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 +

MeMo series at Beltz&Gelberg

The City

Book 1: The White Light
By Karim Ressouni-Demigneux

Warning n°1: if you read this book, your suffering will be harsh, waiting for the next four books to come.

Warning n°2: In THE CITY, never talk about your life outside the game, otherwise the white light will weigh down on you.

Warning n°3: It's better not to miss any step of THE CITY, particularly the first one...

Age 12 and for all, 240 pages
A five-book series
Rights sold: Russian

Eliott and Nestor, Morning Time

by Mélanie Rutten
It's summer time. Eliott has convinced Nestor to go on travelling with him. On their way, Nestor's bad mood and small habits are getting on Eliott's nerves. Nestor finds his friend too intrusive and inconsistent. They quarrel. A story on friendship, on accepting oneself, on small and big things of the universe, and the place to take there. A story about walking down to the river, eating under the trees, looking at the stars and climbing mountains. Third book of a four-title series.
64 pages, 16,5 x 23 cm, 5 years +
Rights sold: German

Tom Spud

by Emmanuelle de Maisonneuve, ill. François Gomes
This is the second part of Tom Spud's adventure. He is being adopted by the Granmanitou and wishes to become one of them. He takes the challenges and competes with other animals on agility, bravery and wisdom to become the first Granmanitou in his category. While he knows he is safe in the garden, he is too tempted to look for the hawthorn bush where Fades have been seen. He knows he is one of them, and he ventures out of the garden...
Vol 2: The hidden Land of Alba Spina
192 pages, 17 x 24 cm, 8 to 12 years old

Mummies & Co

The globe-investigators: Destination Paris
by Nicolas Ancion, ill. Bruno Tatti
Alex and his sister Maya, the mascots of Graine2 Travelling Kids, are ready for the most exciting adventures. While on holiday in Paris, the two children experience strange adventures: the mummies of the Louvre Museum have vanished, an ancient parchment is stolen from a huge Russian man with a hieroglyth tattoo on the neck, people in the street mysteriously disappear. From the Louvre to the National Library, the metro's corridors to the top of the Eiffel Tower, the children will run around the city using brains and bravery to save the capital city from a great danger.
The text is complemented with sketches, photographs and information in the margins. 224 pages novel, 16 x 21 cm, b&w illustrations
8 to 12 years old

My Little Donkeyskin Theatre

by Marie Desplechin and Jean-Michel Othoniel
Popular novelist Marie Desplechin depicts in simple and fine words how famous contemporary artist Othoniel became the creator he is today. A beautifully illustrated book with a sensitive text on the birth of a vocation. A retrospective of Othoniel's work is touring from Paris this year, to Japan, Korea and the United States. A discovery of art for children, and adults, to be plunged into the fascinating and magical world of this artist.
72 pages, 17 x 24 cm, 9 years +
**Award** Pépite du livre d'art - Best Book on Art - Montreuil 2011

Tom Spud

by Emmanuelle Maisonneuve, ill. François Gomes
Tom Spud is the extraordinary adventure of a young boy, the size of a potato, discovered in a garden. Soon, he is adopted by the animals and makes friends. He learns to cope with this new life filled with dangers. But Tom suffers from not knowing about his origins. In the search for his identity, he will approach the doors of another world, both marvellous and dangerous... A three-volume novel mixing adventure, fantasy, true feelings and ecology that will delight children and initiate them to the realities of nature.

Vol 1. The Secrete Society of the Granmanitous
192 pages, 17 x 24 cm, 8 to 12 years old

Öko, Tea in Winter

by Mélanie Rutten
It's winter in the village and Madeleine, the old cicada, has just died. Everybody gathers to say goodbye to her. Öko, Mitsu, Eliott and other friends discuss around the fireplace about her, and also about this strange person wandering in the forest. The day after, it's snowing and Öko is coming across the enigmatic stranger. A tender story about meaning of life, growing love, friendship and prejudice with characters of previous title by Melanie Rutten: Mitsu a perfect day.
64 pages, 16,5 x 23 cm, 5 years +
Rights sold: German

Nassim and Nassima

by Ingrid Thobois, ill. Judith Gueyfier
Nassim and Nassima live on the heights above Kabul, Afghanistan, and always spend their days together, playing and doing typical children's chores. It seems this friendship will last forever - until one day it's time to go to school - but only for Nassim; Nassima must stay at home. Her father is firm about it: school is not for girls! Nassima disagrees, however...
116 pages illustrated novel, 8 years +

The Hut on the Roof

by Stéphane Servant, ill. by Monike Czarnecki
Yanis has built a small hut on the roof of his building, where he often hides out to read, listen to the radio and daydream about the beautiful Tamaya joining him there one day. He also does there to boost his courage, because he has a difficult time with the young Momo - the self-proclaimed children's gang leader who is up to something - and wants Yanis in on it.
116 pages illustrated novel, 8 years +

I Can Only Think About That

by Karim Ressouni-Demigneux, ill. Monike Czarnecki
At school, some call 12-year-old Ismaïl "queer", but he doesn't understand and the teasing really disturbs him. He spends his days constantly wondering and worrying about what teenage life will be like. His French teacher, who doesn't hide her homosexuality, will support him and help him to grow up with a sense of self-assurance even though he wonders what adult he will be.
116 pages illustrated novel, 11 years +
Rights sold: Korean

Silver Fish

by Sylvie Deshors, ill. Monike Czarnecki
They call him "Calamity". Because he was the 13th to join the gang of the D Line, living in the corridors of the metro. There are only calamities in the cruel world of these children anyhow. Fortunately there is the tall Mila to get along with him. Although his only happiness is a tiny little thing, hidden in his shoe. The only safe place he has. A happiness made of paper, vowels and consonants, handed on by a tender grand-mother. Can it be the path to freedom at last?
112 pages illustrated novel, 9 years +

Oh Dear! Lola

by Clotilde Bernos, ill. Olivier Tallec
At school a rumour is starting to spread: Lola is seriously ill. Some people would prefer if she stayed at her home. The word AIDS frightens them. Her friend Sam wants to stay along with her, and continue laughing together. He would so much like if she told him the truth about her mysterious blue rabbit...
112 pages illustrated novel, 8 years +

The Great Rugby Party

by Bernard Chambaz, ill. Zaü
In the South-West of France, Fausto starts playing Rugby, of course. And his team will experience one of the greatest sport adventures: an international competition in Great Britain, in Rugby, the city where this sport was born. Unfortunately, one of the players, Boubacar, can be part of the trip... Unless the spirit of solidarity around the oval ball is not only a legend...
Another sporty adventure for young boy Fausto, who experiences football, Olympic games, cycling and rugby in a four-volume series about sport and solidarity.
112 pages illustrated novel, 8 years +

The Football Game that lasted all Summer Long

by Bernard Chambaz, ill. Zau
This Summer, Fausto goes away with his father (and his football) for a big world tour. Eleven stops from Bagnolet, France to Bamako, Mali. Thousands of encounters and discoveries from the Baghdad barber to the smoked fish in the North Pole. And everywhere: the football game, the real one. A first world tour Fausto will never forget.
112 pages illustrated novel, 9 years +

Lil' Mom

by Dominique Sampiero, ill. Monike Czarnecki
Laeticia, a six-year old, knows how to make coffee, do the shopping, take care of her little brother. But one thing paralyses her: smiling. In the family, there is little money and life isn't always a fairy tale. And one day when finally a smile shines on Laeticia's face, you must quickly take a picture.
112 pages illustrated novel, 9 years +
Rights sold: Korean

The Sun Will Shine, Julot!

by Anne Kerloc'h, ill. Clotilde Perrin
Julot's mum is in very low spirits. She cries, is depressed, is giving up and Julot can't accept it. He knows how to hold back his tears. But how can he help his Mum get rid of her constantly wet Kleenex, her sorrow, and put a sunny smile on her face again?
112 pages illustrated novel, 9 years +

I'm a Big Liar

by Karim Ressouni-Demigneux, ill. Daniel Maja
Ismail is an awful liar. He tells his friends at his new school that he has a lion and a Jacuzzi at home. One morning he even decides to tell them he's a jew... altough his father, called Mohamed, is so proud to be an Arab. How can he now face all his friends at home for his birthday party? And how to make sense out of this messy mixture of religion, family roots and traditions?
112 pages illustrated novel, age 9+

Mitsu, a perfect day

by Mélanie Rutten
Normally, Mitsu likes mornings. But on that day, she gets up in a bad mood! As her daily life becomes unbearable, Mitsu decides to venture out. On her trip, she experiences a unique encounter that will change the way she sees things in her life. The day after, nothing has changed... yet everything is different. The day after is a perfect day!
64 pages, 16,5 x 23 cm, 6 years +
Rights sold: German