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Greystone Books signs 'ground-breaking' picture book on climate anxiety from Larochelle and Patenaude
Greystone Books has signed Butterfly Wings, a "ground-breaking" picture book about climate anxiety, from Samuel Larochelle, translated by Arielle Aaronson and illustrated by Eve Patenaude.
Lara LeMoal, publishing director, acquired world English rights from Geneviève Lagacé, rights manager at Les Éditions XYZ. The book will be published on 28th September 2023 for readers aged eight and above.
"This summer is already seeing more troubling evidence of the proximity of the climate crisis and anxiety about it will be something many children and their parents find challenging to discuss," said Andrew Furlow, head of Greystone Books UK. "Samuel and Eve’s incredibly moving book manages to be both honest and hopeful and will, I am sure, provide a much-needed balm in unsettling times and a stimulus to further positive action."
Larochelle’s story, with "striking" illustrations from Patenaude, "focuses on difficult emotions – for example fear and hopelessness – that children may be experiencing when they hear about climate change".
Butterfly Wings aims to offer a platform for discussion between children and their care givers and "ultimately offers young readers and empowering sense of agency and hope for the future".
The picture book follows 10-year-old Florent who hears his mothers talking about the possibility of having another baby and their reluctance to do so because of fears about the planet. After hearing this, Florent spirals into feelings of fear and guilt and, after dreaming that the forests have burnt down and his parents abandoning him, he decides to stop talking until a conversation with his mothers changes everything.
Larochelle commented: "Our world currently feels unstable in so many ways. We talk about climate anxiety as adults, but what about our children? I wanted to explore that from the point of view of a young child, and show them at the centre of the story, with their worries being seen and heard. I hope the book offers children a chance to discuss and validate their feelings, even the most uncomfortable ones, and ultimately leaves them with a sense of hope."
Patenaude added: "While working on the illustrations for Samuel’s story, I felt the need to wrap Florent in soft and delicate colours. His distress really moved me, and it was a way for me to comfort him, the same way I would have done with my own children. I hope the young readers who share the same anxiety as Florent will find comfort and hope in our book."
