nightfall. Pierre's only dream is to find his long-lost father, the Naute. One day, he finally decides to go and search for his father with his friend Jacquet. Pierre and Jacquet encounter beings with magical powers and face many dangers. Captured by the Visques, Jacquet makes a deal with them: he will follow them of his own free will, if they let his best friend go. Pierre will then have to pursue his quest alone. Will he be able to face the perils that await him? AC
Madame Armande owns a magic piano -- the old piano actually starts to play as soon as the elderly lady sits down at it. Everyone enjoys these melodies, until the day two travellers, who claim to be music lovers, see an opportunity to make some money with the instrument. One morning, Armande is found tied to her bed, her piano gone. Will the thieves manage to make the magic piano play without Armande? How will the spirit who plays the music go about unmasking them so the villagers can once again find happiness listening to the music? Le Piano qui jouait tout seul is written in a very light and lively style, full of the exclamations of those impassioned by beautiful music scores. The denouement is predictable and a bit abrupt; the reader may feel that a harsher punishment should have been reserved for the thieves. The tale is accompanied by sketches that mirror the intrigue and its happy ending. For these characters who live a quiet life, happiness lies in music, a synonym for celebration, joy and harmony. JMB
In 1742, on the outskirts of the suburb of Saint-Joseph, a little girl lets herself be drawn into a mysterious world to prove her innocence. Falsely accused by her father of stealing a gold purse and afraid of being beaten, Florentine flees into the forest. Near a marsh, she meets Crapoussin, a unkempt youth as frightening as he is repulsive. Overcoming her fears, she accepts his help to unmask the real thief. Their adventure will take them into the world of black magic and sorcery. Florentine will be proven innocent, but will she ever be able to go back to the other side of the marsh? Supported by magnificent illustrations, this tale transports us into a shadowy universe. DSH
In the land of monsters, a witch and her husband are awaiting the arrival of their baby. There must be a mistake; the baby witch is as cute as a button and very different from the other new babies. But one day, everything falls into place. Is it magic or the intervention of the mother witch? A well-known author, Lucie Papineau has earned several awards. She also visits schools to talk to the children about the different facets of her profession as a writer. The addition of colourful illustrations by Steve Beshwaty results in a very attractive book. JHP
A little girl who loves to daydream is sitting on a park bench getting ready to read her book when she suddenly sees a cat, a black cat. As if by magic, the clouds move in, and it becomes dark, very dark. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, an old lady, so ugly she's frightening, appears. The little girl, terrified by the old lady's ugliness, cries out in fright. Several passers-by, attracted by the little girl's cries, impulsively chase the old lady away. Saddened by the fate of the old lady, the little girl decides to follow the cat that seems to belong to the unhappy woman. He draws her into a touching adventure. The whole story seems so strange that the little girl isn't sure if she's dreaming or if it's real. This short novel Marie-Francine Hébert offers to us is an absolute delight, a thrilling tale that holds the reader from the very first sentences right to the end of the last page. It teaches us about inner beauty and sadness, the regrets and dreams of the elderly, and that a simple gesture can relieve the weight of age and all that it encompasses. Philippe Germain's unpretentious illustrations, simple and humorous, enhance the magnificent text. PB
This is the captivating story of Annabelle, Queen of the Fairies, who is trying, not always successfully, to foil the evil plan of the terrible Agrula, Queen of the Witches: to destroy every form of life. By slipping into the clouds, Annabelle and her fairy friends manage to overcome a terrible ice storm and several other calamities. The Queen of the Fairies vanquishes the witch's evil powers. In fact, as a last resort, she points her finger at Agrula, sending a blinding, fatal ray into her. A few black-and-white illustrations are a nice addition to the story. CM
Once again, Bertrand Gauthier reveals a child's emotions, helping us to understand them. Zunik doesn't like to share his father's attention with Ariane. At the magic show, Zunik becomes the star in spite of himself and thereby regains the individuality he thought he had lost in his father's eyes. Long-time collaborator Daniel Sylvestre has been illustrating the Zunik books since their creation. JHP 
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