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Perdu

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Perdu é um cão perdido e sozinho à procura de um lugar a que sinta pertencer. Nada mais carrega além de um velho lenço vermelho. Uma folha desperta a sua curiosidade e vai levá-lo por uma viagem até à cidade.
Esta é uma história terna e comovente sobre a busca de um lugar a que sentimos pertencer.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2020

6 people are currently reading
108 people want to read

About the author

Richard Jones

23 books7 followers
Born in Warwickshire, Richard Jones has been living and working in Devon for over 20 years.

After graduating with a first class degree in Graphic Design and Illustration, he stayed on a little longer to complete a PhD. Richard’s style is something different, working with beautifully layered textures, he creates stand-out illustration, with a gentle, muted palette and memorable character design.

His illustrated books include; The Child of Dreams by Irena Brignull with Walker Books. Our Planet, The One Place We All Call Home, by Matt Whyman with Harper Collins and The Proper Way To Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems, edited by Paul Janeczko with Candlewick and Walker Books.

His picture book The Snow Lion, by Jim Helmore, published in 2017 with Simon and Schuster and has been published in 20 languages.

He has written and illustrated three picture books of his own, Perdu (2020), Little Bear (2021) and Where Have You Been, Little Cat? (August 2022)

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5 stars
70 (33%)
4 stars
97 (46%)
3 stars
37 (17%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for Gmr.
1,251 reviews
May 16, 2021
He's a wonderful little fellow with a red scarf to boot...but he's lost and alone which doesn't make for a comforting time! Though his travels take him near and far, a place to lay his head and rest his tired little feet seems hard to come by. After being chased from here and there, tired and hungry, ,he ends up at a little park...where it just so happens that a little girl with a big heart is about to return not only his lost red scarf, but a sense of security, and a heaping dose of love.

OH my, I was almost in tears reading this one! Though scant on words, the story, the images bring Perdu's plight to live and any animal lover will have their heart on their sleeve throughout the tale. I was so happy to see the little girl that had encountered little Perdu at various times throughout his journey appear before book's end. I just knew something GOOD was about to happen and the kindness she showed, the time she took, and the care she exuded were lessons to us all. It reminds us to take time to notice things around us, and care for more than simply ourselves. Even on our worst days, there's someone that may be worse off still, and showing a little kindness doesn't have to cost a thing.


**copy received for review; opinions are my own
Profile Image for Jenny.
3,372 reviews39 followers
August 28, 2022
Perdu is a little lost dog. He's searching for a home. His search and hunger lead him into a restaurant but he causes a mess and is yelled at. He growls and snarls and then runs. He is certain he'll never find a place to call home. Poor Perdu.

You don't want to read this if your child is begging for another pet, and you don't want another pet. This would leave one of my pet loving children in tears.
Profile Image for Summer.
18 reviews2 followers
October 1, 2022
Beautiful illustrations to show the loneliness of a dog trying to find a home. Potential for discussions about how emotions can result in behaviour - for example when Perdu gets scared, he barks (potential here to hide the words and have students decipher how the dog is feeling from his actions).
Lovely descriptive sections for descriptive writing.
Profile Image for Mathew.
1,560 reviews219 followers
November 15, 2020
Greeting us all alone on the cover, devoid of background of human presence is Perdu (French for ‘lost’). His story is one of loneliness and rejection as he looks for somewhere to call ‘home’. From night-time landscapes and cold wastelands to the suburban and city streets, no one seems to notice or care for the little lost dog with a red scarf around his neck.

Except perhaps for a little girl with a frizz of blond hair and red bobble hat who, much to her mother’s consternation, keeps wanting to go over to him. Eventually, fate brings them together at the very place in which we first meet him and a very special kinship is struck.

Jones’ picturebook is rich with visual patterns throughout and many of the illustrative devices used throughout reminded me so much of Alexis Deacon’s Beegu. A lovely, warm story for a cold, winter’s night.
Profile Image for Barbara.
15k reviews316 followers
December 20, 2020
Magnificent illustrations that were painted and then edited in Adobe Photoshop plunge readers right into the lonely life on the street of Perdu, a dog who has no one to love and no place to call his home. The details on a leaf that captures his attention and the attention the illustrator has given to Perdu's forlorn and increasingly despairing posture and facial expressions make this story even more heart-rending. When the story begins, Perdu is wandering in a field near a city, and it isn't clear how he came to be there. Perhaps someone left him behind accidentally or deliberately or perhaps he just wandered away. Nevertheless, now he is lost, and even things that were once familiar seem strange and dangerous. Young readers will be quick to note his little red scarf, and if they are observant, they will spot the little girl who pays attention to him as he wanders along the city streets. Increasingly tired, confused, and hungry, he is chased off by the humans around him. Except for the girl and her mother, they aren't shown, but they are heard through their reactions as "People growled and people barked" (unpaged), and chased him away. He becomes so frightened that he runs away. That observant and kind-hearted little girl tracks him down, returns the red scarf he's lost, and takes him home. Although the book doesn't include the conversations she must have had to persuade her mother that Perdu belongs with her, it's clear that she was successful in her arguments. The last page showing Perdu curled up in his very own bed alongside the little girl is a picture of contentment. Worth noting, of course, is the figure of a dog on the nightstand. Maybe this dog is one the little girl has long wished for, and maybe they will provide comfort to one another. Interestingly, throughout the story, she is the only one who pays any attention to him or his plight as the adults seem too busy or too preoccupied to bother with one lonely dog. This picture book could spark conversations about homelessness or treatment of animals or how Perdu ended up on the street. In the end, it's a relief that Perdu (French for lost) has been found and is safe off the streets.
Profile Image for Olivia.
3,746 reviews99 followers
March 19, 2021
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

PERDU is an ultimately hopeful picture book about a dog's search for home. Perdu is a lost dog without a home and all alone. He wanders into town to try to find a place he can fit, but he is rejected at every turn and told to get out and go away. After a scary mishap at a cafe, he snarls, growls, and barks and runs away so fast that he loses his scarf. That is when a young girl finds him and ultimately provides a home.

What I loved: The book is an interesting story about a dog's search for home, with an emphasis on feelings. Along these lines, the illustrations and their colors portray these feelings well. The ending is ultimately hopeful with Perdu finding a place to call home. The illustrations are really lovely throughout, capturing not only the story but also the emotions of Perdu along his journey. There is also an extra fun capture in that the girl appears earlier in the book, seeing Perdu as he travels the city, and giving a pleasant slant of a soon-to-be-friend throughout.

What left me wanting more: The book is a bit grim and subdued throughout, and some parts may be too much for sensitive readers who will not like the insults (eg, the people saying "horrible dog" to Perdu) and the fear, hunger, and anxiety that Perdu faces. However, with the positive ending, this may not trouble some readers.

Final verdict: A story with a hopeful ending, PERDU tells the tale of a dog's search for home. Lovely illustrations add to the appeal of this story.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Lisa.
2,621 reviews19 followers
April 8, 2021
Perdu is a little dog, lost in the rain and cold, and nothing but a red scarf to keep him warm. He decides to follow a wind-blown leaf through the woods, and finds himself in a city. Looking for a place to be, Perdu is chased away, but eventually ventures inside a cafe, but draws attention to himself when he pulls down a tablecloth, and he's chased away again with nothing to eat. He's having a hard time finding a place to be, perhaps someone will find him.

Lovely illustrations - I loved the peaceful woods and the contrast with the busy city. I really liked that Perdu was a dog - thinking dog things and acting like a dog. A sweet story about finding a forever home.

Cross posted to https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Profile Image for Noel.
111 reviews6 followers
September 2, 2021
Perdu is a tiny dog on a big journey. Lost and alone, he wanders into the big city and finds it not so inviting, especially for a scrawny mutt with a red scarf. As he begins to lose hope that he may find his place in this big world, along comes a girl who shows him compassion. Lovely story and a great reminder that all creatures big and small deserve love and kindness. The illustrations, though not vibrant, captured the smallness of Perdu so well. Look forward to reading more of his books.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Profile Image for Lindsey.
1,177 reviews24 followers
January 29, 2022
I don't generally review picture books on my profile any more (the number we read has just gotten too large!) but this one was just too cute to not recommend. Perdu is a little dog who, as the name suggests, is lost and has no home. As he searches, the pictures are telling a quiet story about a little child who is noticing the world around her. This was a great book for reading aloud and then having my preschooler tell me what was happening in the pictures to complete the story. The sweet illustrations compliment the story beautifully. Highly recommended for toddler, preschool, and early elementary readers!
22 reviews
July 31, 2020
De tekst is eenvoudig gehouden, maar er stroomt een zweempje van iets poëtisch doorheen en is expressief. Op elke pagina staan enkele zinnetjes en die zijn vrij groot gedrukt, zodat ze gemakkelijk voor te lezen zijn. De illustraties variëren van donker tot licht. Soms beslaan ze één pagina en soms een dubbele spread. ‘Remi, het eenzame hondje’ is een vertederend verhaal en zal door de fijne combinatie van tekst en tekeningen zeker weten te ontroeren. Op dit hondje zullen veel kinderen verliefd worden.
Profile Image for Rose Rosetree.
Author 15 books474 followers
December 31, 2023
In French, the word "perdu" means lost. Perfect name for the hero of this book. He's a lost dog, a puppy really. All he wants, and needs, is a place to call home.

Page after page, Perdu is sad and victimey, until the ending. It's just possible that a rescuer will come into his life.

RATING THIS BOOK

I'll give it FIVE STARS, on behalf of the intended audience. (Which definitely does not include me.)
1,334 reviews
March 17, 2021
A little dog, lost, wanders the countryside and then city until he finds his forever home.

Evocative language -- a leaf makes "a whispery tap on the water" -- pairs well-placed and simple sentences with compelling full-bleed illustrations to tell this ultimately heartwarming story. It's paced in such a way as to take the reader through a range of emotions including concern, fear, and anger before settling nicely with comfort.

Just lovely.
Profile Image for Andrea.
330 reviews
March 23, 2021
A very sweet story about a lost dog. I enjoyed the foreshadowing of where Perdu might end up in some of the earlier spreads. The illustrations are soft and heartwarming. Children who like dogs or have felt lonely may especially relate to this adventure.

Thanks to Peachtree for the Advanced Reader Copy.
Profile Image for Kathy.
3,314 reviews7 followers
June 5, 2021
Give this to tender-hearted kids who love animals. Read this once for the story of the poor dog looking for a place to belong, then read it again to look for the girl in a read knitted beanie on every page who seems to be the only one who notices the dog. Muted tones of the color palette carry over from the forest to the big city, making the red accents the more noticeable.
Profile Image for The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street.
746 reviews55 followers
March 17, 2021
A charming and heartwarming tale of a dog finding companionship in a little girl after wandering a city with nowhere to be and no clear advocate.

The lyrical text paired with soft illustrated tones is lovely and fits the theme. I will admit that the tension of poor Perdu roaming around without a home or place to be LASTS awhile and may stretch a child's emotions. But, as expected, this story delivers a happy ending.

I appreciate the simplicity in focused tone and narrative, but it also is an impactful story children will remember.

**Note: I was given a review copy of this book by Peachtree Publishing. Opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Natalie Tate.
711 reviews12 followers
March 8, 2022
One lost little dog longs for a home. Discouraged and wet, Perdu is sure he'll never get his wish. Luckily, someone's looking out for the lonely pooch. Reminiscent of classic works like Corduroy, this British import will touch the hearts of any and all youngsters with a soft spot for animals.
694 reviews12 followers
April 24, 2022
I shouldn't read books about little lost puppies and dogs. They just make me cry. Perdu is beautifully illustrated and on the pages you can see salvation just out of reach... until it isn't. Hug your dog and your kid while you read this. And sleep with them all afterwards.
Profile Image for Tia.
105 reviews
January 27, 2023
I am a huge fan of Richard Jones' illustrations in other books. Perdu (meaning 'lost' in French) is no exception. A lovely story about a sweet dog with a little red scarf who finds himself lost and alone.
Profile Image for Harri.
13 reviews
November 21, 2025
A sweet story, lovely illustrations, a pleasing use of colour and space. Certain details are elegantly emphasized such as a random seagull, the leaves, fabric texture etc.
Little Perdu standing out against an anonymous grey crowd.
Profile Image for Kirren Wilson.
46 reviews
April 27, 2020
Beautiful story about resilience, persistence and belonging. I wish Perdu could come home with me to meet my family. They would adore him.
30 reviews
September 26, 2020
A simple and heartwarming story with perfect examples of foreshadowing the final event that takes place. Perdu provokes empathy for the reader so effectively and draws the reader in to the world.
Profile Image for Nichole.
3,213 reviews35 followers
March 15, 2021
I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So sad but adorable. (Don't worry- it ends happy!) I love the color palette.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews

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