The Race
Here’s my selection for Perfect Picture Book Friday:
The Race
Author/Illustrator Édouard Manceau, 2012
Owlkids Books, Inc. , 2014
Translation by Sarah Quinn, 2014
Published in France under the title La course in 2012 by Editions Milan
Fiction
Suitable for ages: 3-7
Theme/Topic: Running, Race, Sportsmanship, Winning
Opening Spread: It begins with a guy, a can of paint, and a paintbrush.
Brief Synopsis: (from jacket flap) Six guys gather for a lively race that begins at one line and ends at another. But what happens in between? All bets are off!
Follow this hapless herd of caribou in a race to the finish. Who wins? You decide.
Resources: A Physical Education Lesson on Running. Lesson on sportsmanship.
Why I Like This Book: I added Windblown by Édouard Manceau to the list last year. I love his paper collage work and his characters. If you are looking for a book about a clean race, well, this is not your book. This book is an example of what sportsmanship is NOT rather than what it is. Of course, we laughed at the “infamous banana-peek trick.” One of my favorite spreads has this line: “Quitting is not an option! Once they’re patched up, the banana-peel survivors hit the ground running.” The question from the flap: Who wins? Is a very good question.
The text is sparse, but the book is longer than standard picture books at 64 pages.
I thought I added a note last week, but wanted to mention I’ve really, really enjoyed the PPBF selections in recent weeks. I appreciate the recommendations for our family and as a writer. Thank you.
For more PPBF books, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Blog.