olivier tallec - French Culture

French Authors on Tour 2012 – Cultural Services of the French Embassy
Contact Fiction: [email protected]
Book Department - www.frenchculture.org
OLIVIER TALLEC
U.S. TOUR: April 2013
BIOGRAPHY
Olivier Tallec was born in Brittany in 1970. After graduating from the Ecole
Supérieure d'Art graphique in Paris, he worked in advertising as a graphic
designer before devoting himself to illustration. Since then, he has done
numerous illustrations for newspapers and magazines and has illustrated over
50 books for children. Tallec is fascinated by textiles and by all forms of
popular culture. An avid traveler, he divides his time between Paris, where
he lives, and far-flung adventures. In 2010, Big Wolf & Little Wolf was
chosen as a Batchelder Honor book. In September 2012, Enchanted Lion
Books published his book Waterloo & Trafalgar, which has received wonderful reviews.
Next U.S. book is scheduled for this spring!
His website: www.oliviertallec.fr/
SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY
Waterloo and Trafalgar, album without words by Olivier Tallec, Enchanted Lion Books,
2012. ISBN: 978-1592701278
In French: Waterloo and Trafalgar, Père Castor Flammarion, 2012, ISBN:
Series Rita and Whatsit, texts by Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vignod, Chronicle Books, 2009
Several titles.
In French: Rita et Machin, Gallimard Jeunesse. Plusieurs titres
Series Big Wolf & Little Wolf, by Nadine Brun-Cosme. Illustrated by Oliver Tallec.
Enchanted Lion Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-59270-084-4.
In French: Grand Loup & Petit Loup, Père Castor Flammarion. (Ages 4-7)
Big Wolf & Little Wolf, Such a beautiful orange, Enchanted Lion Books, 2010
In French: Grand Loup & Petit Loup, Père Castor Flammarion, 2010
Big Wolf & Little Wolf, The Little Leaf That Wouldn’t Fall, Enchanted Lion Books, 2010
In French: Grand Loup & Petit Loup et la petite feuille qui ne voulait pas tomber, 2007
The Scar, text by Charlotte Moundlic, Candlewick, ISBN: 978-0763653415
In French: La Croûte, Père Castor Flammarion, 2009
This is a poem that Heals Fish, by Jean-Pierre Simeon. Illustrated by Oliver Tallec.
Enchanted Lion Books, 2007. ISBN: 978-1592700677
In French: Ceci est un poème qui guérit les poisons, Rue du Monde, ISBN: 978-2915569223
French Authors on Tour 2012 – Cultural Services of the French Embassy
Contact Fiction: [email protected]
Book Department - www.frenchculture.org
Without words :
Mon imagier de l’alphabet, « Éveil musical », Gallimard Jeunesse, 2005
Mon imagier des rondes « Éveil musical », Gallimard Jeunesse, 2003
Mon imagier sonore « Éveil musical », Gallimard Jeunesse, 2000
In French :
Il Faudra, text by Thierry Lenain, Éditions Sarbacane 2009
Le Carnaval des Animaux, text by Carl Norac, Éditions Sarbacane
Mercredi à la librairie, text by Sylvie Rouch, Éditions Sarbacane
ABOUT HIS BOOKS
Waterloo and Trafalgar, album without words by Olivier Tallec
In French: Père Castor Flammarion, 2012, ISBN:
In English : Enchanted Lion Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-59270-127-8
Ages 6 and up
In his first wordless picture book, Olivier Tallec shows the
pointlessness of war through his smart, comic, emotionally astute
illustrations. Tallec portrays two characters, separated only by narrow
walls, who spy on each other through the seasons. Moving between
day and night, long stretches at their binoculars, and mundane daily
tasks, they fight their cold war, full of suspicion, never daring to
bridge the gap between them. then, one day, they discover that their differences don't make
them enemies and that a whole other way of being in the world together is possible.
Publisher weekly review: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-59270-127-8
Gus is a Fish, by Claire Babin, illustrated by Olivier Tallec,
Enchanted Lion Books
Gus the dreamer is having a bath. When he puts his head under
water to practice his swimming, he begins to imagine that he is a
fish. Suddenly he discovers a fascinating aquatic world that is
friendly and a little bit threatening. Gus is amazed by the richness
of his imaginary pond, where he comes upon tadpoles, catfish,
frogs, dragonflies, water lilies, reeds and willow branches. During
his adventure he befriends a duckling and swiftly avoids being
attacked by a pike. Brought back to reality by his mom when he
is told that it’s time to scrub up, Gus returns from the excitement
of his adventures to the security of his mom’s smiling face.
Through a combination of original illustrations and photographs, each page pulls the reader
into Gus’s vibrant world. Following the story there are several pages of thumbnail photos that
provide many details about the fish and plants that Gus encountered.
French Authors on Tour 2012 – Cultural Services of the French Embassy
Contact Fiction: [email protected]
Book Department - www.frenchculture.org
Big Wolf & Little Wolf, by Nadine Brun-Cosme. Illustrated
by Oliver Tallec. Translated from French Grand Loup &
Petit Loup. Enchanted Lion Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-159270-084-4. (Ages 4-7)
Big Wolf lives alone under a tree at the top of a hill. He is
alone, but happy. One day he sees another wolf approaching,
a little wolf. Without a word, Little Wolf sits down next to
Big Wolf. He stays all night and all the next day. At first Big
Wolf is suspicious. He also is worried that Little Wolf will
grow bigger and become a rival. After a while, however, he
starts to feel fond of his small companion. He decides to let
Little Wolf share his covers, just a little, so he isn’t cold at
night. The next day he shares some of his lunch. Just as Big
Wolf is starting to get used to his new friend, and even to care for him, Little Wolf disappears.
Big Wolf is too proud to cry or get upset, but the reader cannot miss the great mix of emotions
he feels, which are movingly portrayed in Olivier Tallec’s sensitive illustrations. Big Wolf
loses his appetite and cannot sleep. He spends his time staring at the horizon, waiting for
Little Wolf to return, but without the slightest reason to hope that he will. But with the arrival
of spring Little Wolf does return. Big Wolf is so happy his heart almost bursts. The two
wolves shyly admit that without each other they found life lonely. Never again will they leave
each other’s side.
AWARDS & REVIEWS (for Big Wolf & Little Wolf)
Batchelder Honor Book 2010
ALA Notable Books 2010
Prix de l'album 2007 Cherbourg
Prix France Télévision 2006
Prix des Enfants 2006 du Salon Chrétien de Troyes
Prix littéraire jeunesse de 2006 Chambray-les-tours
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Adopted by the French National curriculum
"Three Stars - Outstanding. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! WONDERFUL story, awesome
illustrations. Just an enjoyable, colorful book you can immerse yourself in. All about sharing
and friendship and nowhere near overdoing it it with heavy-handedness like many books
today. Just a great story that your child will love to have you read to him and you'll enjoy it
just as much. Great storytelling!" - Lisa Barker, JellyMom.com
"Big Wolf lived all alone at the top of a hill under a tree. But then one day, Little Wolf came
and stayed under Big Wolf’s tree. The two wolves didn’t talk, but they watched each other.
When night fell, Big Wolf shared a small corner of his leaf blanket with him. In the morning,
Little Wolf climbed the tree following Big Wolf and did exercises together. Big Wolf shared
his meal with Little Wolf but still never talked with him. Big Wolf headed out for his walk,
looking back and seeing Little Wolf get smaller and smaller in the distance. When he returned
to the tree though, Little Wolf was gone. Big Wolf was shocked, astounded to find that he
missed Little Wolf deeply. So what is a lone wolf to do when he finds himself to be more of a
LONELY wolf?
Brun-Cosme has created a picture book with a unique feel. Her wording is simple and
French Authors on Tour 2012 – Cultural Services of the French Embassy
Contact Fiction: [email protected]
Book Department - www.frenchculture.org
almost bare. It is through that very minimalist writing that the emotions are really clear
and powerful. It is also a format that works well for a lone wolf and his simple life. Tallec’s
art is different here than in some of his other work (like Rita and Whatsit). He uses paint to
create a world of open fields and wide skies, but plays with color to make it a world in a vivid
palette of pinks, yellows, blues, and greens. This depth of color and strong lines make the
illustrations a foil for the simple words.
This book speaks to the lonely of us, the confused, the awkward. It is a picture book that
every child will understand whether they have been Little or Big. Appropriate for ages 4-6." –
Kids Lit