A joyful novel full of humanity from the author of Soft in the Head - a July 2016 Indie Next pick. Saved from drowning in Paris's River Seine, a sixty-something misanthrope finds himself stuck in a hospital bed for six weeks while he recovers. As he looks back on his life, the good and the bad, he makes some unexpected new acquaintances, and just when he thought life had no more suprises in store for him, he finds out he was wrong....
First published in French as La Taete en friche in 2008.
A little reindeer named Lou Caribou lives with his mom at one end of a green forest. Every weekend, Lou visits his dad who lives on the other end of that forest. To prepare for the trip, Lou has to pack his suitcase with everything he needs for his stay—things like his toothbrush, his stuffed animal, and his favorite sweater. Lou’s mother brings him to the bus and in no time he is with his father. Together, they ride their bikes to a pool or go canoeing on a lake. On Sunday evening, Lou is back home with his mom. This book shows that parents who live apart still lovingly care for their child, and that their separation has not diminished their love for him. Adoring gestures all throughout the book prove that the young reindeer is loved by both of his parents in equal measure. Through Lou’s story, small children can better comprehend and relate to the separation of their own moms and dads. Marie-Sabine Roger discovered her love of words at the young age of four. Before she became an author of novels and children’s books, she taught in a kindergarten. She has now published numerous books in French, some of which have been translated into other languages. After completing her studies in applied and decorative arts, Nathalie Choux learned how to design and build marionettes in Prague. Creating characters and personalities still fascinates her. Choux not only writes and illustrates books, but she also makes animals and fantastical creatures out of ceramic. These figures, in turn, influence the direction of her illustrations.