The amazing invention of photography

How was photography born?

To mark the bicentenary of photography, this book invites young readers to discover the fascinating story of an invention that transformed the way we see the world. With the arrival of photography, our gaze changed — along with the way we understand and imagine reality.

Illustrated with remarkable archival photographs, this non-fiction book takes a playful look at the extraordinary early history of photography, following its pioneering men and women and some of its most surprising developments.  

Publication date: 5 November 2026

Key selling points :

◊ A universal subject brought into the spotlight by the bicentenary celebrations of photography.

◊ Short, accessible texts accompanied by games and activities designed to spark curiosity.

◊ A narrative focusing on extraordinary achievements and challenges, with the excitement of a record-breaking adventure.

◊ Unusual archival photographs illustrating the epic story of photography’s pioneers.

◊ Small illustrated scenes that bring this history vividly to life.

Authors & Illustrator

Aude Le Pichon (author)

A Paris-based editor and author, Aude Le Pichon has worked with numerous publishers, including Chêne, EpA, Hachette Éducation, La Martinière and Gallimard, on illustrated books devoted to art, travel, heritage and lifestyle.

In children’s publishing, she has worked with Éditions du Patrimoine, among others, on the Archi et Basile activity-book series. She was also responsible for the iconography of the large chronological timeline at the new Cité de l’Histoire in La Défense, Paris.

She has written several books for Flammarion and Seuil Jeunesse, including Mon petit livre d’art and La Grande galerie des monstres. For Éditions Cépages, Aude has already written Tours du Monde, the first title in the Mes Docs non-fiction series.

Marie Simon (author)

A graduate of the École du Louvre and the Institut d’Art et d’Archéologie, as well as Studio Berçot, Marie regularly contributes to the press and to publishers specialising in highly illustrated books.

An expert in fashion and fashion history, her other great passion is photography. Her books include La mode enfantine and Les Dessous, published by Éditions du Chêne, as well as “Paris à la mode des Séeberger” in Séeberger frères, Photographier Paris, 1900, published by Paris Musées.

Youlie (illustrator)

After studying visual communication, Youlie worked for twelve years as an art director in advertising before devoting herself to illustration. Since then, she has brought her creativity and playful imagination to numerous picture books and non-fiction titles published by Glénat, Marabout and Nathan.