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Mile End #1
Colette's Lost Pet
A charming and funny story about navigating new places and friendships. Perfect for fans of Uni the Unicorn and Sparky.
Colette is exploring her new neighborhood and wants to make friends. But when she encounters someone her age she’s never met before, she doesn’t know what to say—so she hastily invents a lost pet! Things spiral a bit out of control as a neighborhood-wide search party is assembled and Colette makes her pet bird more amazing with each telling. Will the neighborhood kids catch on to her ever-growing fib?
This charming story both clearly identifies the struggle of navigating a different experience and demonstrates to kids a lovely and welcoming way to treat someone new in their community.
Colette is exploring her new neighborhood and wants to make friends. But when she encounters someone her age she’s never met before, she doesn’t know what to say—so she hastily invents a lost pet! Things spiral a bit out of control as a neighborhood-wide search party is assembled and Colette makes her pet bird more amazing with each telling. Will the neighborhood kids catch on to her ever-growing fib?
This charming story both clearly identifies the struggle of navigating a different experience and demonstrates to kids a lovely and welcoming way to treat someone new in their community.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published May 23, 2017
1 person is currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Isabelle Arsenault
49 books258 followersIsabelle Arsenault is a French-Canadian artist and illustrator. Born in Sept-Iles, Quebec in 1978, she studied Graphic Design at the Université du Québec à Montréal (2001). After her studies, she quickly contributed to several magazines in Canada and the United-States. In 2004, Isabelle illustrated her first children's book, for which she received the prestigious Governor General's Award for children's literature in French (illustration). Her passion for illustrated books has led her more and more to continue pursuing this path. Since then, she was a finalist on two other occasions for the GG's ("My Letter to the World", "Migrant"), finalist for the Marilyn Baillie Award in 2011 ("Spork") and her book "Migrant" is among the 10 best illustrated books of 2011 according to The New York Times. In 2012, she received her second Governor General's Award for the illustrations of "Virginia Wolf" in addition to winning Le Prix jeunesse des libraires du Québec for "Fourchon" (French version of "Spork").
Isabelle, who enjoys working intuitively, adopts an approach to her work that is inspired by the projects she is given. Her style is infused with sensitivity and finesse. It attracts the attention of the young as much as that of older people, who can sometimes have a more in-depth understanding of it.
Isabelle Arsenault lives and works in Montreal.
___________________________________
Isabelle Arsenault est une illustratrice formée en Design graphique à l'Université du Québec à Montréal (2001). Elle collabore ensuite rapidement à plusieurs magazines au Canada et aux États-Unis. En 2004, elle illustre son premier livre pour enfants qui remportera l'année suivante le prestigieux Prix du Gouverneur général dans la catégorie illustration jeunesse de langue française ("Le coeur de Monsieur Gauguin"). Sa passion pour les livres illustrés la mènera à s'orienter davantage dans cette voie. Depuis, elle a été finaliste à deux reprises pour les Prix GG ("My letter to the world", "Migrant"), finaliste en 2011 pour le prix Marilyn Baillie ("Spork") et son livre "Migrant" se retrouve parmi la liste des 10 meilleurs livres illustrés de l'année 2011 du New York Times. En 2012, elle remporte son deuxième Prix Littéraire du Gouverneur Général pour les illustrations du livre "Virginia Wolf" ainsi que le Prix jeunesse des libraires du Québec pour "Fourchon".
Isabelle aime travailler de façon intuitive, s'inspirant des projets qu'on lui propose pour établir son approche graphique. Son style est empreint de sensibilité et de finesse. Il accroche autant le regard du jeune public que celui des plus âgés qui eux, pourront y percevoir parfois un deuxième niveau de lecture.
Isabelle Arsenault travaille et vit à Montréal.
Isabelle, who enjoys working intuitively, adopts an approach to her work that is inspired by the projects she is given. Her style is infused with sensitivity and finesse. It attracts the attention of the young as much as that of older people, who can sometimes have a more in-depth understanding of it.
Isabelle Arsenault lives and works in Montreal.
___________________________________
Isabelle Arsenault est une illustratrice formée en Design graphique à l'Université du Québec à Montréal (2001). Elle collabore ensuite rapidement à plusieurs magazines au Canada et aux États-Unis. En 2004, elle illustre son premier livre pour enfants qui remportera l'année suivante le prestigieux Prix du Gouverneur général dans la catégorie illustration jeunesse de langue française ("Le coeur de Monsieur Gauguin"). Sa passion pour les livres illustrés la mènera à s'orienter davantage dans cette voie. Depuis, elle a été finaliste à deux reprises pour les Prix GG ("My letter to the world", "Migrant"), finaliste en 2011 pour le prix Marilyn Baillie ("Spork") et son livre "Migrant" se retrouve parmi la liste des 10 meilleurs livres illustrés de l'année 2011 du New York Times. En 2012, elle remporte son deuxième Prix Littéraire du Gouverneur Général pour les illustrations du livre "Virginia Wolf" ainsi que le Prix jeunesse des libraires du Québec pour "Fourchon".
Isabelle aime travailler de façon intuitive, s'inspirant des projets qu'on lui propose pour établir son approche graphique. Son style est empreint de sensibilité et de finesse. Il accroche autant le regard du jeune public que celui des plus âgés qui eux, pourront y percevoir parfois un deuxième niveau de lecture.
Isabelle Arsenault travaille et vit à Montréal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
December 19, 2017
I have just read Louis Undercover, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, and loved it. Previously I had read Jane, the Fox and Me, also illustrated by Arsenault, and My Letter to the World (illustrated Emily Dickinson poems), and see what these have in common: Pencil-sketched and subtly water-colored or colored-pencilled drawings. The color for me stands out as a kind of signature.
Color is a feature of Colette's Lost Pet. A girl moves into a neighborhood, her mother says she can't have a pet, she meets neighborhood kids and tells them she is missing her pet. . . parakeet, she says. The invention (okay, lie) turns into an adventure where everyone plays along.
This is maybe 3.75 for me, really. And you are going to think this is a stretch, but it reminds me of the point of the film Lars and the Real Girl, where a guy inventing a girlfriend gets accepted and loved in the act of his invention (okay, lie). Community gets created when people just accept him, as the kids accept Collette. Is it true? Is she crazy? Set that aside and just go with it, and her. Factual reality is less important here than friendship, and fantasy.
Color is a feature of Colette's Lost Pet. A girl moves into a neighborhood, her mother says she can't have a pet, she meets neighborhood kids and tells them she is missing her pet. . . parakeet, she says. The invention (okay, lie) turns into an adventure where everyone plays along.
This is maybe 3.75 for me, really. And you are going to think this is a stretch, but it reminds me of the point of the film Lars and the Real Girl, where a guy inventing a girlfriend gets accepted and loved in the act of his invention (okay, lie). Community gets created when people just accept him, as the kids accept Collette. Is it true? Is she crazy? Set that aside and just go with it, and her. Factual reality is less important here than friendship, and fantasy.
February 15, 2018
5 star illustrations, we love Isabelle Arsenault's drawing, she is so talented, and the colours are great, pencil drawn with yellow and a small amount of blue. As with Jane, the Fox and Me, the expressions are very good and you can read the children's emotions.
The story was okay. A girl moves to a new neighbourhood, she is told she cannot have a pet and should go and explore. When another child asks what she is doing she pretends she has lost her pet so off they go on a quest to find it, meeting other children on the way who join the search. It was repetitive and when the other children go to so much trouble to help her find her pet only to find out she had made the story up, it would have been more realistic if they had been a bit fed up rather than thinking she had a cool imagination ! I'd give the story 3 stars.
The story was okay. A girl moves to a new neighbourhood, she is told she cannot have a pet and should go and explore. When another child asks what she is doing she pretends she has lost her pet so off they go on a quest to find it, meeting other children on the way who join the search. It was repetitive and when the other children go to so much trouble to help her find her pet only to find out she had made the story up, it would have been more realistic if they had been a bit fed up rather than thinking she had a cool imagination ! I'd give the story 3 stars.
January 4, 2019
I read the French version of this book titled L'oiseau de Colette, but whatever translation it appears in, this children's book is simply A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E !!! I'm a longtime huge fan of Isabelle Arsenault, a local Montreal illustrator who has justly acquired worldly acclaim for her signature style which is often described as poetic.
In this story, little Colette has just moved to the Mile-End neighbourhood, where there are many alleyways for kids to safely run around and congregate for playtime, when the weather permits (Arsenault and her own young children live there, which is no mere coincidence). At the start of the book, she is categorically told that she is to have NO HOUSEPETS! and Colette is despondent as she kicks one of the empty moving cartons and makes her way to the alley, but soon she encounters a couple of kids, and having just seen a bird in flight, in a moment of inspiration asks them whether they've seen her lost bird. They say they haven't but perhaps the next kid over has, and as the story progresses, more and more children get involved in the search for the imaginary bird and details about the bird in question are spontaneously added from Colette's fertile mind.
The illustrations are mostly in grey tones, with touches of yellow for Colette's raincoat and for the bird, which appears with more and more frequency and becomes the subject of an unbelievable tale which the children seem happy to go along with. A truly charming story, both penned and illustrated by Arsenault, who will be creating a series of children's Mile-End stories.
In this story, little Colette has just moved to the Mile-End neighbourhood, where there are many alleyways for kids to safely run around and congregate for playtime, when the weather permits (Arsenault and her own young children live there, which is no mere coincidence). At the start of the book, she is categorically told that she is to have NO HOUSEPETS! and Colette is despondent as she kicks one of the empty moving cartons and makes her way to the alley, but soon she encounters a couple of kids, and having just seen a bird in flight, in a moment of inspiration asks them whether they've seen her lost bird. They say they haven't but perhaps the next kid over has, and as the story progresses, more and more children get involved in the search for the imaginary bird and details about the bird in question are spontaneously added from Colette's fertile mind.
The illustrations are mostly in grey tones, with touches of yellow for Colette's raincoat and for the bird, which appears with more and more frequency and becomes the subject of an unbelievable tale which the children seem happy to go along with. A truly charming story, both penned and illustrated by Arsenault, who will be creating a series of children's Mile-End stories.
November 30, 2017
Wow! Un de mes coups de coeur à date, j'ai adoré le thème de l'imagination débordante des enfants (qui me suit encore), le dessin, le traitement de la couleur.
Colette vient de déménager, à Montréal, et elle a perdu son oiseau domestique et demande timidement aux enfants de sa nouvelle ruelle de l'aider à la retrouver. De pages en pages, une nouvelle caractéristique s'ajoute pour demander aux autres s'ils ne l'auraient pas vue : c'est une perruche; elle est bleue et jaune; elle s'appelle comme ça; elle fait ce son-là; etc. C'est le fun, car les enfants peuvent s'amuser à répéter cette phrase avec nous. Plus ça va, plus on se rend compte que l'oiseau de Colette est « probablement » un ami imaginaire. Il y a cette pleine page, avec les regards des autres enfants de la ruelle qui ont l'air de vouloir dire « tu nous a niaisé tout ce temps? ». Mais finalement, non : tout le monde embarque, tout le monde a hâte de continuer à jouer et à inventer des histoires le demain.
Je pense le conseiller assez souvent; pour des enfants avec une imagination débordante; pour les parents qui cherchent un bel album avec un style d'illustration différent, qui aiment le roman graphique et voudrait y initier leur enfant. Les premières lectrices et lecteurs peuvent aussi le lire.
Colette vient de déménager, à Montréal, et elle a perdu son oiseau domestique et demande timidement aux enfants de sa nouvelle ruelle de l'aider à la retrouver. De pages en pages, une nouvelle caractéristique s'ajoute pour demander aux autres s'ils ne l'auraient pas vue : c'est une perruche; elle est bleue et jaune; elle s'appelle comme ça; elle fait ce son-là; etc. C'est le fun, car les enfants peuvent s'amuser à répéter cette phrase avec nous. Plus ça va, plus on se rend compte que l'oiseau de Colette est « probablement » un ami imaginaire. Il y a cette pleine page, avec les regards des autres enfants de la ruelle qui ont l'air de vouloir dire « tu nous a niaisé tout ce temps? ». Mais finalement, non : tout le monde embarque, tout le monde a hâte de continuer à jouer et à inventer des histoires le demain.
Je pense le conseiller assez souvent; pour des enfants avec une imagination débordante; pour les parents qui cherchent un bel album avec un style d'illustration différent, qui aiment le roman graphique et voudrait y initier leur enfant. Les premières lectrices et lecteurs peuvent aussi le lire.
February 2, 2019
Unhappy that she is not allowed to have a pet, and unsure of her welcome in her new neighborhood, Colette finds herself telling a bit of a fib about a lost pet parakeet when she unexpectedly encounters two boys from next door. Immediately concerned, they offer to help her find the lost bird, and the story grows in the telling as each new neighbor child is involved in the search. What will the kids do when they discover that Colette has made her lost pet up...?
Published simultaneously in Canada and the USA, Colette's Lost Pet is a sweet little book, one that addresses issues of isolation and inclusion, when moving to a new neighborhood, as well as the role of the imagination in make-believe play. I thought that the conclusion of the tale, in which Colette's new friends assume that they have been playing a game all along, was rather fortuitous, but leaving that aside, the story here rang true. The artwork, done in pencil, watercolor and ink, is charming, with Colette's yellow rain coat providing one of the few notes of color, and thereby making her the center of each panel. Recommended to fellow Isabel Arsenault fans, and to anyone looking for children's stories addressing the themes of fitting in with a new social circle, and using the imagination in one's play.
Published simultaneously in Canada and the USA, Colette's Lost Pet is a sweet little book, one that addresses issues of isolation and inclusion, when moving to a new neighborhood, as well as the role of the imagination in make-believe play. I thought that the conclusion of the tale, in which Colette's new friends assume that they have been playing a game all along, was rather fortuitous, but leaving that aside, the story here rang true. The artwork, done in pencil, watercolor and ink, is charming, with Colette's yellow rain coat providing one of the few notes of color, and thereby making her the center of each panel. Recommended to fellow Isabel Arsenault fans, and to anyone looking for children's stories addressing the themes of fitting in with a new social circle, and using the imagination in one's play.
September 27, 2019
Colette has moved to a new neighborhood and is told she cannot have a pet. Despondent, she kicks an empty box. Two boys ask what she is doing? Colette tells them she lost her pet parakeet. The boys offer to help her find her pet. Colette's fib grows larger with each new child who helps her find her lost parakeet. Will they figure out Colette's fib, or will they just play along with Colette's imagination?
The illustrations are drawn in colored pencil. The text is in speech bubbles. The story flows effortlessly. This book would be good for illustrating how fibs grow with imagination. It would also show a child being introduced into a new neighborhood with potential new friends. Recommended for first grade and up.
The illustrations are drawn in colored pencil. The text is in speech bubbles. The story flows effortlessly. This book would be good for illustrating how fibs grow with imagination. It would also show a child being introduced into a new neighborhood with potential new friends. Recommended for first grade and up.
June 17, 2017
A transportive story. I really like the band of kids who roam the neighborhood together, their own community, which reminds me of my own growing up. I think what happens here is that Colette longs for connection, and she's transported by that connection, and then she transports and connects everyone through her imagination.
June 9, 2017
So charming!
July 31, 2017
This book would have been much better and more realistic if the young protagonist hadn't lied to everyone in her neighborhood about losing her pet. If it were introduced as a game or make-believe or explicitly stated, then this story would be absolutely lovely and fun to share. Instead it introduces how to build new friendships based on a lie. I guess it would be good to start a conversation about the differences between lying and using your imagination, which is why I gave it 2 stars.
April 10, 2017
In this newest story from Arsenault, Colette's mother pushes her outside to explore her new neighborhood. Meeting kids her age, she tells them she's looking for lost parakeet. As the group of children searching for the lost bird grows, so do Colette's imaginative descriptions of her fictional pet. Here imagination and sharing allow a newcomer to build relationships in a new and unfamiliar place.
July 25, 2017
I was drawn to pick this up and read it by the fantastic use of color in illustrations. This is beautifully designed, and it's really a joy to just flip through. The contrast of yellow on black and white illustrations is fun and helps with the story. Colette has recently moved to a new neighborhood, and she gets a bit, well, imaginative to her new neighbors, and they all help her try to find a lost parakeet (or really?). There's a lot of fun in the adventure, and the kids are fun to follow on it as the story is told through their conversations in speech bubbles. I had a fun feeling in reading through this, and again, the illustrations are fantastic!
May 30, 2017
One of my top five favorite picture books of the year. The astonishingly good illustrator Isabelle Arsenault not only drew Colette's Lost Pet she wrote it, too. Children will find the story relatable and interesting. Book collector's and graphic design/book illustrators will devour it. I wish all picture books were of this caliber. Just wonderful.
May 17, 2022
Υπέροχη εικονογράφηση, ευφυές κείμενο 💛
June 3, 2024
Yalanla təxəyyül arasındakı sərhəd haqqında maarifləndirici uşaq hekayəsi.
December 9, 2016
A cute story about a little girl who moves to a new neighbourhood and is scared and nervous about meeting new friends. When Colette meets some kids in her new neighbourhood, she panics and invents a lost parakeet. The children keep suggesting new places to look and new people to ask. Colette quickly meets several new friends while discovering her neighbourhood. Her story gets bigger and bigger until it is obvious she is making it up. Her new friends accept her imaginary pet and want to learn more about their adventures. This is a story about making new friends, accepting people and treating them the way you want to be treated. Simple illustrations in darker shades with pops of colour demonstrating an urban neighbourhood. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
May 4, 2017
A delightful story with wonderful illustrations that make great use of color.
February 25, 2017
Isabelle Arsenault's first foray as both author AND illustrator is about a group of kids living in Montreal's very cool Mile End neighbourhood. This first book in a projected series reads like a hip, modern Sesame Street. Colette is new in town and invents a pet in order to win over potential friends, only to have her lie take on a life of its own. Montreal's urban setting is presented in smudgy black and white with light touches of pastel colour. Told in a series of graphic novel like panels and more traditional single and double spreads, this is a wonderful new Canadian picture book series.
November 27, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a galley proof of this title from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
An imaginary pet takes on mythical qualities when a girl asks for help finding her pet. Beautiful artwork. Recommended.
An imaginary pet takes on mythical qualities when a girl asks for help finding her pet. Beautiful artwork. Recommended.
September 9, 2018
Assolutamente delizioso.
March 18, 2019
RATING: 4.5 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
I love the illustrations and the story! A must for every kid's bookshelf.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
(Review Not on Blog)
I love the illustrations and the story! A must for every kid's bookshelf.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
December 25, 2020
This story would appeal to a young child. Most of the illustrations did not excite me, but are fitting and understandable to a child.
June 10, 2017
Colette has moved to a new neighborhood and her parents won’t let her have a pet. She angrily kicks a box over the fence and meets some new kids. Colette wants to be friends but doesn’t have any good answer for them when they ask what she is doing, so she invents a pet that she has lost, a parakeet. The children take her to meet other neighbors who can help her find her pet. One after another the children help and then Colette adds to her fib. Her pet soon has specific colors, a name, a sound it makes, and a poster to help find it. Then Colette’s fib grows into a full-blown story. How will the others react when they realize she’s made the entire thing up?
Done in graphic novel style, this picture book is a delightful mix of a story about moving to a new place, the impact of telling lies and making new friends. Colette’s small fib grows far beyond what she had ever intended as she tries to cover up that she was frustrated and angry. With each new person involved, the lie builds to the find crescendo where it turns into something else entirely, something shared and wonderful despite how it all began.
The illustrations have a unique feel to them. They are done in blues and grays with pops of yellow in Colette’s jacket, small touches in the neighborhood and the color of her imaginary pet. This limited palette is beautifully done, the blues and yellows vibrant against the subtler grays.
A great graphic novel pick for young readers, this book looks at large themes with kindness and grace. Appropriate for ages 5-7.
Done in graphic novel style, this picture book is a delightful mix of a story about moving to a new place, the impact of telling lies and making new friends. Colette’s small fib grows far beyond what she had ever intended as she tries to cover up that she was frustrated and angry. With each new person involved, the lie builds to the find crescendo where it turns into something else entirely, something shared and wonderful despite how it all began.
The illustrations have a unique feel to them. They are done in blues and grays with pops of yellow in Colette’s jacket, small touches in the neighborhood and the color of her imaginary pet. This limited palette is beautifully done, the blues and yellows vibrant against the subtler grays.
A great graphic novel pick for young readers, this book looks at large themes with kindness and grace. Appropriate for ages 5-7.
December 6, 2017
Adorable ode à l'imagination des enfants, élégamment servie par l'incroyable trait d'Isabelle Arsenault. On notera aussi que les enfants ont des origines diverses, ce qui est toujours à noter comme la petite cerise sur le gâteau !
December 13, 2017
This is a really fun book celebrating imagination. It feels like a mix between a picture book and a graphic novel. It seems more aimed towards older children (older preschoolers and elementary students).
The ending was a surprise.
Kids enjoyed it and smiled at the bird’s descriptions.
The ending was a surprise.
Kids enjoyed it and smiled at the bird’s descriptions.
September 21, 2020
Un magnifique album aux illustrations très touchantes (ça m’a rappelé Jane, le renard et moi) et au propos tout aussi beau. On y aborde la belle naïveté de la jeunesse.
June 10, 2017
a little white lie gets out of hand as young colette explores her new neighbourhood and meets new friends. i enjoyed this thoroughly! so many textures in the pencil/charcoal-heavy drawings.
February 2, 2020
Colette's Lost Pet by Isabelle Arsenault, PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2017. $18. 97805535369591
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Colette has just moved into a new neighborhood, so when her mother sends her out exploring and she meets some new friends they help her look for the "pet" she said she lost. Each new friend asks a question and Colette adds a detail, soon the whole neighborhood is looking for her lost parakeet, but as the description of the bird becomes rather, well, unusual, her friends get more and more interested - do they know she's inventing this pet?
Arsenault's delightful story of getting to know new friends is beautifully illustrated in shades of yellow and grey (except for the bird of course). The story is graphic novel style with dialogue carrying the story, and makes a wonderful easy read.
Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Colette has just moved into a new neighborhood, so when her mother sends her out exploring and she meets some new friends they help her look for the "pet" she said she lost. Each new friend asks a question and Colette adds a detail, soon the whole neighborhood is looking for her lost parakeet, but as the description of the bird becomes rather, well, unusual, her friends get more and more interested - do they know she's inventing this pet?
Arsenault's delightful story of getting to know new friends is beautifully illustrated in shades of yellow and grey (except for the bird of course). The story is graphic novel style with dialogue carrying the story, and makes a wonderful easy read.
Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
November 13, 2017
The last three pages killed it for me. In reality, after the kids ask, “What about the snake? Yeah, was it good? etc...” they would be laughing, singing “liar, liar, pants on fire” and she would run home crying, slam the door and scream, “I hate this place! Why did we have to move?!” “Collete’s Lost Pet” would be fodder for the neighborhood bullies for years to come because kids are jerks. The children in this story, however, play along with Collette’s little white lie that spiraled out of control. I haven’t decided if this is just a sweet story filled with wishful thinking about how children should behave, or if it’s being intentionally subversive. I do like the illustrations, the fact that all these children are actually playing outside, and my little one liked finding the “bird”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2024
Colette accidentally/on-purpose pulls kids from her new neighborhood into a quest to find her imaginary bird. How will they react when they learn the parakeet they've been searching for
A spiraling story with cute, simple illustrations (more graphic novel style than picture book) and an interesting twist on the morality of childhood imagination.
A spiraling story with cute, simple illustrations (more graphic novel style than picture book) and an interesting twist on the morality of childhood imagination.
March 27, 2018
Imagination wins in this picture book of a children’s community in the city. Great for 1st or 2nd graders learning about the mystery genre, and for a discussion about honesty/truth telling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews