La Milléclat dorée

by Benjamin Flouw

Renard est un amoureux de la nature. Dans son salon, il collectionne les plantes et les livres de botanique. Un soir, il découvre dans l’un d’eux l’existence d’une fleur mystérieuse : la milléclat dorée. Très rare, elle ne pousse que dans la montagne et personne n’a encore eu la chance de l’observer. Il n’en faut pas plus à Renard pour se lancer : voilà la grande aventure qu’il attendait ! Demain, il s’enfoncera dans la montagne à sa recherche ! (Résumé de l'éditeur)

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Childrens, Animals, Adventure, Summer, Science

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about the beauty and diversity of Nature. Fox love plants and while reading an old botany book, he finds a flower called The Golden Glow. He was not familiar with this flower, so decides he is going to head off to find one. I like how the author and illustrator labeled some of their illustrations. While packing for his trip, trees and flowers along the way with their seeds and leaves are all labeled. He meets up with some friends along the way who help him in his quest. He finally finds the flower he was looking for up on the top of the mountain. He decided that it was so beautiful, that he should leave it where it was. He observed it, drew it, labeled it and put it in his book for others to see. A book showing appreciation of nature in a simple form. It could be read to a class beginning a unit on plants and animals, studying the environment and how to protect it as well as those who just love plants, flowers and trees. My grandson noticed that most of the illustrations were done with geometric shapes. The story did not interest him as much as the illustrations, but he is only 4. I think this book would be good to read to primary aged children up to about 10 or 11. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads ha cambiado la forma de añadir libros así que hay cuatro libros de niños en catalán que me faltan por meter, a ver si me hacen caso y los incluyen en la base de datos. Este también lo leí en catalán pero no me apetece ponerme a meter la edición porque ahora es un engorro hacerlo así que, imaginaos que el título es "A la recerca de la flor milesclats daurada" lol

Este cuento me gustó, el arte era bonito y la historia cuqui. Creo que estos cuentos de niños se intentan vender como una santa historia sobre el ecologismo y no sé qué para que los padres lo compren y tampoco es eso, es una historia sin más de un zorro buscando una flor y that's okay!

Palabras aprendidas:
Guillot: Zorro
Cercar: Buscar
Fullejar: Hojear
Guarnir: Adornar
Raïm: Uva
Forats: Agujeros
Roure: Roble
Roig: Rojo
Auró: Arce
Lárix: Alerce
Soques: Tocón (de árbol)
Enlloc: En ninguna parte
Flaire: Olor
Costerut: Empinada
Potetes: Patitas
Xiulet: Silbato
Gambades: Zancadas
Cotonosos: Algodonosos
A les palpentes: A tientas
Pugir: Subir
Amunt: Arriba
Alçada: Altura
Creix: Crece
Gerro: Jarrón
Fulla: Hoja
Capsa: Caja

[Sophie Snowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful picture book which has such strong links to the outdoors, and outdoor learning. This book offers a variety of text, including longer narratives, something which really adds to the contemporary pictures. On the journey up the mountain fox encounters many characters who point him in the right direction to his destination.
This book invites us to take in the outdoors more, appreciating the real beauty of it. It shows a need for caring for the environment and a determination to reach your destination no matter what challenges occur.
A great book which I can't wait to share with children

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox goes on a nature trek in search of the elusive golden glow flower. Both reader, and listener may actually even learn something if they're not careful.

I'm somewhat torn on the illustrations. The backgrounds are gorgeous, but I wasn't a fan of the cubist-looking animals.



That aside, it's a lovely book.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox loves nature. He is startled to learn that there is a flower he has never seen. He sets off in search of it.

Along the way, Fox shares a little of his knowledge about trees and flowers and mountain zones and even plant parts.

It's a lovely little story.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of texts arising these days which bend the picturebook concept. These fusion texts, which bring together aspects of literary forms, offer us new windows into the shape and style of children’s literature. With The Golden Glow, Flouw presents a synergy between picturebook, information text and picture book in exceeding the 32 page format through longer stretches of narrative (well translated by Morelli and Ouriou).

The Golden Glow tells the story of an anthropomorphic botanist fox who seeks out the forenamed plant missing from his botany books. On his journey up the mountain, he encounters several anthropomorphic guides who point him upon the right path. Much like the scene in which the keyhole reveals itself to Bilbo in the Hobbit, Fox discovers the Golden Glow much to his delight and instead of plucking it and taking it home to place in a vase, he chooses to sketch and study it knowing that its place there is more important.

A celebration of the nature lover which one hopes resides in all of us, The Golden Glow invites us to take in deep breaths as we walk through the pine mountains of Flouw’s polygon world. Whilst white spaces envelop the inside, plenty of earthy, warm colours flood the pages when we go outside. The fusion text presents us with single and double page spreads alongside informative, labelled spreads which display Fox’s expeditionary inventory, flower sketches, heights of mountains and list of plants. The book becomes part imaginary field-guide and part story.

I found this a wonderful ode to respecting the natural world and discovering it too. A book for our times.

[Mahdiye Fateh · Rating 4 out of 5]

این هم یک بدبختی دیگر است که یک گل طلایی روی قله ی یک کوه دور داشته باشی.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A keen amateur botanist and hiker, Fox is absolutely delighted to discover the existence of "the Golden Glow," a flower so rare it has never been sketched or photographed. Setting out on a quest to find this flower and add it to his collection, Fox is aided in his search by Bear, Marmot and Mountain Goat, eventually arriving at the summit of the nearby mountain. Here he discovers the much-sought flower, but decides to leave it in its pristine alpine state, sketching it instead of picking (and thereby killing) it...

Originally published in France as La Milléclat dorée, and translated into English by the Toronto-based Kids Can Press, The Golden Glow is author/illustrator Benjamin Flouw's first book, but I certainly hope it won't be his last! The story is engaging, managing to be both informative - there are pages where different kinds of trees and flowers encountered by Fox on his hike are identified - and entertaining as well. The artwork, created using both digital and painted elements, has an immensely appealing collage-style charm, reminding at times of Jon Klassen. Recommended to all young would-be botanists and/or fox lovers, and to anyone looking for interesting new picture-books in translation.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Golden Glow is a story about a fox who loves botany (originally published in French). One day he goes off in search of "the golden glow" -- a very rare flower, which (he is eventually told) can only be found at the very top of the mountain.

The story takes its time in reaching this destination (though it's not draggy or overly wordy), including informational pages here and there featuring topics such as items for hiking preparedness, common flowers, trees, mountain elevation zones, etc.

I liked the illustrations, especially the color palette, though the "angular" way that most things are drawn is interesting considering how sleekness and curves seem to be the order of the day.

Ultimately I appreciated the message of the story, which is that nature appreciation doesn't need to mean possessing everything we find, especially items that are rare and beautiful. I also thought this story avoided the common pitfall of presenting important ideas in a didactic way.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)

[Amber Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Golden Glow was a quiet, beautiful story of a fox on a mission to find the golden glow flower to keep for himself. As he went on his trek, he passed through many trees, mountains, flowers and friends. When he finally reached the golden glow flower, he realized that it needed to stay where it was and he drew it carefully in his journal instead, so he could remember it and his journey always instead of for a short period of time in a vase. The story offered multiple teaching points including parts of a flower, zones of a mountain, flowers, trees, animals and more. I could think of many ways to use this book during a school year.
This is a book that I can see just sharing for fun, but also being able to have teachable moments ingrained in it. It demonstrates the value of caring for nature and respecting it's place.

[SilverNediya · Rating 4 out of 5]

حتی 4ونیم ستاره
نقاشی‌هاش: بعضیاشون انگار اوریگامی بودن و بعضیا هم کاغذ دوبعدی‌برش‌خورده
^-^

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about a fox who has a curious spirit and a love of nature. Perfect for anyone interested in the outdoors and science, and with darling illustrations to boot!

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.75)

[Siusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Golden Glow is a very good allegory for leave no trace. This picture book was a cute and fun read. Fox goes on a camping trip to find and collect a flower that he doesn’t even have a picture of. His friends help him along the way. When he finally discovers the flower he has to make a decision whether to collect the flower or leave it. The illustrations that accompany the story are absolutely beautiful. The colors are bright and the geometricity of the characters and scenery are very appealing. The Golden Glow is a great story for any little (or even big) outdoors person in your life.

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As fox rests in his den he is shocked that his botany book does not include an illustration for the rare golden glow flower. He plans an expedition to find it. It takes him across various ecosystems where he can identify all the trees and flowers. With the help of other animals he reaches the elusive flower and records it for his botany book.

I love that Fox decides to leave the flower in its habitat. I wish more people left nature alone.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Golden Glow' by Benjamin Flouw with translation by Christelle Morelli and Susan Ouriou is a wonderful picture book about nature and finding the unusual.

Fox enjoys looking through his botany books looking for new plants to add to his collection. One day he finds a plant called the Golden Glow and he must add it to his collection, so he gathers up supplies he'll need for the hike and sets out in search of the elusive flower. Along the way, he meets friends like Bear and Marten who will guide him to the elusive flower. Will he find the flower and what will he do once he finds it?

The book is filled with delightful papercut illustrations. I liked the category pages of the supplies Fox takes and the pictures of various trees and flowers. The story is wonderful as well with its gently unfolding story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Tundra Books, Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Jackie Ostrowicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual little childrens' book with wonderful illustrations (mixture of digital painting and hand-painting techniques) and a good lesson about preserving beauty. There is some neat foiling in the printing technique on the cover and in the page that shows the golden glow, a mysterious flower that the amateur botanist. Mr. Fox, is looking to catalog. Uses specific learning language throughout--"botany", "specimen", "pate", names of flower parts (stamen, pistil, etc), types of trees and their leaves/fruit (I wasn't aware of the larch), types of mountain flowers (saxifrage, avens, sorrel) and different zones of a mountain (foothill, montane, subalpine). Mixes in topography (on end papers) and naturalist language with a fun storyline. Translated from French.

[Alex Matzkeit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bilderbücher mit Mission fallen häufig in die pädagogische Falle, allzuviel Wert auf das Übermitteln ihrer Message zu legen und dabei alles andere zu vergessen. Das ist hier nicht der Fall, es ist einfach eine schön erzählte und angenehm anders illustrierte und schön gestaltete milde Abenteuergeschichte über einen Fuchs, der eine Blume sucht und findet, die nebenbei ein bisschen Pflanzen- und Erdkunde vermittelt und für die Achtung vor der Natur sensibilisiert. Wegen der Aufzählung der vielen Items und dem Fuchs im Regenmantel als Hauptfigur hat das Buch irgendwie starke Wes-Anderson-Vibes bei mir ausgelöst.

[BrookesEducationLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly beautiful picture book about Fox, a big fan of botany who can name all the trees and flowers he finds around him until he comes across a flower in a book that has no image, he decides to set off to find it himself. A celebration of the beauty of nature and a message encouraging exploration and a respect for the outdoors.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gorgeously illustrated book. Perfect for little (or big) botanists, with natural science gently woven into its warm imagery. Adorable anthropomorphized characters grace the pages (I love how Mountain goat was a jeans wearing, rock climbing book reader). This is Flouw's first book. I look forward to anything else he decides to publish.

[sylas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet with lovely illustrations. Admire and remember the flora, don’t take it home.

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox is in search of a fabulously fascinating flower, the golden glow. A lovely story for nature lovers!

[Azin · Rating 3 out of 5]

روباهی به قصد پیدا کردن یک گل زیبا و کمیاب راهی کوهستان میشه..


پایان بندی کتاب خیلی خوب بود..
همینطور، تلاش و پشتکار روباه هم میتونه به بچه ها انگیزه بده و براشون آموزنده باشه!

[Lea Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Suche nach dem Schönen, seltenen und aussergewöhnlichen lässt Fuchs auf den hohen Gipfel steigen.

Verschiedene Tiere trifft Fuchs auf dem Weg.
Und was passiert wohl, wenn Fuchs die Blume auch wirklich findet?

Sehr schön illustriert, mit tollen Inhalten für die jungen Outdoor-AbenteurerInnen, die ihnen die Basics (Bäume, Blumen, Ausrüstung, Höhenzonen) beibringt.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When fox finds a rare plant in his botany book called the Golden Glow he has to add it to his collection. As we follow fox on his quest we learn about trees, flowers, animals and the mountainside. At the very top, when the sun sets, he finds his treasure. Instead of taking it he draws a picture of it. Beautiful illustrations accompany this touching story about caring and loving the beauty of nature.

[Katie Mote · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book about the adventure of a Fox going in search of a plant. I love how the author has clearly researched well and the book is full of little facts that can be shared with children. Showing them how discovering about nature can be exciting and interesting. The Fox sets out on an adventure and we see how he searches high and low to find the golden flower and doesn't given up until he finds it. This could spark good discussions with children about what they want to discover, what they would do in search of what they wanted and not give up until they reached the end.

[Nostalgia Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about appreciating and respecting nature and exploring and learning about your natural surroundings.

Fox is looking through a book on botany one day and reads about the rare Golden Glow flower. He decides he’s going to try and find it, and after carefully packing all the supplies he needs, he sets off up the mountain. Along the way, he meets other animal friends who help him find where the Golden Glow might be. The ending teaches the “Leave No Trace” mantra and that it’s more rewarding to preserve nature than to take it for yourself.

The illustrations were very pretty, with vibrant colors and angular shapes that really complimented the mountain setting of the book. I also liked how there were multiple pages that named the different types of trees and flowers, the parts of a flower, and proper backpacking/hiking gear. I can easily see this being a hit in National Park gift/book shops, or as a book to teach during natural science units in grade school (especially if field trips to parks, arboretums, or other natural lands are planned!).

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!

(Cross posted on my blog.)

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure this a fine book for someone who likes to read about journeys, but I hate journey books.

Having said that, this a quiet story of one fox's quest for a flower so elusive that no one has ever seen a picture of it. So, does he take his camera? No. He takes his note pad, because of course, that will be enough to prove he has seen the flower.

As he walks, we get to know about the animals and plants that he sees along the way. I'm not sure where this story takes place, but I recognize the plants he names, and have seen them growing, although some, like forget-me-nots are an invasive species that will take over.

It is a quiet sort of story. I'm not sure if I could walk 6000Ft in one day, but then I am not a fox.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Golden Glow is a really lovely book about a Fox who has a keen interest in botany who sets out to find a rare flower. Every night he reads through his botany book and one night he finds an entry about a flower called the Golden Glow, but there is no picture! It only lives on the highest peaks and it will be a difficult journey but Fox is well prepared.
The illustrations are beautiful and I love that several pages are set up like a guidebook. Fox is a wonderful character and I really like that he decided to record the flower in his book but leave it in nature where it belongs.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful and unique book! Mr. Fox decides to go hiking in the mountains to see if he can find a rare flower he has read about. Along the way, the reader is introduced to different educational content about animals and nature and the conclusion reminds us all to show respect for our amazing world! I loved the simplistic, geometric feeling illustrations. This is a gem of a book!