The Cultural Services of the French Embassy launches Fly Away with Books, a four-day festival that aims to (re)introduce children of all backgrounds to the pleasures of reading by offering them unique and playful experiences, using books as interactive objects to inspire fun and curiosity.
“As the world becomes more and more centered around technology,” says Bénédicte de Montlaur, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy to the United States, “Fly Away with Books strives to give new generations the opportunity to reconnect with books outside of the school context and explore the extraordinary resources they hold. From crafts and games to group story hour, this series of workshops will give children across New York City the opportunity to let their imaginations run wild.”
From July 11th to July 14th, renowned French illustrators and authors Lucie Brunellière, Marie-Laure Cruschi (aka Cruschiform ), Anouck Boisrobert, and Louis Rigaud will conduct playful and imaginative workshops in venues throughout New York City, from Inwood to Dumbo. Organized in partnership with the New York Public Library, Albertine Books, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Environmental Education Center and the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), the festival will be entirely free and open to both French and English-speaking children from 4 to 10 years old. No RSVP necessary.
THE AUTHORS
Anouck Boisrobert and Louis Rigaud
Anouck Boisrobert and Louis Rigaud form an author-illustrator creative duo, making pop-up books that stimulate the imaginations of the young and old alike. Both born in 1985, the pair first met while attending courses they were taking together at the University of Decorative Arts (l’École supérieure des arts décoratifs) in Strasbourg. While they create their literary works, Anouck Boisrobert also works as a painter and illustrator, and Louis Rigaud as a graphic designer, website creator, inventor of video games and director of animated films. Together, they have written 10 books, 4 of which have been translated in English. Their work Oh ! Mon chapeau (Oh, my Hat!) was rewarded in 2018 at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, where it won the Bologna Ragazzi Award.
Books in English: Popville (Roaring Brook Press, 2010) ; Wake up, Sloth! (Roaring Brook Press, 2011) ; Under the Ocean (Tate Publishing, 2014) ; That’s My Hat! (Thames & Hudson, 2016)
Lucie Brunellière
Lucie Brunellière is a graphic artist and illustrator specializing in children’s illustration. She studied visual communication in Paris and design in Strasbourg, before putting her talents to the service of press publication for kids. Today, Brunellière devotes herself to the creation of albums for children.
Books in English: Deep in the Forest (Abrams, 2017), Deep in the Ocean (Abrams, 2019)
Cruschiform
The work of Marie-Laure Cruschi (alias Cruschiform) lies at the intersection of art, graphic design, illustration and typography. Interested in colorful and geometric modular designs, she enjoys experimenting with various graphic tools in playful, poetic and sometimes educational ways, creating narrative universes that are perpetually in renewal. Looking to challenge the ways we see the world, she has committed her talents to serving the children’s literary community with several award-winning books. She has gained international recognition through the years, and has worked together with various luxury brands and cultural events.
Books in English: Full speed ahead ! (Abrams, 2014) ; Colorama (Prestel, 2018)
EDIT
See our article about the first edition of Fly Away with Books here.
Fly Away with Books is presented by The Cultural Services of the French Embassy and FACE Foundation as part of the Kids Trail program with generous support from Institut français. It is inspired by the event Partir en Livre, taking place every summer in France since 2015, and organized by the Centre National du Livre in partnership with the Salon du livre et de la presse jeunesse en Seine-Saint-Denis.
Fly Away with Books is presented in partnership with the New York Public Library, Albertine Books, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Environmental Education Center and the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF).
