Publisher Description

Childhood should last forever...

Jeanne is a little girl who lieswith a mischievous young fox named Pistouvi. They share a charming littletreehouse surrounded by a magical prairie tended by a giant 'tractor-man' andthe wind-spirit he loves. Together, Jeanne and Pistouvie spend frolicking dayswithout a care, but soon, the birds arrive and everything changes...

Abeautiful, lyrical fable about the inevitable transition from childhood freedomto adult responsibility, replete with laughs, nostalgia andheartache.

Review

"Whimsical, magical, beautiful, heart-rending: Ialready want to read PISTOUVI again. You will too." -- Janet Lee (Eisner-winner,Return of the Dapper Men)


"The fine-lined artwork precisely captures both thecharming surface and the subtly unsettling undercurrents of Pistouvie's curiousworld." -- Eric Shanower (Eisner-winner, The Worlder Wizard of Oz, Little Nemo:Return to Slumberland)

Review Text

KIRKUS -- Pistouvi the fox explores life with hishuman friend, Jeanne. Pistouvi and Jeanne are best friends in a strange worldwith strange rules. The only adult presences come from the friendly Wind (shownas an ethereal, beautiful White woman) and abrasive Tractor (a light-skinned,bald man with an abundant black beard). Despite this, Pistouvi and Jeanne, whois a small, blond-haired White girl, make do with their treehouse home and havemany goofy adventures together. Danger is never far off, however, as Pistouvihas a unique predicament: If he ever understands what the birds are saying, hewill be forever changed. The birds are ever present, as the target of Pistouviand Jeanne's pranks or as bigger, more menacing figures. They add an ominous airto an otherwise lighthearted narrative, serving as a reminder that one dayPistouvi and Jeanne may grow apart. The prologue and each of the 10 subsequentchapters serve as their own separate but connected interludes, making thisvolume more accessible to casual readers. Merwan and Gatignol have crafted awhimsical-and sometimes dark-narrative similar in tone to Alice's Adventuresin Wonderland . The art is gorgeous, the style reminiscent of ablack-and-white manga with gray tones. Details such as hair and fur areparticularly well executed. The ending is both inevitable and saddening,surprisingly bleak in contrast to the overall more carefree tone. Sure to strikereaders like a hammer. (Graphic fiction. 12-16)

Review Quote

"The fine-lined artwork precisely captures both thecharming surface and the subtly unsettling undercurrents of Pistouvie's curiousworld." -- Eric Shanower (Eisner-winner, The Worlder Wizard of Oz, Little Nemo:Return to Slumberland)

Details