My Bright Friend

by Simon Boulerice, Marilyn Faucher (Illustrator), Sophie B. Watson (Translator)

Overview

Now that his parents are separated, Ludo has two homes: one in the country with his mom, and the other in the city with his dad. The young boy doesn’t like leaving the countryside and his friends to go to his father’s apartment in the city, but he does find some entertainment in the flashing traffic lights on the street corner under his window. Ludo convinces himself (with the help of his father) that the lights are controlled by a tiny gentleman who sits inside the signal pole, flipping switches all day and night. Ludo starts sneaking out to leave food for the man, and he soon makes a new friend in the big city. A tender story, complemented by vibrant illustrations, that reminds us empathy and generosity are marvelous tools to overcome one’s troubles.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459821897
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	09/24/2019
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.75(w) x 10.75(h) x 0.31(d)
Lexile:	AD610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Award-winning Québécois author Simon Boulerice is a playwright, novelist, poet and children's book author. His picture book Florence & Léon (QuébecAmérique, published as Florence & Leon in English by Orca) was nominated for the 2016 Governor General's Award for French-language children's illustration. Inspired by the power of the imagination, Simon believes in the gift of time to let your mind wander...because you never know what it will come up with.

Born and raised in Montreal, Marilyn Faucher is an honors graduate of Université du Québec à Montréal's graphic design program, specializing in illustration. Her contemporary style brings a fresh perspective to traditional techniques, resulting in sensitive yet vibrant illustrations. Marilyn lives in a small town not far from Montreal with a cat named Feta.

Sophie B. Watson is an award-winning author, translator and editor. Since studying French and English literature at the University of Alberta, Sophie has worked in the book publishing industry as a writer, editor, translator and as a bilingual editor for Les Éditions Duval. Over the years she has worked in educational, literary, trade and academic publishing. As a freelance writer Sophie has had many articles published in Canadian and Irish publications and her novel Cadillac Couches received excellent reviews.

Editorial Reviews

Illustrations are lively and the colours fittingly bright and lush. The substantial text renders this a great picture book for older children, while still working as a read-aloud for younger kids. My Bright Friend quietly advances the notion that, more than overt lessons, kids need space to think, question, and imagine during sensitive times.

Quill & Quire

Excellent. Highly recommended for a quirky, yet touching read aloud.

Reource Links

This book would help any child dealing with their parents’ separating. It is an excellent choice for any elementary school library. Any family having changes in their lives may want to read this to celebrate new things.

Must Read Literature: K thru YA

2019-05-22
A child coping with divorce finds comfort in an unexpected place.

The opening lines, translated from French, explain in a very unchildlike tone that "Ludo's parents didn't love each other anymore. There was nothing to be done—love is like a flame, and their love had been extinguished." After this early mention of Ludo's mother, she never appears again, and instead the story takes place when Ludo stays with his city-dwelling father. Ludo doesn't like being there and spends his days indoors, but when he looks outside he sees a traffic light and is captivated. His father playfully tells him a "very patient little man" lives inside of it and changes the lights. Ludo believes him and worries about the man, so he decides to leave him toast with jam each night. He's delighted when he finds only crumbs on the plate the next day, and Ludo's father is, in turn, delighted by his son's spirited imagination. A series of curious events suggests that Ludo isn't imagining this exchange at all and that the little man really does live in the traffic light. Unfortunately, the wordy story's logic has many holes, and they aren't filled by the illustrations, resulting in a less-than-satisfying picture book. In Faucher's bright, naïve illustrations, the cast is an all-white one.

Readers hoping for strong storytelling won't find it here. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

Read More