Marianne Dubuc

When a little bird falls injured at his feet, Lion bandages his wing and takes him in when his flock heads south for the winter. Together the leonine/avian pair spend the cold months together, daily becoming better friends. But when the spring arrives and the bird's flock returns, Lion knows he must bid his friend adieu. After passing a quiet summer and fall on his own, Lion is delighted when Bird returns for another winter together...

Originally published in Canada as Le lion et l'oiseau, show more this lovely picture-book was translated into English by the wonderful Brooklyn-based Enchanted Lion Books, which specializes in presenting foreign-language children's books to English-speaking children. The story is spare but affecting, capturing in its brief text the emotional life of Lion, who discovers the pleasures of companionship, only to be (temporarily) deprived of his companion. His joy, when the bird returns, is keenly felt by the reader. Marianne Dubuc's artwork in The Lion and the Bird is every bit as affecting as her text, with a judicious mix of full-page color spreads, and color illustrations on a white background. One or two spreads consist of mostly white pages with a single visual element - a crocus just blooming, a single note - that draws the reader/peruser's attention to forthcoming narrative developments, be it the coming of spring or the return of the bird. An immensely accomplished example of the picture-book, with text and illustration working seamlessly together, this is a book I would wholeheartedly recommend, to anyone looking for children's stories about friendship, or about the seasons, as well as to anyone who appreciates beautifully illustrated examples of the genre. show less

A young girl takes her first solo bus ride in this wonderfully clever picture book from French-Canadian author/illustrator Marianne Dubuc. Put on the bus by her mother, she carries her basket and her red sweater with her, promising to be good. On the bus she has a number of adventures, offered flowers by a goat passenger, meeting and befriending a little wolf, helping to apprehend a fox thief, and eventually arriving at her destination: her grandmother's house!

Originally published in French show more as L'autobus, this subtle book pairs a very simple text—no more than a phrase or sentence per page—with sweet illustrations in muted but appealing colors. The book doesn't shove it in your face, but it's clearly a retelling of the classic fairy-tale of Little Red Riding Hood—the girl on a solo trip to grandmother's house, with her red sweater and basket, and her encounter with the wolf—but done in an entirely modern, non-sensational way. The story subverts the reader's likely expectations—tension builds as the bus goes through a dark tunnel, and the reader wonders whether the friendly little wolf is up to no good, and whether the girl will suffer some harm, but it is really the fox (appearing later) who is the villain—while the artwork packs in little surprises, like the changing headlines in the newspaper being read by various bus riders. Of course, as someone familiar with the history of Reynard, the fox being the true villain of the piece didn't surprise me at all, but we'll leave that aside, as most contemporary readers don't seem familiar (alas!) with that cunning vulpine's trickery. The Bus Ride is the eleventh picture book I have read from Dubuc, who never disappoints! Recommended to anyone looking for subtle, understated but clever tales for picture book audiences. This one would work more one-on-one, than in a large group, I think. show less

The marvelous Marianne Dubuc, French-Canadian picture-book creator extraordinaire, delivers another winner with Up the Mountain Path, which pairs a lovely, heartfelt, and ultimately heartwarming tale with beautiful illustrations. Here we follow the story of Mrs. Badger, a kindhearted amateur naturalist who likes to hike to the top of nearby Sugarloaf Peak every Sunday. When her path crosses with Lulu the cat's, she invites this new feline friend along, teaching her many things in the course show more of their journey. The two are soon hiking together every weekend, until the day Mrs. Badger is too tired to continue. Then Lulu carries on alone, bringing all the news back to her musteline elder, and eventually welcoming a newcomer herself...

Originally published in French as Le chemin de la montagne, this lovely picture-book has that gentle, heartfelt quality that I associate with Dubuc's best work, and is now tied with her The Lion & the Bird as my favorite title, from amongst her works. The artwork is beautiful, capturing the emotional register of each scene perfectly. There is an understated sense of compassion and connection to be found here, in the little details. When Mrs. Badger assures Lulu in the text that it isn't much further, gently touching her on the head as they walk along, I got a lump in my throat. The way in which the narrative comes full circle, as Lulu ends up sharing her food and her journey with another newcomer, just as Mrs. Badger shared with her, creates a conclusion that is immensely satisfying. Recommended to fellow Marianne Dubuc fans, and to anyone looking for (longer) children's stories about friendship, compassion, and a love of the natural world. show less

Number 3 Maple Street is one hopping apartment building in this visually-oriented picture book from French Canadian author/illustrator Marianne Dubuc. As the Rabbit family prepare for Little Rabbit's birthday party, the other families are also busy—the Fox family with a baby on its way, the Cat family moving into their new apartment, Bear getting sick in his apartment and needing a house call from the doctor, the Mouse triplets raising a ruckus in their play, and Owl just trying to get to show more sleep in his attic. The text focuses on the doings of the Rabbit family, but the illustrations, which depict the apartment building in a cutaway view, show that plenty of other things are going on, both inside and outside the building...

Originally published in French as Chez toi, chez moi, this entertaining, oversized picture book is the kind of title young children will enjoy poring over, picking out all of the little visual details. Not only are there the various apartment dwellers and their simultaneous stories, which intersect at various times, but characters from outside the building also wander by, including three pigs fleeing from a wolf, and a little girl in a red hooded cloak. It's a visual feast, and reminded me a bit of a Richard Scarry book, although the artwork has a different sensibility. Engrossing and amusing, Your House, My House is a book that is sure to please young children who enjoy visual as well as textual storytelling. It is to them, as well as to fellow Marianne Dubuc fans, that I would recommend it. show less