A Day with Mousse - by Claire Lebourg (Hardcover)

About the Book

Mousse receives an unexpected visit--and forms an unlikely friendship--in a new series for early readers.

Book Synopsis

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

In a new series for early readers, Mousse receives an unexpected visit--and forms an unlikely friendship.

Mousse loves his solitary life by the sea. In the mornings, he strolls on the beach to take in the fresh air. He swims in the cool water. And he waits for the tide to bring him the day's small treasures. Today, however, a visitor comes ashore in his living room, a truly unexpected visitor. A creature named Barnacle...

In this delightfully illustrated picture book for early readers, Claire Lebourg depicts the unexpected pleasures in helping others and finding friendship in unexpected places.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Day With Mousse

"This charming fantasy is suitable for reading independently or as a read-aloud . . . A pleasing picture book with a chapter book format"--School Library Journal

"Reminiscent of the late William Steig's work, this imaginative French import blends elegant turns of phrase with delicate art, rendered in watercolor and pen and ink. Divided into three chapters, the text includes challenging syntax and vocabulary, but emergent readers will eagerly push on, encouraged by the gentle humor and by their feelings of sophistication over the naïve Mousse. The interplay between visuals and words are a sheer delight, while the final punchline will have little ones giggling. Enchanting."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"A surrealist Frog and Toad...if you like cozy chapter books like Cornbread and Poppy and are open to a sprinkle of wonder and maybe-magic, this book is for you."--Chrissie Wright, librarian and host of Book Delight with Chrissie Wright

"A Day with Mousse is a crystalline ode to uncomplicated delights. Celebrating the joy of being in the moment above all, its delicate watercolor illustrations revel in everyday activities...its gentle presentation and delightful imagery suggests that the unexpected can be a welcome boon to one's daily existence."--Foreword Reviews

Praise for How Dreadful

"An unmitigated delight."--Bruce Handy, The New York Times

About the Author

After studying at the School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg, Claire Lebourg now lives and works in Rennes. Since then, she has published several picture books, including How Dreadful!, and an early reading series. In addition to her work as an author-illustrator, she creates maps and posters and organizes talks and workshops for children and adults.

Sophie Lewis has translated works from French and Portuguese by Stendhal, Jules Verne, Marcel Aymé, Violette Leduc, Leïla Slimani, Mona Chollet and Annie Ernaux, as well as Natalia Borges Polesso, João Gilberto Noll, Sheyla Smanioto, Victor Heringer and Patrícia Melo, among others. With Gitanjali Patel, she co-founded the Shadow Heroes workshops enterprise. Lewis's translations have been shortlisted for the Scott Moncrieff and Republic of Consciousness prizes, and longlisted for the International Booker Prize. She was joint winner of the 2022 French-American Foundation prize for non-fiction translation, for Nastassja Martin's In the Eye of the Wild.