Publisher Description

It's summer vacation and this year, instead of sticking with Mom, it's all about visiting grandparents and having new experiences.The book's protagonist is Michel, an eight-year-old Parisian boy. His brother Martin, who's twelve, detests him, and he detests Martin right back. This summer, Michel will go away alone, which really means without his mom, to stay with his grandparents while his parents move apartments. To add to the horror, Michel's older boy cousins will be going, too. As Michel says, "To put it simply, they are big, strong, and pals with Martin. I am their scapegoat." Recounted by Michel himself, his vacation doesn't turn out to be such a complete zero after all. Between a competition to see who can shower the least, wild bike rides without gear, and a tooth that finally falls out, Michel discovers both independence and real moments of happiness.
The text is both very funny and moving, with good reason, for we see an eight-year-old's vacation with his grandparents and older cousins through his own eyes, with all of the little things that are important to a boy of eight: the dumb things that he'll never tell his mom; the small triumphs; the disregard and mocking of the older cousins; the shame of having a bathing suit that slips off in the pool; the freedom of being away from home; and the satisfaction of overcoming fears. As always, Olivier Tallec's illustrations render all the emotions of our little hero with an enormous amount of expressiveness, talent, and sheer gorgeousness.

Review

2014 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book "It's funny. It's touching without being cloying. Its tone is just right, and the characters nearly leap off the page in all their authenticity. It's a coming-of-age story with heart and truth and lots of humor. Don't miss it. ... The Bathing Costume is enticing and humorous reading that youths will relish with a charming art style, recommended." - Julie Danielson, Kirkus "Moundlic gets the voice just right...Tallec is gorgeously sensitive to the passions of childhood." - The New York Times Book Review "Tallec's softly rendered illustrations are always in tune with Myron's moods...A pensive, sensitive book for pensive, sensitive children." - Publishers Weekly

Promotional

Published to coincide with Olivier Tallec's US tour, which is being supported by the Book Office of the French EmbassyPublished to coincide with a gallery exhibition in New York of Tallec's workPublicity and promotion in conjunction with the illustrator's engagements and events.

Prizes

Commended for Mildred L. Batchelder Award (Children's) 2014

Long Description

The book's protagonist is Michel, an eight-year-old Parisian boy. His brother Martin, who's twelve, detests him, and he detests Martin right back. This summer, Michel will go away alone, which really means without his mom, to stay with his grandparents while his parents move apartments. To add to the horror, Michel's older boy cousins will be going, too. As Michel says, "To put it simply, they are big, strong, and pals with Martin. I am their scapegoat." Recounted by Michel himself, his vacation doesn't turn out to be such a complete zero after all. Between a competition to see who can shower the least, wild bike rides without gear, and a tooth that finally falls out, Michel discovers both independence and real moments of happiness. The text is both very funny and moving, with good reason, for we see an eight-year-old's vacation with his grandparents and older cousins through his own eyes, with all of the little things that are important to a boy of eight: the dumb things that he'll never tell his mom; the small triumphs; the disregard and mocking of the older cousins; the shame of having a bathing suit that slips off in the pool; the freedom of being away from home; and the satisfaction of overcoming fears. As always, Olivier Tallec's illustrations render all the emotions of our little hero with an enormous amount of expressiveness, talent, and sheer gorgeousness.

Review Quote

It's funny. It's touching without being cloying. Its tone is just right, and the characters nearly leap off the page in all their authenticity." - Julie Danielson, Kirkus It's a coming-of-age story with heart and truth and lots of humor. Don't miss it." - Julie Danielson, Kirkus The Bathing Costume is enticing and humorous reading that youths will relish with a charming art style, recommended." - Julie Danielson, Kirkus Moundlic gets the voice just right...Tallec is gorgeously sensitive to the passions of childhood." The New York Times Book Review Moundlic's tale of bourgeoning self-confidence is on the lengthy side, but it resonates with emotional truth." Kirkus Reviews Tallec's gentle watercolors capture Ronnie's misery, the beauty of the French countryside, the energy of a summer with cousins and Ronnie's bare-bottomed triumph." Kirkus Reviews Tallec's softly rendered illustrations are always in tune with Myron's moods..." - Publishers Weekly A pensive, sensitive book for pensive, sensitive children." - Publishers Weekly

Description for Sales People

The release of The Bathing Costume will be tied to Olivier Tallec's visit to the United States. Currently, we are looking for him to be invited to participate in the LA Book Festival or the Free Library Book Festival in Philadelphia. He is being brought over by the Book Office of the French Embassy. Normally on these visits, an illustrator will visit three cities. For Tallec, one will be New York City. The other two have yet to be determined. Since we have published so much of Tallec's works, we will engage his visit as an occasion to promote all of his books, including the wonderful Big Wolf & Little Wolf trilogy, This Is A Poem that Heals Fish, Waterloo & Trafalgar, and so on. We also will let our New York contacts know that he will be here and will try to arrange a New York Public Library event with Elizabeth Bird and will see whether Jenny Brown of Shelf Awareness, Pamela Paul of the NYTBR, or Bruce Handy of Vanity Fair might be interested in meeting with him. We will check with the folks up at Bank Street too.

Details