SHELTER

L’abri — Céline Claire & Qin Leng — Hardcover book — 21 x 27.5 cm — 48 pages — January 2017 — CAN$19.95

 

 

A storm is brewing. Quick, batten down the hatches and take cover! Through the fog, two shadows are spotted advancing in the distance, through the howling wind. Everyone watches through their dormer windows and worries. Who are the strangers seeking shelter? No one dares help them, except perhaps Little Fox.

 

 

 

Céline Claire was born in the Vosges. She started by teaching in primary school. There, telling stories every day inspired her and soon she wanted to invent new ones. Ten years and three children later, she now devotes herself entirely to writing. She has written many picture books and children's novels, released by Bayard, Circonflexe and Le Rouergue, among others.

 

Qin Leng was born in Shanghai. After living in France, she moved to Montreal. She now lives in Toronto with her husband and her son and works as a designer and illustrator. After studying animation at Concordia University, she illustrated her first picture book in 2009. She has since created numerous works that were published in Canada and around the world. Many of her books and short films have been nominated. Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin (Kids Can Press, 2014), written by Chieri Uegaki, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award and received, among others, the APALA Award for best picture book.

 

 

“The beauty of illustrator Qin Leng’s work is that it vibrates and quivers with the same intensity for each character, both for the marginalized and the privileged.”
– Marine Landrot – Télérama

 

“Without moralizing, this beautifully elegant book shows us that while it may be others who need help today, it could be us tomorrow.”–
– Sens critique

 

“L’abri strikes in all the right places, with elegance and a great deal of hope. The brief dialogue shows the coldness of the inhabitants and alternates with an equally sparse narration that conveys only the essential.”
– Marie Fradette – Le Devoir

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