Until The Last

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).