Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I’m in love with this book! And my 7-year old granddaughter is a huge fan also. And one lucky person who leaves a comment is going to win their own copy thanks to author Maxine Rose Schur.
MARIELLE IN PARIS
Written by Maxine Rose Schur
Illustrated by Jeanne B. de Sainte Marie
Published by Pomegranate (2017)
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Overcoming fears, creativity, math
Synopsis: From Amazon:
Winner of the 2019 Northern Lights Book Award for Picture Books, All Ages!
Marielle the mouse has worked her dressmaking magic for nine days and nine nights to create nine beautiful dresses for Madame Sooree’s nine daughters. Finished at last, Marielle goes to bed, but when she wakes up, the dresses are gone! With no time to lose, Marielle must overcome her fear of heights to take a wild ride with her friend Pierre the pigeon to recover the missing party dresses, which have been scattered across Paris.
Why I love this book:
- A story about a mouse who is a Parisian dressmaker and has to overcome her fear of heights as she flies above Paris on the back of a pigeon is a win-win-win in my book! The story has heart and humor and lots of drama in the perfect amount for young children.
- The illustrations are glorious and I love seeing the famous landmarks of Paris…and in the back of the book, the author and illustrator have a game of hunting for which landmark inspired each dress design…I would have loved this book as a child.
- Both the writing and the illustrations have a sort of old-world charm to them…reminding me of The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes, another of my all-time favorite picture books.
RELATED ACTIVITIES

For details on this and other Eiffel Tower crafts: https://artsycraftsymom.com/eiffel-tower-crafts-for-kids/
Look at a world map with the kids and find Paris – how far is it from where you live? Talk about how you would get there? How did Marielle travel around Paris? How would you travel around Paris once you were there?
I know we are all looking forward to the end of 2020…it’s been a challenging year for all. If you enjoy the books featured here, please support the authors and illustrators by buying their books if you can, reviewing their books on Amazon and other sites, telling your friends about them, and asking your local library to purchase copies for their collection.
To find out more about today’s fascinating author, Maxine Rose Schur, who is generously offering a copy of MARIELLE IN PARIS as a giveaway, please visit her wonderful website. And to enter the giveaway, please leave a comment below – I’m sure we all wish we had a private pigeon like Marielle did so we could fly off to visit…? Why don’t you tell us where you would fly off to if you could. And for more tickets in the giveaway hat, please share on your social media sites.
And if you haven’t been to the first stop on my book blog tour, here is the link: http://unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2020/12/from-here-to-there-journey-of-ten.html Reviewer Sandy Brehl is a long-time Cybils judge and I’m honored to see such a fabulous review up on her Unpacking Picture Book Power blog. Stay tuned for a couple more stops this month and then a whole bunch of book blog tour stops next month and beyond…after all, the name of the book is From Here to There, right?
I hope you all have a safe and healthy weekend. Today is the first day of Hanukkah, so I’m wishing Chag Sameach – a happy holiday to all who celebrate.
Oh wow. That cover illustration is amazing and it sounds like a good story. Thanks for sharing, Vivian. I’ll have to figure nd this book and read it.
And congrats to Maxine and Jeanne.
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Congratulations on a beautiful book Maxine Rose Schur. Wow. Love everything about this especially the story idea! Can’t wait to read this to my 7 year old. (My teens still love PBs too!) So inspiring. Thanks so much! I’m Canadian so only commenting! All the best. Thanks for the blog Vivian!
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Love old word charm. Can’t wait to find out who stole the dresses and why.
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This book looks and sounds irresistible!
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Congrats, Maxine and Jeanne. I love the premise of this book, since I have a degree in fashion design. But who wouldn’t. I can’t wait to learn where the dresses are!
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You mention Paris or France, and I immediately want to read the book! This looks lovely! I love the cover as well with a birds’ eye view of la Tour de Eiffel. Congratulations! (And where did the missing dresses go???)
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Oh my gosh! I want to take a flight around Paris, and get that bird’s eye view that appears on the cover. It’s no wonder that your granddaughter opened up this book and fell in love, Vivian!
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Who doesn’t love Paris? And a mystery featuring dressmaking mouse with a pigeon sidekick sounds even more interesting! This book with a bird’s eye-view of famous landmarks sounds like fun!
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Maxine, congratulations! What a lovely idea for a book in such a special environment as Paris!
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This book gives me a nostalgic feel. It takes me back to my childhood. 🙂
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Love it!!
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What a magnificent story about learning to be brave. And I love a French mouse designer — reminds me of my grandmother who designed clothing. This certainly is a winner!
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Right now I would fly to Australia as not only is it a bucket list travel destination, but also the Australians have conquered COVID. I shared on tumblr: https://yesreaderwriterpoetmusician.tumblr.com/post/637243352865226752/perfect-picture-book-friday-marielle-in-paris
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Sounds and looks like just what I need to read. Missing my Covid cancelled trip to Paris last spring.
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This sounds wonderful! What a marvelous idea! Thank you!!!!
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This book sounds so cute and fun! My kids would love this book and my girls are older around ten and 12.
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I love this magical concept. Congratulations!
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I love that this book introduces the beautiful city of Paris to children.
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I would fly my whole family to Israel!
Hope I win this book for my twins to read!
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Paris is my favorite city. This book brought back wonderful memories.
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I’ve been at home for sooooo long. I would fly to Southern California and visit my dear friend, Diane. A girl needs to spend time with her bestie.
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I enjoy your enthusiastic posts Vivian and promotion of others books. I just had my first children’s picture book published in October and I wanted to know if by sending you a free copy and it enhances your site would that be the way to go? How much is it? I have sold some to the US and Canada and have an order of 10 books to Taiwan plus sold quite a lot so far. I have 3 more Fables due next year. 2 are ready for art and one being edited. I have had a wonderful coach thru all this. Julie Didlick
Author name is Julie Y Check
http://www.julieycheck.com.au
and a site on children (I have 9 plus 30 grandchildren)
Julie Y Check – Star Changer
Thank you.
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I love the cover. It almost makes me feel like I am in the clouds looking down over everything. Can’t wait to read!!
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