Syllabes Agency

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED ON YOUR BIRTHDAY? AND THE DAY YOU MET YOUR GREAT LOVE?

Calendar/Almanac book: each double spread, a day. Whether you are celebrating an anniversary, a birth, or simply remembering a special moment, this book is for you. Because a date is never just a date, and a number and a day can mean many things in the intangible interconnection between humanity, time and space.

Featured main events The Book of June:
1st, 1494, GB-SCT, Whisky’s birth
2nd, 1897, US, Mark Twain’s famous denial “The report of my death…”
3rd, 2016, US, Muhammad Alì’s death
4th, 1782 FR, first flight of a hot-air balloon
5th, 1662, FR, King Louis XIV chooses the sun as his symbol
6th, 1984, RU, birth of the videogame Tetris
7th, 1926 ES, Antoni Gaudì gets run over by a tram
8th, 1783, IS, Laki’s eruption, etc

Key selling points:

– all the 365 (+1) days of the year featured, month by month

– events of all the centuries and from allover the world

– best known team of writers and illustrators
– no page numbers: just a date display
– multidisciplinary topics
– each day: one main event told and illustrated + other mentioned

Author & Illustator:

Chiara Lorenzoni writes books for children and young people, some of which also translated in China, Greece, Korea, Brazil, Romania, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Russia, Laos and Japan. Her written word is aligned with her look at small things, poetry and the wonder they can generate. She writes for children and young people because it is a necessity, because her creativity contains the very vivid memory of the fears, nostalgia and sudden happiness of childhood and that amazing threshold that is adolescence. Her latest published books include titles with the most known Italian publishers. (The book of June – The book of July – The book of August)

Luogo Comune is an Italian illustrator and urban artist. His artistic practice embraces both outdoor and indoor work using a wide variety of mediums. As an illustrator he has collected many editorial requests such as illustrations for magazines, newspapers and illustrated books. As urban artist he has painted in several Italian cities and abroad in countries including Belgium, Austria, Spain, Greece, Estonia,Holland and Morocco. His work is based on a visual language rich in symbolism combining elements of flora, fauna, objects of local or contemporary traditions, mainly using flat colour palettes and a graphic approach as key point to discuss the human condition and reflect on today’s social context. He currently lives and works between Bologna and Ravenna. He’s published by the most known Italian publishers and his books are translated and published in Russia, Croatia, Estonia, Slovenia, Poland, China, England, France, Spain and Switzerland. (The book of June)

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED ON YOUR BIRTHDAY? AND THE DAY YOU MET YOUR GREAT LOVE?

Featured main events The Book of December:
1st, 1990, FR/UK, French and English workers meets under Manica Channel
2nd, 1950, US, first publication of I, Robot
3rd, 1992, UK, first SMS in history
4th, 1872, PT, Mary Celeste finding
5th, 1950, UK, The Great Smog
6th, 1877, US, first recorded sound, etc

Key selling points:

– all the 365 (+1) days of the year featured, month by month

– events of all the centuries and from allover the world

– best known team of writers and illustrators
– no page numbers: just a date display
– multidisciplinary topics
– each day: one main event told and illustrated + other mentioned

Author & Illustator:

Davide Calì is a cartoonist and author for children, his books have been published in France (Sarbacane, Rue du Monde, Little Urban, ABC Melody, Elan Vert, Gallimard, Actes Sud), Italy (Kite, Edizioni Clichy, Orecchio Acerbo, Biancoenero), Spain (Nube Ocho), Portugal (Bruàa), USA (Chronicle Books, Harper Collins), Canada (Comme des Géants, Tundra Books) and translated in over 30 countries. He has published more than 200 illustrated books, comics and novels, and has received as many awards in France, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, USA. Several companies in France, Belgium, Italy and Japan have adapted his books (L’ennemi et Moi j’attends) for children’s theatre . He regularly collaborates with several French monthly for children, including “Mes Premiers J’aime lire”, “Toboggan” and “Tralalire”. He’s the winner of the 2025 Italian Andersen Prize for the Best Writer. (The book of December – The book of January – The book of February)

Francesca Gastone is an architect and illustrator. Always passionate about all forms of art, photography played a decisive role in her education, to the point of setting up a black and white development laboratory at home. The Polytechnic in Milan then provided her with a design method that from then on she would pour into every aspect of her life. After a master’s degree in editorial illustration (MiMaster) she began collaborating with important publishing houses, newspapers, agencies, private companies and cultural institutions . Collage is his favourite technique because allows the coexistence of both analogue and photographic elements. She has illustrated for Corraini and Mondadori and her works have been selected and mentioned in the most prestigious competitions, including: Autori di Immagini, Premio Livio Sossi, Golden Pinwheel, Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition. (The book of December)

WITH THE DACHSHUND, AVOID ESCALATING ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHO IS THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE, YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER IN YOUR HEART…

This book is a scientifically accurate guide, illustrated in colour, with many tips and curiosities.
40 dogs, both purebred and mixed, are described: their nature, where they come from and what they like to do. In short, what they need to
be happy.
Because, to start a life with a dog, even before buying a kennel, a leash and something good to eat, it might be wise to get to know each other’s wishes, compare them with our own and be prepared to realise them together.

A book for those who have always loved dogs, for those who do not yet know they do, and for those who are simply curious.

Key selling points:

– a funny and ironic writing, perfect for entertaining while informing
– scientifically correct data and descriptions, author is an experienced veterinary and dog trainer
– stunning illustrations
– personality point of view: not the usual descriptions
– ideas and pratical suggestion to chose the better dog for you, to live with him and to make him happy
– 40 dogs featured, between purebred and mixed dogs

Author & Illustator:

Elena Garoni is a veterinary doctor expert in Behavioural Medicine and dog trainer, she is a lecturer at the Masters in Behavioural Medicine at the Universities of Parma and Bologna and at numerous training schools for dog educators. She is particularly interested in ethology and in the different aspects of the relationship between people and animals.

Illustrations made by Valentina Gottardi.

Publication: November 2025

“WHAT’S GOING ON NORMAN? YOUR BOOKSHOP HAS NEVER BEEN SO MESSY…”

Milla is just back home for Christmas when she finds out Norman’s historic bookshop is in a state of disastrous disrepair. The elderly owner no longer has the energy to maintain the bookshop: thus, a FOR SALE sign dangles sadly over the door. Milla cannot resign herself to seeing the closing of her beloved bookshop. So she decides to do something: it will be hard to help Norman and Thomas at the licorices shop, but Milla does not give up easily. And that’s when the small town community decides to band together around her and the bookshop…

A Christmas story that encapsulates all the magic and fragrant atmosphere of Liquorice on Roller Skates, but also a tribute to the importance of bookshops and the strength of a united community.

Key selling points:
– a delicate story on the importance of bookshops and on the strenght of a community
– cozy and relaxing atmospheres
– stunning illustrations with animals
– perfect for winter and Christmas

Author & Illustator:

Valentina De Pasca, lives and works in Milan. She holds a PhD in Art History and Medieval Archaeology. Her first picture book has been published in 2019.

Illustrations made by Benedetta Sala.

Publication: November 2025

DID YOU EVER MET A MUNGO?

Bone: What is this?
Girl: It’s a mungo.
Fur: Mungo?
Rag: Never heard about it
Girl: It’s very nice and loves to play. You’ll love him!
But please be careful: it never has to eat sweets!
Pumpkin: Ok, we take it!

Pumpkin, Bone and Fur would love to have a pet…there are no animals at home! So they go to the shop, but they really can’t choose the one they prefer… When the lady of the shop suggests them a Mungo, they all find it very interesting… What’s a Mungo? They’ve never heard about it, but it’s so nice and it seems quite easy, there’s just one, very important rule: never feed him sweets. So, yes, what’s the problem? They go for the Mungo and bring it home. After a few days something really stranges happens…now the home is invaded by many Mungos! What’s happened? They are beyond control…Will the friends be able to find a solution and manage all the Mungos?

A new, funny chapter in the most loved monster’s series.

Key selling points:
– Davide Calì is an international bestselling and
– awarded author, published by more than 30
– publishers worldwide
– colorful and vibrant illustrations
– irresistible protagonists to fall in love with
– fourth title in the series
–a funny story suitable for youngest children
– pets are a much loved topic

Author & Illustator:

Davide Calì, cartoonist and children’s author, worldwide published, Best Writer Italian Andersen Prize 2025.

Illustrations made by Stefano Martinuz

“Appearances can be deceiving…”

The picturesque true story of a fake Egyptian trumpet.

Returning from Egypt, the Emperor brings back to Paris a thousand treasures. Edgar Plantin, curator at the National Museum, is concerned: His Majesty demands an exhibition within two days. He must sort quickly, relying only on appearances. Exhausted, at the very last object he identifies… a trumpet.

When the Emperor visits, he suddenly stops in front of the instrument: he wants to hear it. Panic on board! A throne, a stage, and decorations are improvised, artists are summoned. But just as the musician is about to play, Edgar realizes his mistake: this trumpet is not a trumpet at all. What kind of bewitching spectacle will result from all this?

Based on a real anecdote from the history of art (the foot of an Egyptian censer mistaken for a trumpet, exhibited as such at the Louvre, which later served as the model for Adolphe Sax to create the famous trumpets for Verdi’s opera Aida), Gilles Baum and Clémence Pollet spin a colorful tale. Rich with references to a flamboyant 19th century, it invites reflection on truth and power. At the end, a double-page spread with historical facts (with photographs) recounts the historical misunderstanding.

AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Gilles Baum (lives in Kingersheim, France) became a primary school teacher after studying mathematics. He discovered children’s literature through a school project around an album by Thierry Dedieu. Dedieu later became a companion in his career, and Baum’s texts reveal a strong sense of situation, narrative rhythm, and sensitivity in his approach to characters. Together, they created Le Secret du clan (The secret clan), published by HongFei in 2020.

Clémence Pollet (lives in Amiens, France), illustrator since 2009, graduated from the École Estienne (Paris) and HEAR (Strasbourg). Published by HongFei since 2012, she is a key figure in their catalogue, having illustrated La Ballade de Mulan (The ballad of Mulan), 2015, La Traversée (Crossing the river), 2017, Animal Totem (Spirit animal), 2018 and the two board books Petits Mondes (Little worlds),2023 and Petites merveilles (Little wonders), 2024. Her work is characterized by elegance and strength of line, enriched by varied techniques.

Keywords: Egypt, history, museum, music, science, trumpet, truth

Publication: November 7, 2025

A tender picture book about never giving up, trusting yourself, and following your heart!

“Bre… bredouille*, once again… nothing!”
Bredouille, always empty-handed.

But today, on his way back from picking, Bredouille has found a perfectly round little ball of yarn. At once, he knits, knits, knits. From the ball is born… a sock! Bredouille is proud of himself and can’t wait to show it to his friends. »

In Bredouille, we knit, unravel, and knit again. On every page, there’s an attempt to bring joy – followed by disappointment. Yet Bredouille never gives up. He tries again, and again, and again… until his slightly clumsy friends return to him, so they can mend together what they had undone.

A gentle and clever picture book about perseverance, resourcefulness, and learning to live together. Written with the rhythm of a playful refrain, Agnès Domergue crafts a story at a child’s level – both funny and true – perfect for early shared readings.

For one of the very first times both author and illustrator, she brings Bredouille’s world to life with great poetry, using a mix of techniques such as watercolor, pastel, gouache, and stamping.

* bredouille (Fr.) – unsuccessful, empty-handed

Author & Illustator:

In her books, Agnès Domergue explores her favorite themes, often close to nature and the animal world. She enjoys working across formats, from baby books to comic book scripts to picture books. For Grasset-Jeunesse, she wrote the texts for La Balade de Koïshi and L’herbier philosophe, both illustrated by Cécile Hudrisier.

Publication: 08.10.2025

A beautiful tale open to multiple interpretations: on one hand, it raises awareness about the disappearance of many species of wild animals; on the other, it is a story about playing and the fear of the dark.
When a child sees his stuffed animals vanish into the darkness, a little light is all it takes to bring them back. Yet, with the lucidity all children possess, they also understand that everything must be done to ensure that real animals survive too. We can no longer afford to see nothing, say nothing, or do nothing.

Strong points:

• A bestselling author based near Lyon
• An illustrator living near Saint-Étienne, well-known for Dis, c’est quoi le bonheuz?
• A contemporary story on the protection of wild animals
• An original graphic treatment, with images “eaten away” by the night

Keywords: extinction, nature, environment, ecology, animals, protection, awareness, hope

Author & Illustator:

MICHAËL ESCOFFIER is an author of over one hundred children’s books, often in collaboration with illustrators such as Kris Di Giacomo, Matthieu Maudet, Roland Garrigue, Sébastien Mourrain, and Eléonore Thuillier. He received, among others, the Prix des Libraires du Québec for the book Sans le A.

One of the most popular authors among the general public thanks to his humor and original stories, he continues to reinvent himself by tackling new themes and exploring original visual worlds with new collaborations. At Balivernes, he has already published J’aime mieux les chevals, Les Toupouris, Trois petits riens, Rustine inventeuse, and Un gros coin-coin.

ROMAIN LUBIÈRE began working as a freelance illustrator in 2007 after studying three years at the École des Beaux-Arts de Saint-Étienne. He first worked in communication before increasingly focusing on comics and children’s illustration, which now represents the core of his work.

Through his creations, he particularly enjoys exploring themes such as the relationship between humans and nature, travel, and dreamlike imagery. He also strives to ensure his illustrations are accessible to both children and adults, while leaving space for personal interpretation. At Balivernes, he has illustrated Dis, c’est quoi le bonheur? (Tell me what is happiness ?), Dis, c’est quoi l’amour ? (Tell me, what is love?), and Le héron bleu (The blue heron).

In an anthropomorphic world, Philéas, a young dog, breaks with family tradition: instead of becoming a sausage seller like his father and grandfather, he dreams of becoming a hairdresser.

But his naivety, generosity, and the twists of fate carry him far from that path—onto a cargo ship, to Italy, then Algeria, and finally into the desert where the novel concludes. Through his adventures and encounters with other people and animals, Philéas grows, matures, and discovers who he truly is. Above all, his journey teaches him that what matters most is not the destination, but the journey itself… and that life is beautiful!

Strong points:

– A joyful, wise travel story full of discovery, written for children but carrying universal meaning

– Fast-paced rhythm, beautiful prose, and illustrations that enrich the experience

Florence Jenner-Metz (author)

French teacher at the University Institute of Teacher Training, passionate about children’s literature. Since 2001, she has authored numerous picture books, kamishibai, and novels (notably with Alice Jeunesse), many of which have been shortlisted for awards and received distinctions.

Valérie Michel (illustrator)

Began drawing in Africa where she spent her childhood. After studying at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, she worked as a textile designer before devoting herself fully to illustration. She has published several picture books, including La girafe (Grand Jardin) and two with Éditions courtes et longues.

Bob is my dog. A very good dog – sweet and obedient. Everyone in the family loves him. But Bob has a tiny, really tiny problem. Everything ends up in his belly. Literally everything!
The neighbor’s cat, a rocking chair, a clock, a dentist’s chair with both dentist and patient, a limousine… and even my homework!

This picture book offers deliciously absurd humor, playing with the natural tendency of our canine companions to gnaw, chew, and swallow just about anything. Just imagine the occasions when Bob might have gulped down a pirate ship or the Ferris wheel at the fair. At least now we know where all the things we’ve lost have gone!

Alfredo Paniconi (author)
Italian author. In Bob’s Belly is his first book published in France.
Lina Itagaki (illustrator)
Lithuanian illustrator. She previously illustrated Haikus from Siberia (Sarbacane) and The Little Girl with the
Gun (Éditions du Ricochet).

Publication: September 2025

Clever, the fox, loves poultry. But for some time now, the henhouse near his burrow has been fortified to combat his huge appetite. It’s impossible for him to get his paws in there without being spotted. So, one day when the snow is falling heavily, he has an idea: pretend to be Santa Claus! Will he be able to carry out his plan without being spotted?

Strong points

– The return of the famous duo Éric Sanvoisin and Delphine Jacquot, this time with a humorous Christmas story featuring a fox and some chickens as the main characters!

– Éric Sanvoisin’s humorous writing, peppered with colorful puns, features two supporting characters who comment on the story, just like in their first title, Marions-les !: a fir tree and an elf.

– Delphine Jacquot’s meticulous and detailed pencil illustrations, this time in cheerful Christmas colors.

Éric Sanvoisin (author)

Born in 1961, Éric Sanvoisin started writing around the age of 10. With more than 70 books for children and adolescents published by various publishers, he has become a particularly prolific author in children’s literature. He is also a librarian in Brittany (St-Brieuc). At L’Étagère du bas, he has written three illustrated albums illustrated by Delphine Jacquot: Marions-les! (2019), A Shell For Two (2021) and The Christmas Fox (2025).

Delphine Jacquot (illustrator)

After training as a layout artist and earning a degree in communication from the Beaux-Arts in Rennes, Delphine Jacquot took advantage of an Erasmus exchange to take illustration courses at the Beaux-Arts in Brussels. Subsequently, she quickly collaborated with various publishers for children’s literature and won the Grand Prix de l’illustration in 2014. At L’Étagère du bas, she illustrated three albums written by Éric Sanvoisin: Marions-les! (2019), A Shell For Two (2021) and The Christmas Fox (2025).

Release date: November 2025

All rights available (except French)

Mamita Sandwich’s all about smoothing out the rough edges and oiling the wheels of life. Mamita always has THE right sandwich for every situation: a snackwith sardines from Cap Fréhel to help stimulate the memory of a schoolboy in distress, or a baguette with omelette to put a famous injured soccer player back on his feet. What other treats does Mamita Sandwich hide in her precious basket?

Strong points

– The incredible story of a funny grandmother who saves the world with delicious sandwiches!

– Julien Baer offers a rich and rhythmic text, punctuated with touches of absurdity.

– Camille de Cussac’s delicious and colorful illustrations will make your mouth water!

Julien Baer (author)

Like the finch, Julien Baer was a singer. He released four albums with Universal. He then turned to children’s literature, publishing around thirty books with various publishers, and photography. He loves couscous and motorcycles. Nature and cycling. He has collaborated with several talented authors and illustrators, such as Sébastien Mourrain and Philippe Katerine. After I saw a naked dog (illustrations by Julien Roux), Mamita Sandwich is his second title to be published by L’Étagère du bas. He lives in Paris.

Camille de Cussac (illustrator)

Camille de Cussac is an illustrator who reigns supreme over a colorful, funny, deceptively naive world, always set against a white background. Armed with her markers, the illustrator serves up a menu of every color. Her inspirations are vast and feed off everything she observes. She has illustrated albums published by various publishers: Gallimard Jeunesse, Thierry Magnier, Actes Sud Jeunesse, L’école des loisirs, Le Seuil Jeunesse, and Marcel et Joachim. She lives in Paris.

Release date: October 2025

All rights available (except French)

A mother talks to her daughter to reassure her that she loves her, even when she can’t see her. She explains to her child that, when she’s working or even doing other things without her, she still loves her. That she feels safe with the people she entrusts her to. How exciting it is for a mother to discover who her child is!

Strong points

– The book delivers an encouraging message to young readers who are learning independence and seeking self-confidence: as a bonus, it includes a fabric bookmark/bracelet to reassure children when they are separated from their parents.

– The author’s writing is direct and full of tenderness: the text is a true declaration of the narrator’s unconditional love for her daughter.

– Hua Ling Xu’s acrylic illustrations bring the characters in the story to life with great poetry and tenderness, while Marine Guérinat’s warm and luminous photographs add a touch of realism that makes it easier for young readers to identify with the characters.

Claire Wyniecki (author)

Claire Wyniecki is a children’s book author, professional violinist, musicologist, music critic, founder of Bon Ton, and creator of the Prout Prout brand. She has written several albums, including Violon Virtuoso (illustrations by Karine Maincent) published by Éditions du Ricochet in 2022, and Les Instruments (illustrations by Anne Pascal) published by Palomita in 2024. She lives in Paris.

Hua Ling Xu (illustrator)

Hua Ling Xu is a Chinese painter who graduated from the Hubei and Brest Fine Arts Academies and holds a DNSEP degree. She has already published two children’s books, including Brothers (text by Marie Le Cuziat) with L’Étagère du bas in 2023. She lives and works in Paris.

Marine Guérinat (photographer)

Marine Guérinat began her career in the world of children’s room decoration. Today, she is a photographer and artistic director and has founded her own brand of children’s accessories: Pompon Cucu. She lives and works in Paris.

All rights available (except French)

Who’s in the park?

At the park, there are children running, children playing ball, children walking with their blankets, children looking for insects and children combing their hair. At the park, there are adults chatting, little ones eating sand and a child helping another child. And, at the park, there’s always the one who doesn’t want to leave…

Strong points

– The album depicts a variety of everyday scenes: all genders, ages, and ethnicities are represented, so that every child can see themselves reflected in the book.

– Delphine Monteil’s writing is direct and rhythmic, like a nursery rhyme.

– Lucille Michielli’s illustrations, created using gouache and colored pencils, are soft, detailed, and particularly well-crafted: they are all brought together in a large, detachable A2 poster!

Delphine Monteil (author)

Born in 1982 in Saint-Malo, Delphine Monteil spent her childhood and teenage years between Brittany and the Paris region. After completing a master’s degree in modern literature, she worked as a proofreader for five years. When her children were born, she created a blog where she reviewed their favorite books. In 2016, with her husband and business partner, she decided to start a children’s book publishing company specializing in picture books: L’Étagère du bas. Delphine Monteil has lived in Rouen since 2022, and At The Park is her first published work.

Lucille Michieli (illustrator)

Lucille Michieli is a freelance illustrator based in Paris. A graduate of the École Estienne, she initially worked in communications before collaborating with several toy brands and magazines such as Milk. Her work blends nature and fantastical influences in a soft, dreamlike color palette. Following The Day I Grew Up in 2022 and We’Ve Been Waiting For You in 2024, At The Park is her third album to be published by L’Étagère du bas.

All rights available (except French)

An ode to letting go, full of humor and fantasy!

How does one evolve from rigid order to pure spontaneity? This story delicately portrays the transformation of Mr. Bérard, a meticulous and orderly man, faced with the unexpected arrival of a hippopotamus named Arthur in his life. His struggle against chaos and his discovery of lightness through an improbable friendship — filled with tender and comical moments — highlight the importance of embracing change, the joy of shared moments, and the power of emotions, ultimately breaking the strongest routine.

Henri Meunier’s beautiful text invites fantasy and tenderness into a world constrained by rigidity and rules; Olivier Latyk’s images, created with the support of a CNL grant, illuminate the music and evolution of the story.

Author & Illustator:

After studying visual arts alongside training in community education and several years of social work, Henri Meunier is now an author and illustrator for children.

Born in Strasbourg, Olivier Latyk studied illustration at the École Olivier de Serres in Paris and at the Arts Décoratifs de Strasbourg in Claude Lapointe’s studio. Also a designer, he now lives in Arles.

Publication: September 2025

A tender picture book about never giving up, trusting yourself, and following your heart!

“Bre… bredouille*, once again… nothing!”
Bredouille, always empty-handed.

For one of the very first times both author and illustrator, she brings Bredouille’s world to life with great poetry, using a mix of techniques such as watercolor, pastel, gouache, and stamping.

* bredouille (Fr.) – unsuccessful, empty-handed

Author & Illustator:

Publication: 08.10.2025

A gallery of portraits of breasts that celebrates diversity, helps us accept ourselves and others, and opens dialogue about these parts of us under which our hearts beat.

Since the dawn of time, breasts have fascinated us, their representations filling our visual spaces. Measured and judged, they become objects of admiration or insecurity. So much so that they sometimes make us suffer, even from adolescence, because they rarely resemble the manipulated images in magazines or on screens — the “norm” that, in reality, does not exist. Every breast is unique. Whatever our age, it speaks of us, tells our story, reflects our life.

What if we desacralized and de-dramatized breasts to free ourselves from the weight they so often impose?
What if we looked at them with the kindness they deserve?

The term “nichonnées” refers to “strong” (or big) breasts: here the sense is diverted to speak of strong, proud, and free breasts, liberated from the corsets imposed by a world that preaches uniformity.

From childhood to old age, this playful and poetic book presents, on each double-page, a chest with a word, leaving room for interpretation and inviting exchange and expression.

Through meticulous work mixing collages, textures, and painting, Marion Cocklico uses stylized forms and bright, sometimes acidic colors to create a visual impact that is both poetic and graphic.

The text/image relationship gently, tenderly, and not without romanticism highlights the beauty of diversity — reconciling our differences, relearning to accept, love, and listen to our bodies and singularities at every stage of life.

Author & Illustator:

Marion Cocklico is an illustrator in the press and children’s publishing. In her images, she plays with shapes, textures, collages, and colors. At Grasset-Jeunesse, she illustrated the picture book for toddlers “Le monde est immense”, written by Anne Cortey.

Publication: October 2025

Between picture book, an image book and comic strip, this playful and interactive book approaches neurodiverse conditions such as ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with or without hyperactivity) with humor and kindness.

Georges loves to observe the repetition of things. He isn’t very comfortable with people, but he adores collecting all kinds of objects!

Share his unusual daily life and discover his passions, each with funny and surprising names. Do you know what a
“conspersiophile,” a “légufrulabélophile,” a “calcéologiste,” a “bolophile,” or a “capéophile” is? Well, Georges is all of those, and even more! There’s just one problem: while he’s great at collecting, he’s not so good at organizing…
Will you be able to help him find his favorite hat?

The character of Georges embodies the neurodivergence of the author (ASD and ADHD), and the paradoxes that arise between the two conditions. Between illustrated book and comic, this playful edition addresses these subjects with humor, tenderness, and kindness.

The Musée de Poche in Paris will host an exhibition about Georges and his collections from 26/11/2025 to 17/01/2026 — a colorful event not to be missed!

Author & Illustator:

Pauline Ferrand works in children’s publishing, micro-publishing, the press, and cultural venues. A graduate of ESAL (Épinal), she is interested in the book-object, visual didactics, and the place of the child in reading. Greatly inspired by screen printing, her world is colorful and contrasting. Using markers and felt pens, she plays with the meeting of thin and thick lines, strokes and shapes, focusing on themes of city and nature. She also leads workshops for children and develops children’s trails in exhibitions. At Grasset-Jeunesse, she previously published the magnificent accordion book Vivre la ville (Living the city), 2024.

Publication: November 2025

Deprived of fire after an enemy attack, the Oulhamr tribe is in great danger. Naoh, accompanied by Gaw and Nam, embarks on a long journey to recover the lost flame. Through savannas and forests, they face hunger, thirst, and wild beasts. Pursued by an enemy horde, they find refuge among a herd of mammoths. Exhausted, they continue their quest until, one morning in the mist, a silhouette appears on the horizon: a woman, spear in hand, silently observing them. Will this encounter bring them a glimmer of hope?

This adaptation of The War of Fire breathes new life into a classic, rendering it more fluid and accessible while preserving its primal force. The illustrations, inspired by cave art, extend this immersion into a raw and powerful world. Far from being just an adventure tale, this book explores the transmission of knowledge and the boldness that drives humanity forward. By restoring the original intensity of the text, it offers readers a sensory and narrative experience that resonates between past and present.

• A modern adaptation of a classic tale of prehistoric adventure
• Evocative illustrations inspired by cave paintings
• Large format for a beautiful book-object
• A story for all audiences, a mythical adventure reminding us of the dawn of humanity

Keywords: prehistory, survival, tribe, quest, evolution, nature, conflict, transmission, myth

Author & Illustator:

JÉRÉMIE DECALF is a researcher in biology, specializing in immunology, but he is also an author and illustrator. In his children’s books, he infuses his stories with the spirit of discovery and curiosity that drives his scientific work. He currently resides in San Francisco.

J.-H. ROSNY AÎNÉ, born Joseph-Henri Boex, was a Belgian-born French writer, a pioneer of science fiction and the prehistoric novel. Initially influenced by naturalism, he distinguished himself with Les Xipéhuz (1887), an avant-garde work in which humanity confronts a form of non-organic intelligence. Alongside his brother, and later on his own after 1908, he explored the origins of humankind with Vamireh and La guerre du feu, while also imagining fascinating futures in Les Navigateurs de l’infini and La Mort de la Terre. A founding member of the Académie Goncourt, he became its president in 1926 and devoted his life to defending literature and narrative innovation. He died in 1940, leaving behind a lasting legacy at the crossroads of archaeology and scientific imagination.

From world-renowned Polish illustrator Iwona Chmielewska (winner of three Bologna Ragazzi awards and nominated for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award) and Brazilian American author Victor D.O. Santos (author of the multiple-award-winning picture book What Makes Us Human), comes a poetic, profound, thought-provoking, and visually stunning picture book about the finitude of life and the importance of enjoying every moment of it.

A beautiful picture book that will leave both young and older readers with a delicious carpe diem taste in their mouths.

Rights sold: Korean and simplified Chinese languages

“A beautiful and touching book that, through its delicate interplay of text and images, will make readers appreciate every moment of their finite lives.”

– Mara Cerri, winner of the 2025 Premio Andersen Award for Best Illustrator

VICTOR D.O. SANTOS (author)

Victor D.O. Santos is a Brazilian American picture book author whose books have been translated into over 40 languages. He is the author of the internationally acclaimed picture book What Makes Us Human (a 2023 White Ravens + 2025 USBBY Outstanding International Book + 2025 BRAW Amazing Bookshelf selection), People Are Weird (a dPICTUS 2025 Outstanding Picture Book, illustrated by Catarina Sobral), Before I Forget, and the upcoming picture book Things I Learned From My Dog, illustrated by Dena Seiferling and coming out in Spring/Summer 2026 from Milky Way Picture Books.

You can learn more about Victor and his books on his website www.authorvictorsantos.com

IWONA CHMIELEWSKA (illustrator)

Iwona Chmielewska is a world-renowned Polish picture book author and illustrator whose touching, profound books have been translated into many languages and received numerous awards. Celebrated by readers and critics worldwide for her poetic and sensitive style, she has won the Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava, is a three-time winner of the Bologna Ragazzi Award, and has been a multiple-time finalist for the Hans Christian Andersen Award — often called “the Nobel Prize of picture books.” She is the only Polish author to have a fan club in South Korea.

“Her original way of perceiving a book as a unibody of images and text, a perfect container for sequences of pictures and sets of verses, is truly amazing, and bewilders the audience with every new title she has created or contributed to.”

– from Iwona’s 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award IBBY nomination dossier

On Halloween night, Gaspard, dressed as a ghost, goes trick-or-treating. Suddenly, he loses sight of his mom and wanders off. It’s the start of a sleepless night between confusion and enthusiasm.

In this adventure, which takes the child from the city to the forest and awakens his senses, one emotion follows another: we’re scared with him, and we laugh too. As the setting sun sublimates the landscape, seeming to suspend time and stop the wild animals in their tracks, beauty prevails over worry. Left on his own, Gaspard reveals himself. As he takes off his disguise, he gradually discovers himself. At dawn, at last, he hears a familiar voice. What a joy for little Gaspard, who is now not quite the same: he’s grown up.

Publication: October 2025

Final PDF available

Awards:

⭐ 2025, Illustrators Exhibition organized by Bologna Children’s Book Fair (winner)

Florian Pigé (author & illustrator)

A graduate of the Émile Cohl school in Lyon (France), Florian Pigé developed a passion for children’s literature. Since then, in his creative work, he has focused on plot-revealing details, simplicity of form and research into materials. In 2015, HongFei published Tout là-Haut (All the way up there), his first picture book as an illustrator (text by Morgane de Cadier). Other titles (Chut!, Les Incos Award 2019; Le Secret du loup), followed. They led him to break new ground, which he loves more than anything. With his trilogy Si petit (So tiny), Si gourmand (Always hungry) and Si curieux (So curious), he opened the doors to writing, a new mode of expression that he appreciates and implements in Bulle d’été (Summer bubble), a picture book entirely and masterfully created with colored pencils, and in which Florian puts a lot of himself.

In 2019, the album Chut ! (Shhh!), text by Morgane de Cadier, won LES INCOS AWARD, CP category.

In 2019, the picture book Si petit (So tiny) was chosen as part of the PREMIÈRES PAGES scheme by the Lot département and CAF to be offered to all children born or adopted there in 2019.

In 2020, the Bulle d’été (Summer Bubble) album was awarded the PRIX LANDERNEAU in the picture book category.

What we see everyday, when we look out of our window, when we go to school, when we walk around our city or town, influences us and plays a part in making us who we are. We can call it “landscape”: it is our place, made up of natural and artificial elements and all the relationships that take place there.

Voi siete qui (You are here) is an illustrated book that invites us to reflect on the places we visit daily, focusing on themes such as livability, beauty, and care for the environment around us. In this book, as in others by Cocai Books, nature plays a decisive role: from the “weeds” that grow on the sides of roads or in the middle of uncultivated roundabouts to the majestic cypress trees that mark the horizon, natural elements are essential in defining the landscape.

This book aims to open up a debate and offer points for reflection, exploring an important theme that is the subject of ongoing research by science and contemporary philosophy, considered complex but which is in front of us every day

First edition: December 2025

Valentina Gottardi ( illustrations)

Valentina graduated in Architecture and Visual Arts. Since childhood she has cultivated his two great passions: nature and drawing. Over the years she experimented with different artistic techniques, creating her own style made of ballpoint pen, acrylics and tablets. At Cocai Books she deals with the conception and management of all projects, artistic direction and illustration.

Maciej Michno (author)

Maciej Michno is editor and administrative manager at Cocai Books. He has always been passionate about writing, translating, editing, proofreading and all the technical aspects of running a publishing house. He speaks four languages and has a great passion for human factors and for communicating science and technology through text and images.

Danio Miserocchi (scientific supervision)

Danio Miserocchi is a naturalist and teacher. He collaborates with numerous museums and local institutions and has always cultivated and enhanced biodiversity by conducting research and popularization activities. His work alternates between popularization and research, with field trips and consultations, to “get his hands dirty” and keep a direct line with Nature.

More than half of the world’s population lives in cities. However, humans are not the only inhabitants: cities are full of life, from the smallest microorganisms to the largest animals. In Out of Place we discover which organisms inhabit our cities, in a journey that will take us from inside a house to the outskirts and surrounding countryside, passing through tree-lined avenues, parks, wetlands, ruins and castles.

From its title, this book reflects on the coexistence between man and nature – sometimes peaceful, other times a source of imbalances and problems – and on the actions we can take to make our cities more balanced and more livable for all.

Like the other books in this series, Out of Place guides us in observing the nature that surrounds us daily. The illustrations, poetic but with scientific rigor, are accompanied by a text suitable for young readers.

Publication: May 2025

Rights sold: Slovenian language

Valentina Gottardi (concept and illustrations)

Danio Miserocchi (author)

Maciej Michno (author)

A poetic celebration of a being’s first discoveries as he awakens to the world, beautifully realized in gouache by Morgane de Cadier.

Through the eyes of a character on the verge of existence, every element of nature – trees, sky, birds – becomes a wonder to be explored, and every sensation, from the freshness of grass to the exhilaration of running, is filled with the intensity of beginnings. This text, imbued with poetry and sensitivity, invites us to reconnect with the innocence and curiosity of our first steps.

This enchanting tale plunges the reader into a sensory and emotional adventure, ideal for children and adults alike, looking for a gentle way to reflect on the passage of time. First Day awakens in everyone a taste for discovery, and reminds us of the beauty of every first time. A work to give and share, to reconnect with the essential: wonder.

Morgane de Cadier’s first collaboration with Grasset-Jeunesse, vibrant and joyful, poetic and luminous!

Publication: March 2025

Morgane de Cadier

After training in academic drawing at the Ecole Emile Cohl (Lyon), Morgane de Cadier turned to her first passion: storytelling. Working mainly in gouache, she draws much of her inspiration from her plein air notebooks, the style of which can be seen in her paintings. As author, she has published several books with HongFei Cultures (several picture books in collaboration with Florian Pigé), one of chich (Shhh! / Chut!) has received the prestigious Les Incos Award.