What do you think?


La grande fabbrica delle parole
C'è un paese dove le persone parlano poco. In questo strano paese, per poter pronunciare le parole bisogna comprarle e inghiottirle. Le parole più importante, però, costano molto e non tutti possono permettersele.
Il piccolo Philéas è innamorato della dolce Cybelle e vorrebbe dirle "Ti amo", ma non ha abbastanza soldi nel salvadanaio. Al contrario Oscar, che è ricchissimo e spavaldo, ha deciso di far sapere alla bambina che un giorno la sposerà.
Chi riuscirà a conquistare il cuore di Cybelle?
Il piccolo Philéas è innamorato della dolce Cybelle e vorrebbe dirle "Ti amo", ma non ha abbastanza soldi nel salvadanaio. Al contrario Oscar, che è ricchissimo e spavaldo, ha deciso di far sapere alla bambina che un giorno la sposerà.
Chi riuscirà a conquistare il cuore di Cybelle?
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Agnès de Lestrade
219 books28 followersAgnès de Lestrade is a French journalist, musician, and author of children's books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
February 3, 2017
Sessiz bir ülkede geçmekte olan öykümüzde sözcükleri fabrikadan satın almanız, çöplükte bulmanız ya da rüzgarda savrulurken yakalamanız gerekiyor. Ve "seni seviyorum" yerine "kiraz! toz! sandalye!" sözcükleri ile mutlu olmak isterseniz sizi de Büyük Sözcük Fabrikası'na bekleriz... Enfes.
May 3, 2021
La dolcezza fatta parola!
March 6, 2021
Mooi, poëtisch prentenboek over de kracht van woorden. Ook prachtige prenten, beetje in de stijl van Rebecca Dautremer.
June 16, 2018
Es beeindruckt eher mit dem Zeichenstil. Die Geschichte dahinter ist vom Ansatz nicht schlecht, aber mir fehlt einfach ein bisschen was. Soll kurz und knapp sein, das ist mir klar, ich finds aber nicht ganz rund.
April 1, 2023
Een onverwachte buddy read met Becky van dit pareltje! Alleen maar liefde voor de juiste woorden op het juiste moment en de betekenis van een glimlach ❤️
September 30, 2021
si charmant et quelle idée originale. très joli album!
January 3, 2025
Molto carino!
April 29, 2013
Powerful, touching, warm-hearted story!
Phileas lives in a world where words are made at a factory. Only the rich can afford the valuable, creative, descriptive words. Phileas is not rich, people like him must hunt for words in trash cans, gutters, and if they are lucky, floating in the wind. Phileas has a special friend, Cybele. Her birthday is coming up, so Phileas saves up for three words to share with her. If he was rich, he would buy the words: I love you and happy birthday...but he is not, so he smiles instead. Oscar, is more privileged and tells Cybele that he loves her and knows they will marry someday. Phileas feels sad but shares the three words he scrounged up...they come out beautifully: cherry, ruby, and chimes. Cybele doesn't have any words and kisses Phileas in response. Phileas' story of expression shows us that you don't have to be rich to express yourself or win someone's heart; you just have to be sincere. The illustrations are just as beautiful, expressive, and lovely as this remarkable story.
Phileas lives in a world where words are made at a factory. Only the rich can afford the valuable, creative, descriptive words. Phileas is not rich, people like him must hunt for words in trash cans, gutters, and if they are lucky, floating in the wind. Phileas has a special friend, Cybele. Her birthday is coming up, so Phileas saves up for three words to share with her. If he was rich, he would buy the words: I love you and happy birthday...but he is not, so he smiles instead. Oscar, is more privileged and tells Cybele that he loves her and knows they will marry someday. Phileas feels sad but shares the three words he scrounged up...they come out beautifully: cherry, ruby, and chimes. Cybele doesn't have any words and kisses Phileas in response. Phileas' story of expression shows us that you don't have to be rich to express yourself or win someone's heart; you just have to be sincere. The illustrations are just as beautiful, expressive, and lovely as this remarkable story.
January 22, 2019
Disegni magnifici per una storia dolcissima. Un bel libro per bambini.
November 21, 2020
Mir fehlen echt die Worte, um dieses Erlebnis zu beschreiben.
Das Buch wird hoffentlich bald noch bei mir ins Regal einziehen und einen festen Platz dort bekommen.
♥
Das Buch wird hoffentlich bald noch bei mir ins Regal einziehen und einen festen Platz dort bekommen.
♥
May 3, 2019
Bellissimo libro illustrato per bambini che vuole far riflettere (anche noi adulti!) su quanto sia prezioso il dono della parola e su come le parole semplici arrivino più spesso al cuore, rispetto a tanti paroloni d’effetto. Il piccolo Philéas, è innamorato della sua Cybelle e vorrebbe dirle "Ti amo", ma non ha abbastanza soldi per comprare una frase così importante; sceglie allora poche altre semplici parole da donarle, ma in esse c’è pura poesia. E quell’ ancora diventa una promessa di una forza disarmante. 4 ****
March 6, 2023
Gracias a la profesora de seminarios de hoy por el audiolibro jaja ❤️
September 19, 2025
از داستانهای کلاس کامیشیبای🎀✨️
این ایده هااا رو از کجا میارنننن
این ایده هااا رو از کجا میارنننن
February 18, 2023
Disegni favolosi. Una storia dolcissima che rivela una grande verità. Siamo abituati ad abusare delle parole, a riempire i silenzi a dire tanto per dire, a confidare nel significato letterale delle parole più che nel valore che acquistano tramite i nostri gesti. Raccogliamole dalla spazzatura, acchiappiamo quelle sfuggite nel vento, e usiamole quando per noi hanno veramente un senso.
May 27, 2022
Adorable! ❤️
July 3, 2021
Какво всъщност си купувате, когато купувате книги? Замисляли ли сте се, че всъщност вие си купувате думи? Думи! Подредени в текст, предаващи идеи и емоции, носещи знания и послания... Представете си сега, че трябва да купувате не просто думите, които прочитате. Трябва да си купите и думите, които използвате. В какъв свят бихме живели, ако се изведнъж се окаже, че „здравей” и „обичам те” не са по джоба на всеки? Издателство „Давид”, което доскоро свързвахме изцяло с прелестните авторски книги (за обичане) на Евгения Войнова, ни поднася и своето първо преводно заглавие. Това е „Голямата фабрика за думи” – книжна сензация, сътворена от писателката Аниес дьо Лестрад и художничката Валерия Докампо. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле”: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
February 20, 2022
Eine nachdenklich stimmende Geschichte, die so schön illustriert ist. Wörter sind so bedeutsam! Gesten und Mimik aber auch ❤
January 10, 2021
Ein niedliches Märchen, auch für große Kinder ;-) Danke liebe Sarah Ricarda für die Empfehlung und den Ansporn, mir hin und wieder ein Bilderbuch zu gönnen :-)
February 10, 2022
Album 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓹 𝓭𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓮𝓾𝓻 ❤️ Une douce histoire d’amour qui aborde le pouvoir des mots. Je la relis chaque année (avec des élèves ou seule!) tellement elle est charmante! 🥰
May 24, 2023
sehr süß. (vorgelesen von enna)
October 5, 2011
This book was originally written in French (the version of which I have not read). The first version I read was in Chinese and is titled "The Word Factory" (the Chinese version is not an option on GoodReads). The pictures are beautiful with contrasting colors like dark browns and greys (the colors of most printed words) with bright reds that portray all the subtleties, ominousness and brightness that a world economy based on the cost of words would create. In the meantime, the narrative focuses around the world of words, their impact on people, the environment and commerce. The entire book creates wonderful and striking metaphors for the connections between money, education, class and self-empowerment. And this is a children's book!
So I was of course excited to purchase and read the English (my native language) version of this book. Unfortunately, the English version of this story has been filtered through the lenses of the publishers at the American Psychological Association, who have focused the themes of the book around it being "a story about self-expression". Now don't get me wrong: as an artist myself, I know all about the importance of self-expression. And certainly, self-expression is one of the themes of this book. However, the APA seems to think it is the *only* theme of this book, and has used a translated version that seems to support this theme by altogether omitting several beautiful sentences and phrases that don't seem to connect to self-expression but do support the creation of Lestrade's beautiful world. Granted, I have also not read the original-language version, but I find it hard to imagine the Chinese translators adding sentences that simply didn't exist in the original. They wouldn't have much reason to do that. I also know that translating is not (or at least should not be!) a direct, word-for-word endeavor. However, the omission of entire sentences is not translating. As such, in a book that is not made of many words to begin with, and in a book that focuses on the economy of words, I find it strange that the English translation would fail to stay true to the original words of the book. Perhaps the APA didn't have the money to buy them? Or perhaps the APA didn't have the academic wealth to let the story just speak for itself instead of hitting people over their heads with "self-expression".
Translation aside, the book has been very inspiring for me personally. Its quiet messages of perseverance, creative communication, survival, and self-value carry a lot of resonance. The pictures alone speak volumes. But dammit, I think I need to go learn French now. ;-)
So I was of course excited to purchase and read the English (my native language) version of this book. Unfortunately, the English version of this story has been filtered through the lenses of the publishers at the American Psychological Association, who have focused the themes of the book around it being "a story about self-expression". Now don't get me wrong: as an artist myself, I know all about the importance of self-expression. And certainly, self-expression is one of the themes of this book. However, the APA seems to think it is the *only* theme of this book, and has used a translated version that seems to support this theme by altogether omitting several beautiful sentences and phrases that don't seem to connect to self-expression but do support the creation of Lestrade's beautiful world. Granted, I have also not read the original-language version, but I find it hard to imagine the Chinese translators adding sentences that simply didn't exist in the original. They wouldn't have much reason to do that. I also know that translating is not (or at least should not be!) a direct, word-for-word endeavor. However, the omission of entire sentences is not translating. As such, in a book that is not made of many words to begin with, and in a book that focuses on the economy of words, I find it strange that the English translation would fail to stay true to the original words of the book. Perhaps the APA didn't have the money to buy them? Or perhaps the APA didn't have the academic wealth to let the story just speak for itself instead of hitting people over their heads with "self-expression".
Translation aside, the book has been very inspiring for me personally. Its quiet messages of perseverance, creative communication, survival, and self-value carry a lot of resonance. The pictures alone speak volumes. But dammit, I think I need to go learn French now. ;-)
January 31, 2017
This is a little, adorable book.
Aside from the stunning illustrations, its greatest power lies in the message.
In a word where people have to buy words from shops (the longest, elaborated the word, the highest the price), Phileas takes the few, wrong, humble words he has and gives them a greater, deeper meaning, making Cybele understand what he feels for her.
Because when love is real, it goes beyond words.
**********************************************
~Recensione in italiano~
Oltre alle meravigliose illustrazioni, la vera forza di questo libro sta nel suo messaggio.
In un mondo in cui le parole devono essere comprate in appositi negozi (più lunga ed elaborata è la parola, più alto è il suo prezzo), Phileas riuscirà a toccare il cuore di Cybele usando solo le poche parole di cui dispone, per quanto umili e 'sbagliate' possano sembrare.
Perchè quando l'amore è vero, non ha bisogno di parole.
Aside from the stunning illustrations, its greatest power lies in the message.
In a word where people have to buy words from shops (the longest, elaborated the word, the highest the price), Phileas takes the few, wrong, humble words he has and gives them a greater, deeper meaning, making Cybele understand what he feels for her.
Because when love is real, it goes beyond words.
**********************************************
~Recensione in italiano~
Oltre alle meravigliose illustrazioni, la vera forza di questo libro sta nel suo messaggio.
In un mondo in cui le parole devono essere comprate in appositi negozi (più lunga ed elaborata è la parola, più alto è il suo prezzo), Phileas riuscirà a toccare il cuore di Cybele usando solo le poche parole di cui dispone, per quanto umili e 'sbagliate' possano sembrare.
Perchè quando l'amore è vero, non ha bisogno di parole.
March 16, 2011
Thw whole time I'm reading this book, I'm thinking that it is a great concept and sweetly done, but something is just off. Yeah, the subtitle is insipid. Okay, the illustrations are about words, and the words are largely in French, but that's just a quirk of translation. Then the end... wow what a horrid little lecture from the American Psychological Association. Now I get it. Thanks to other reviewers on Goodreads I learn a little history of the book and how the American edition is skewed by the APA and not really true to the original. I guess that's what is great about reading in a community.
September 21, 2017
Lovely. Brilliant concept, gorgeous illustrations. I do have one complaint, however: The translated title and subtitle are uninspired. This book was not originally written in English and has been translated in several languages ... I wish I could read those versions. In my opinion, "Phileas's Fortune" isn't powerful enough to lend credence to the concept of the book. And the subtitle reads like self-help, which is a shame. The subtitle alone would have discouraged me from buying it had it not been given a great recommendation by a friend in Italy. I'm so pleased I bought it, even for the illustrations alone.
May 12, 2014
Освен великолепните (винаги!) рисунки на Valeria Docampo (Argentina), в тази книга се къта история, която наистина ще прочитам много пъти оттук насетне. Благодарна съм, че я имам. И, пет звездички изобщо не ми стигат.
April 26, 2017
yeğenime vermeden okudum, tek kelimeyle: şahane!
May 1, 2019
Wat een idee om woorden te moeten kopen. En toch ga je nadenken want veel woorden hebben weinig betekenis. Mocht je woorden moeten kopen, dan ga je veel voorzichtiger om met wat je wil zeggen ...Ik zou een heel schatkist aan centen nodig hebben. De prachtige prenten geven het verhaal een gans ander gegeven. Een boekje om eens dieper over na te denken...
June 23, 2021
J’ai adoré le concept encore plus que le livre je crois. Le livre est bien, mais le concept est génial et devrait même être repris je crois pour un roman adulte. Un monde où l’on doit acheter les mots que l’on veut prononcer. Ceci laisse place à une belle réflexion ou discussion.
November 2, 2017
#expression #creativity
January 14, 2022
Adorei a arte e o texto, recomendo a todas as idades. Para nos lembrarmos do que é importante.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews












![Profile Image for Anna [Floanne].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1566911038i/4459724._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
















