Children's Literature

[ book tip by SIKJM ] The comic «Le Tigre Bleu» won the Swiss Media Award for Young Audiences in 2003. Finally, it is also available in German, published not by a seasoned picture book publisher but as a SJW magazine (Swiss Youth Scriptures). While the format is smaller than the original French version, the story of little Paul, who often feels lonely because his single mother has to work and he has to share his fears and worries with his stuffed animals and finger puppets, loses nothing of its density and sensuality. Robel stays close to his protagonist, shows what powers he has over his environment and what makes him feel powerless by changing perspectives and background colours, lets us comprehend how Paul counts on his puppet friends and what a big step it is for him to let his neighbour Katja take part in his games. That Paul’s mother supports her son in this ripening process, sees through his puppeteering and still takes him seriously, is a further strength of the story. There aren’t many convincing comics for children up to the age of eight. «The Blue Tiger» is one of them.
  
Schweizer Kinder- und Jugendmedienpreis 2003
  
(Christine Tresch, translation by Simon Froehling)
Source: SIKJM

[ Favourite quote ] «- Et dis, tu veux pas être raisonnable et aller te coucher plus tôt?
- Je suis un tigre, j'fais c'que j'veux!»

[ book info ] Robel, Nicolas: Le Tigre bleu. (original language: French) The Blue Tiger. La Joie de lire, Genève, 2002 . ISBN: 2-88258-221-8.