The little school of the imagination

by Alain Serres

This boxed set features 15 large-format illustrations and 30 tokens that serve as visual prompts to stimulate children’s imagination: children choose an image, take a token and then invent their own story! A mobile phone disturbs the hustle and bustle of a port, for example, where they are loading a baby elephant onto a cargo ship: What’s the story? What happens next? What adventures might occur? Can you invent a story that no one has ever written before? And if you can’t think of what happens next, you just take another token, and the story begins again.

28 x 35 cm box, 5 years +

The wolf that was always hungry

by Eric Battut

This wolf really has a voracious appetite. He devours everything, everywhere, all the time: wild boars, mountains, forests... And inevitably he gets fatter with every meal! Why not go on a diet? He hates the idea. What about medical help? He swallowed the doctor before he could even utter a word. Who can quell his incredible hunger pangs?

40 pages, 23 x 33 cm, 4 years +

Little by little

by Emilie Vast
Little by little, starting from the smallest, the animals march two by two onto the deck of the ship while the water rises gradually. The story is well known. Emilie Vast tells it to us once again with her animals that speak of the carelessness of men during the rise of the waters. A modern fable about climate change. 
36 pages, 24,5 x 28,4 cm, 3 years +

Toys of the meadow

by Anne Crausaz

Lucien and his mother go for a walk in the forest. A bag must be prepared but of course all the stuffed animals cannot fit in. Little bear, the favourite will always have his place, but the others must stay home. During his walk Lucien will transform the world around him into a field of exploration to discover all the new toys offered by nature.

40 pages, 21.5 x 25.5 cm, 3 years +

The little market

by Nathalie Parain 
Published in 1935, this book was part of an innovative collection of game-books by the famous French publishing house Le Père Castor. The children can supply shops, sell or buy food and organize lottery games. The charming old-style goods or tools for each trade renders the re-release perfectly accessible to today’s children. The book contains 8 shops and 117 strong paper pre-cut cards. An all times best-seller. 
32 pages, 24 x 28 cm, 4 years +

Korczak, a true friend to children

by Philippe Meirieu, ill. Pef
Very few books are designed to help children think about their education. This book explores the career of Janusz Korczak, a doctor and gifted educator who was a tireless champion of children's rights throughout his life.
48 pages, 25 x 25 cm, 5 years +

Babak, the day your horse was born

by Alain Serres, ill. Vanessa Hié
The illustrations in this volume show each stage of a single painting that grows more complex with every page. As readers follow the “birth” of this work, they’re also invited to witness the birth of another wonder: the story’s phlegmatic hero, Babak, has a mare that is about to deliver a foal. Throughout the story, the villagers seek the ever-dreaming Babak but they’ll never find him – because he’s painting the picture!
32 pages, 28 x 35 cm, 5 years + 

Playing with numbers

by Anne Bertier

A new and original way to have the small ones understand how and why we calculate numbers: adding and multiplying should be easier with an artistic twist. In a glimpse, red and white shapes make arithmetic operations look simple and funny. A small format that can be handled easily by children, to look at again and again and memorise the visual effect of addition or subtraction. At the end of each book a page to be cut out with shapes to practice the operations and have fun!

5 titles, 36 pages each, 15 x 15 cm, 5 years +

And if all this was just a dream

By Thierry Lenain, illustration by Irène Bonacina

Radhija is a girl who wonders: “and if I was just someone’s dream, of someone who dreams? And when he wakes up, I may not exist anymore...". She thus asks her mother, her father, her cat and the president, each time digging a little deeper her questioning as these supposedly “sensible” people struggle to respond... A philosophical journey accompanied by beautiful watercolours.

48 pages, 16.5 x 22.5 cm, 6 years +

Five Friends

by Junko Nakamura  
5 friends live together on a farm. Then each has to go live on his own, but each continues to think of his old friends. Being separated without being forgotten, to be able to stay friends even when apart, hoping to meet again, such are the beautiful lessons of this very simple small book but with great quality of feeling and colourful illustrations.
44 pages 24 x 15 cm, 3 years +

Zou activity books

Zou is a five years old foal; he lives with his family in Zebratown. Each day brings a new sense of discovery, exploration and fun to Zou. An animated series filled with humour and tenderness.
52 x 11' on Disney Channel
The first titles are now available in Zou publishing license: activity books with stickers, games, and colouring.
48 pages, 21 x 29 cm, 3 years +
Three titles available and more to come

That's what children are like

by Alain Serres, ill. Silvia Bonanni
What are children like? This highly imaginative collage book attempts to define what it means to be a child, both seriously and with humour. A strong text that can be read aloud, even claimed if necessary... so that everybody can hear! A continuation of Rue du monde's editorial line on children's rights. Because a child holds tomorrow's world in his hands...
40 pages, 23 x 33 cm, 4 years +

1,2,3 stars!

Counting nature
by Anne-Sophie Baumann, ill. by Anne-Lise Boutin
This unusual picture book invites children to explore the world of figures and big numbers: from zero for a worm's paws, to 10 pips hidden in an apple, to billions of stars... There are so many things to see, count and name! A simple and elegant book specially documented. The poetry of mathematics meets up with the delicacy of the natural world.
48 pages, 25 x 25 cm, 4 years +
Rights sold: Portuguese (Brazil)

Feather

by Isabelle Simler

This title draws the portrait of birds, funny and stylized, in contrast with the drawing of their feathers, detailed and naturalistic. Filled with humour and tenderness, the book will be enjoyed for its details. One can feel like a collector, just like this mischievous tomcat, who just adores his fellows with feathers... A LPO-BirdLife France labelled book.
48 pages, 23 x 32,5 cm, 4 years + 
Rights sold: Spanish (World)

Once upon a tree

by Emilie Vast
Follow the life of a tree, from Spring to Winter: the birds nesting, the dears enjoying the new leaves, the courtship display of the animals, the fruits growing, the birds learning to fly while the Autumn winds arrives, the foxes playing in the snow. Holes in the pages allow the animals to jump from one page to the other and the child to follow their tracks. A delicate and delightful exploration of nature.
32 pages, 16,5 x 30 cm, 6 holes with differents sizes, 2 colours printing
3 years +
Rights sold: Italian, Greek, Korean

Little Boy Brown

by Isobel Harris, ill. André François

Little Boy Brown is a young boy who lives in New York City. He describes the world he and his parents live in, with no nature, almost underground, between tunnels and subways. One day, Hilda, the chambermaid, takes him to her family in the countryside. There he discovers the pleasure of making a fire, helping Hilda to cook a cake and patting the house’s dog. The afternoon tea brings the whole of Hilda’s family together. They speak a foreign language. At the end of the day, it is a wonderful experience for Little Boy Brown whose life has been changed as well as his outlook on the others.

56 pages, 17 x 25,5 cm, 7 years +
Rights sold: English (North America)

Now open the box

by Dorothy Kunhardt

Pewee is a tiny little dog in a box at the circus. Everybody loves him. But one day a terrible frightful awful thing happened, Peewee the tiny little dog started to grow. He became so big, that he now had the size of an ordinary dog and no place in the circus anymore. Everybody loved him still but he had to go until a splendid wonderful thing happened...

A new edition of this comical American tale from the 30’s.

24,5 x 17 cm, 64 pages, 4 years +
Rights sold: Italian

The City

Book 2: The Battle of the outer limits
by Karim Ressouni-Demigneux
Polly is the narrator of this second volume. She lives on a tiny British island and The City is her dream: freedom! Under the pseudonym Liza, she meets with Arthur, JC and Harry. Together they explore this strange world. She is fascinated by it all – the immensity, the surveyors who map the city, the linguists who unpick words... But she also wonders about this mysterious man called the Planner and the memory robbers who kidnap shadows and march towards the City’s outer limits where fighting rages. Liza fearlessly confronts this violence. She trusts in friendship and the growing feeling of love inside her. But things can fall apart so quickly in The City.

240 pages,16 x 23 cm, 12 years +

Papagayo

The little library of tales from around the world

The giant from the land of ice

by Laurence Fugier, ill. Julia Chausson

A reindeer herder and his family settle near Lake Vuolvojavri, unaware that a cruel and stupid ogre lives on the other shore. When the ogre wants to marry the herder's daughter, her father plays a clever trick on him, dressing up a pine log as the bride. A tale and information on the Sami people.

48 pages, 14 x 22 cm, 5 years +

The monkey and the golden cob

by Claire Laurens, ill. Martine Bourre

A monkey finds a golden cob in the forest but it is stolen from him. In vain he seeks help from the fire, the river, the anteater, the jaguar. But it is the hunters from the village who help him, and the monkey thanks them by giving them some grains from his cob. And that was how, according to legend, the Nahua Indians began to grow maize. At the end of the book, information on the Nahua Indians.

48 pages, 14 x 22 cm, 5 years +

Chronobook series

Chronobook Dinosaurs
With Chronobook Dinosaurs, children will be unbeatable about history of living beings on our planet millions of years ago. From the creation of the planet 4.6 billion years ago to the dinosaur extinction 65 million years ago, through the appearance of first vertebrates, Chronobook offers a new vision on the world of dinosaurs.

Chronobook Prehistory

Australopithecus, Homo Sapiens, not to mention the Cro-Magnon, no major step is missed in the Chronobook dedicated to Prehistory. From the appearance of the Hominids 8 million years ago to the end of the Prehistory 5300 years ago, this frieze allows a better understanding of history and evolution of mankind, for a new vision of Prehistory.

Chronobook Great Inventions

In Chronobook Great Inventions, children can trace the history of objects or processes that surround us. From the invention of the fire to the MP3, this frieze resumes the chronology of major inventions that have changed people's lives. In total, some 5,500 years of history reviewed to understand how our society was built for a new vision of the world around us.

Three titles available, and more to come.
16 x 16 cm, 2-metre long when unfolded
12 flaps, full colour both sides in a cardboard box
7 years +

Papagayo

The little library of tales from around the world

The sultan's diamond

by Catherine Gendrin, ill Judith Gueyfier

The sultan wants to give his pregnant wife a gift once the baby is born. He asks the jeweller to drill a magnificent diamond. But the jeweller splits the stone in two! He is devastated, for the Sultan had threatened to kill him if he damaged the stone. But luckily, the next day, the Sultan's wife gave birth to twins...

48 pages, 14 x 22 cm, 5 years +

The grandmother who saved a whole kingdom

by Claire Laurens, ill Sandrine Thommen

A Lord gives orders that all the old people should be abandoned in the mountains. The young Shoji refuses to accept this fate for his beloved grandmother. Her life will be saved when she will be the only person able to solve three riddles. From then on in Japan, the elderly are cherished and respected for their experience and wisdom.

48 pages, 14 x 22 cm, 5 years +

Who's there ?

by Clotilde Perrin

Mum brings home a newborn baby and this is baby's first day with the family, the first bath, the first feed. The pages gradually unfold to create a 160 cm illustration depicting the whole of this first day. A book to share with the rest of the family, at the childminder's or at nursery school when a child becomes a big sister or brother!
24 pages, 17 x 17 cm (160 cm unfolded), 3 years +

Odd Animals

by André Hellé
Odd Animals (Noah’s Ark) is André Hellé’s masterpiece and was one of the artist’s most remarkable creations for Tolmer, the master printer. This illustrated book is no less than a manifesto of his work as a visual artist and creator of toys and still looks surprisingly modern to the contemporary eye.
Printed in Pantone colours, 48 pages, 30,5 x 41 cm, 5 years +

When they heard the news

by Malika Doray
When they heard the news, the bears prepared parcels, the koalas hurried up, the crocodiles put their teeth away, the lynx smiled, the wolves muttered, but they all went... “When they heard the news, all went to celebrate the newborn”. An exceptional format made of two books that open and reveal a pop-up inside. See the video on Youtube
64 pages in a leporello format, one pop-up spread, 24 x 32 cm, 2 years +
Rights sold: Italian

The mad scientist book

by Muriel Zücher and Stéphane Hurtez, ill. Raphaël Houée
Through the voice of the Mad Scientist, and his hilarious anecdotes, this title is a true initiation handbook for children to become mad scientists themselves. Many wild experiences have been prepared for the apprentice: changing ink into dust, lightening gravity, making strange bubbles, take light out of sugar, etc.
25 x 30 cm, 160 pages, 8 years +

I have an idea

by Béatrice Gernot, ill. François Maumont
Let’s get into the mysterious and luminous world of ideas! Everything you need to know about ideas: where they come from, what they look like, what they are for and how to nourish them? Each idea is depicted, those that love making their way, or take time to cook up. Those flying from all sides and getting in a muddle... There are simple ideas and powerful ideas, but also some you better forget about!
19 x 30 cm, 80 pages, 8 years +

The disappearance

by Agathe Frasson-Cochet
A mother chaffinch goes in search of her fledglings, guided by the grand duke who saw them beneath the aqueduct, by the parrot who spotted them in the copse, by the duck who watched them crossing the pond... A short, funny story, illustrated with paper collage and gouache, in simple but charming shapes.
32 pages, 17x 18 cm, 3 years +

Mother Whale's soup

by Yana Lee
All that we know about Mother Whale’s soup is that it contains leeks and one special ingredient. It’s the best in the world! The whale calves grow up, become adults and have children of their own, which they, in turn, raise with this recipe of love. In Yana Lee’s first book, the impressionistic style of watercolour illustration lends transparency and delicacy to the beautiful underwater world of this poetic story.
36 pages, 21 x 21 cm, 3 years +

I undress alone

by Julie Clélaurin and Claire Le Grand

Now that I grown, I know how to undress alone. I take off my sweater, my t-shirt, my socks and my pants. Then I take off my underwear, and what can we see? A small child is taking his clothes off to go for his bath. The young reader can touch fabrics of the different clothes before seeing the child diving into his bath! 

20 x 20 cm, 14 pages, 2-5 years

Dressing up!

by Julie Clélaurin and Xavier Deneux

Today it’s carnival at school and the children are wearing their favourite costume. Only one of them forgot to dress up, but he has an idea! Readers can touch Harlequin’s costume, feathers from an Indian, the princess’s dress, the ghost’s sheet, and the clown’s nose… 

20 x 20 cm, 14 pages, 2-5 years

Your nightmare

by Malika Doray

A little book talking about this specific relationship between a child and his nightmare. Even if he is huge and terrifyng, there is many ways to try to know him. Because nightmares are just dreams to tame!

32 pages, 20,5 x 14 cm, 2 years +

My sorrow

by Malika Doray

In this little book, a crocodile reveals his sorrow to his friend, Rabbit. The crocodile is sad because of the rain, because of seasons, and also because life is hard. But, luckily, Rabbit's small joys make the crocodile happier!

32 pages, 20,5 x 14 cm, 2 years +

Our memories

by Malika Doray

A little book to remember what a father is. In a father crocodile, there is a lot of what he was and will be. In a father crocodile, there are all the things… you can choose from those you want to keep (or not).

32 pages, 20,5 x 14 cm, 2 years +

Soups from around the world

by Alain Serres and Aurélia Fronty
Soup is universal – around the world, it is a symbol both of celebration and of day-to-day life. But it is always shared! Warming, heart-warming, soups bring people together. Hot, cold, savoury and sweet, this book gathers recipes from all over the world, listed by country. And the magic of Aurélia Fronty’s rich illustrations is a feast for the eyes.
Best Children Book – Gourmand Awards 2012. More than 7000 copies sold in France!
48 pages, 28 x 35 cm, 7 years +
Rights sold: Spanish (World)

Pop pop poem

by Alain Serres and Candice Hayat

Here is the first anthology of poems for the very young, through a spiral-bound board book, an original introduction to poetry. A short story about nature and familiar themes such as animals, the home etc. is linked to extracts from poems and short poetic texts by major authors. Hayat’s reassuring design and intense colors takes young child’s hand to initiate him to the different look the poet has about the world.

32 pages with cutouts in the pages, 24,5 x 24,5, 3 years +

Fanfan

by Marie Sellier and Iris Fossier

Fanfan is different. He's not an ostrich like his parents... He's an elephant! But he doesn’t know what an elephant is. He goes to explore the savannah and discover. When he finally meets with animals of his kind, they are offended at his simple question: "Are you an elephant?". Fanfan is a tale about family and identity. A funny and limpid text illustrated by the glittering world of Fossier in brown, gold and ultramarine.
48 pages in a landscape format, 23 x 32,5 cm, 4 years +
Rights sold: Portuguese (Brazil)

The letter machine

by Julien Magnani
Magnani explores cause and effect in the mechanical components of each letter, as if they were Meccano toys. He explores this endlessly fascinating subject by bringing to it the energy of motion. The red and blue colours accentuate the book’s visual power, forming a deep violet tone when overlaid.
44 pages, 18 x 23,5 cm, 3 years +

As time goes by

by Junko Nakamura

The four colours of the four seasons, in four stories told by a sensitive young girl about the small things in her life. Each page features just a few words that convey both tone and atmosphere. These short haikus accompanied by prints made of papercuts describe the passage of a peaceful, harmonious year.

44 pages, 18 x 23,5 cm, 3 years +

Pinocchio App

Mediatools has created a new app imprint Appicadabra and we are looking for partners in foreign countries together with Okidokid. This Pinocchio App in on sale in France and was in the short selection of the Best Apps in Montreuil Book Fair last Autumn. Other titles are coming soon!
iOS App, available in French for Ipad, iPhone and iPod Touch
http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/pinocchio-!/id482464500?mt=8
3 years +

Funny Bird

by Jennifer Yerkes
What a funny bird... It appears to us to be "in hiding", only revealing itself when it stands out against a particular background. This difference has an effect on the bird, making it adorn itself with feathers and leaves so it can look like other birds. It become very beautiful and attrack attention... from the fox!
44 pages, 18 x 23.5 cm, 3 years +
Opera Prima Mention at Bologna Ragazzi Awards 2012
Rights sold: English (North America), Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (world)

MeMo series at Beltz&Gelberg

Zou

Zou, a little five years old zebra, lives in a town inhabited by Zebras only. He and his extended family live in a large house right next door to his best friend, Elzee. He is an imaginative and inquisitive foal, and each day brings a new sense of discovery, exploration and fun to Zou. With the help of his family and friends, Zou learns about the world he is growing up in. Let's follow Zou on a series of fun-filled escapades, scrapes and experiences, based on hugely successful books by Michel Gay.
A 3D HD 52 x 11' animated series
3 to 7 years old. All publishing products license available.