My french book fest 2023
November 1-4
Alliance Française · 1519 Jackson Ave.
Welcome to the New Orleans premier young literature festival in French - My French Book Fest! Join us as we embark on a captivating literary journey, bringing together French speaking authors from around the world to inspire and ignite the love for reading and storytelling.
This second edition of My French Book Fest invites you to discover children's French literature and to meet authors, illustrator, and publishers from France, Quebec, and Acadie November 1 to 4 at the Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans. This event is free and for everyone, from ages 3 to 99 years old.
This festival is made possible thanks to the generous support of the French Institute of the United States / Villa Albertine and NOTCF, it is organized by Alliance Francaise de la Nouvelle-Orléans and Villa Albertine in New Orleans.
book sale
In addition to book signings, workshops, and performances, My French Book Fest proposes a Book Fair to purchase French books for children, from pictures books for babies to novels for young readers and comic books! The book fair include booths by Garden District Book Shop for French books, Acadian publishing company Bouton d’Or, Bayard Presse from France, bookshop Le Caribou à lunettes from Detroit for Canadian books, CALEC specialized in bilingualism and a booth by New Orleans Public Libraries.
November 1 : Book Fair from 4:30-7pm
November 3 : Book Fair from 4:30-7pm
November 4 : Book Fair from 10am-6pm
Daily schedule
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gUESTS
Achdé
Hervé
Darmenton,
known as Achdé, is a French comic book author. His pseudonym comes from his initials H. D. like Hergé. Following the death
of Morris, Belgian comic strip artist and creator of Lucky Luke, Achdé took up the torch and became the official designer
of the series of the famous cowboy who shoots faster than his shadow. He then collaborated with different screenwriters,
Laurent Gerra, Daniel Pennac and Jul. Achdé is also carrying out various comic book projects, alone or with other comic book authors.
He alone relaunched the derivative series Kid Lucky, a universe
designed in 1995 by Yann le Pennetier and Didier Conrad. Since 2011, the albums Lucky Luke and Kid Lucky designed by Achdé have been
published alternately, every two years. 2023 marks Achdé’s first participation in the BD USA Festival.
*Translated from French
Jean Bastide
French
comic book author, Jean Bastide studied at the Ecole Supérieur des Arts Saint-Luc in Brussels, where he was spotted by the
Belgian comic book writer and artist Yslaire. In 2016, he became the official designer of Boule & Bill. In 2021 and
2022, he also designs the albums in the Idéfix and the Irréducibles series. It was during a tour in
Seattle that he met Sylvie Joseph-Julien. Together, they launched the USA BD Festival. Since the first edition, in 2020,
he has been the sponsor of this traveling Franco-Belgian comics festival in the United States.
*Translated from French
Sylvie Joseph-Julien
President
of the Made in France association whose mission is to promote the French language and French-speaking cultures in Spain,
the United States and France, Sylvie Joseph-Julien founded the BD USA Festival with the comic book artist Jean Bastide in
2020. In recognition of this accomplishment, Sylvie Joseph-Julien was elevated to the rank of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in
2021. In 2022, she launched the Troubadours, a traveling French-speaking youth literature festival , then Sjj agency in 2023, artistic
agency specializing in comics and children's literature.
*Translated from French
Raphaël Martin
Raphaël
Martin is a project designer and author of documentaries for young people. After studying
political science, he made writing his profession by becoming an editor. Along his personal paths, he has encountered theater stages,
dojos, Himalayan villages and Alpine peaks. Today, he lives in Toulouse where he writes for children, young and old.
Since 2013, he has also been associate director of OKIDOKID, an agency specializing in the creation of books
and collections for young people.
Annie Bacon
We
dive into Annie Bacon's books like Alice down the rabbit hole. The worlds she creates stand out for their originality and a
sense of wonder that blurs the boundaries between imagination and reality. If she first became known through the Victor Cordi series (8
volumes) from Courte Échelle, it was the novel Post-apocalyptic Chronicles of a Wise Child which formalized her importance in the Quebec
youth literary scene.
Described as “leading figures of imaginative literature in Quebec” by specialist Sophie
Gagnon (Sophielit), her books have accumulated nominations for the booksellers' prize (2x), the Governor General's Prize, the
Montreal libraries, and many others. With a bachelor's degree in communications, she cut her teeth in the interactive industry,
particularly in video games, where she still works as a freelance screenwriter.
Sophie Saffi
Professor of Italian linguistics, comparative linguistics of Romance languages at Aix-Marseille University - member of the CAER research unit. She defended her doctoral thesis at Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle, in 1991, under the direction of Alvaro Rocchetti, and her HDR in 2009 at the University of Provence (tutor: Henri José Deulofeu, unpublished: The person and their space in Italian, published in 2010 by Lambert-Lucas. From 2013 to 2020, vice-dean of the Faculty of Arts, Letters, Languages and Human Sciences. She led the History Boards projects: comics, creators and society (2018-2020) funded by the Europe Creative program), BD translation (2019-2021) funded by the MMSH of Aix-en-Provence, Comix & Digital (2020-2023) funded by the ERASMUS + KA2 program.
Martine Sousse
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Partner
of Aix-Marseille University in the framework of two European projects around comics: - History Boards: Comics, creators and society”,
Creative Europe Program - Comix & Digital » ERASMUS + KA2. She is the designer of the
BDKreator application dedicated to the creation of comic
book stories. She has produced several application projects in the field of
heritage, tourism and travel and obtained the
“Jury's Favorite” Prize from the Ministry of Culture for an application project around books.
Marie-France Comeau
Marie-France
Comeau is an
Acadian storyteller from Dalhousie in the Bay of
Chaleurs. She was awarded the Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Award in early childhood literacy for her first picture-book,
L'étoile dans la pomme, a Bouton
d'or bestseller.
Ever since, Marie-France Comeau can't seem to stop creating and traveling to tell her stories. Her duo performance show with pianist Lucien
Allard, has been touring around Quebec and Acadie.
We now welcome her to New Orleans!
Jimmy Maillard
Jimmy Maillard teaches both French and Theater, often at the same time! He has a Degree in Education and in Litterature, with a specialization in Theater. Jimmy has been practicing Theater since he was 5 years old, and, even though he would rather not disclose his age, it has been quite some time. Originally from Dijon, France, he has been living in New Orleans for the past 4 years, working at ISL and at Ecole Bilingue as a middle school French teacher.
Mahmoud Chouki
Growing up as a child prodigy in Morocco, Mahmoud traveled the world with his music
before finding his home in New Orleans. Mahmoud Chouki is a master guitarist, multi-instrumentalist
and composer currently living and working in New Orleans. His art draws together music from several different international
contexts to explore how music may speak across cultural divides. His own compositions incorporate musical influences from across the
globe,
ranging from European classical, Andalusian from Southern Spain, Levantine music from the Middle East, Maghrebian music from North Africa,
Latin American music and jazz from the United States. Integrating sounds and rhythms from many different cultures, Chouki combines
classical guitar with instruments such as the loutar, the oud, an oriental lute; the
Algerian mandole, the Bağlama saz, the banjo, and a variety of percussion instruments.
Flore de Warren
Flore de Warren is the Bayard Presse and Milan local representative for the Miami area. She is happy to offer you a wide selection of magazines for all ages and tastes. She is passionate about meeting the needs and interests of each child.
Flore animates workshops for children and will be bringing her expertise to New Orleans!
Marie Cadieux
A woman of the theater, filmmaker and author, Marie Cadieux is originally from Moncton, New Brunswick, where she now resides after having lived in Quebec and Ontario. She was a finalist twice at the Antonine-Maillet Acadie-Vie Prize, won the Champlain Prize (for her novel Histoire de galet) and has devoted herself for seven years as literary and general director of Bouton d'or Acadie editions. She loves sharing her love of books and meeting readers.
Nicolas Trost
Nicolas Trost, curator of the exhibition Le Montrealer, tributes from dozens of
artists to The New Yorker magazine, and was shown at the Alliance Française de Toronto in 2019. Le Montréaler collective was a salute the influence of this magazine in the field of visual art. Sixty-two
creators took up the concept of The Parisianer exhibition and created the covers of an imaginary magazine paying homage to the
Montreal metropolis in the same style. See the
works here.
Marie-Claude Réau
"After studying literature, and a detour as a French teacher in Mexico,
I worked as a proofreader then an editorial assistant at J'ai Lu. I then became a journalist and section
manager in women's and youth magazines before return to publishing: I was appointed editorial director of
documentaries at Milan éditions in Toulouse before occupying the same position at Bayard Éditions Jeunesse. I have managed a team of two
editors there for around fifteen years."
*Translated from French
Michele Braud
After teaching French in different
schools in Louisiana for 17 years, Ms. Michèle Braud was recruited in 2016 to the position of foreign language
coordinator
within the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE). She has worked there for more than 6 years where she is a tireless defender of
the French language.
Ms. Braud works closely with the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) and with the French Consulate in New Orleans
to promote the teaching of French in Louisiana schools. She is particularly invested in this CODOFIL program and actively participates each
year in the recruitment of 50 new teachers by going to France to conduct interviews with candidates within France Education International.
Barbada de Barbades
As a passionate elementary school music teacher, Barbada brings an enchanting blend
of education and entertainment to her storytelling. But that's not all! Barbada is
also a prominent figure in the world of Drag Queen Story Hours in Montreal, where she's captivated audiences of all
ages with her charisma and charm. Her annual special event at the Grande Bibliothèque of the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
has been a hit, and she's a frequent host of Montreal's lively drag brunch events. Check out her Canadian Children's
Channel here.
BOOK FAIR
Children's books in French will be available for purchase each day during the festival from the following providers:
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ORganizerS
This festival is made possible thanks to the generous support of the French Institute of the United States / Villa Albertine and in collaboration with the Villa Albertine in New Orleans.
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partners
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our partners. From around the world you have made French literature accessible to the children of New Orleans.
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In partnership with New Orleans French
Immersion Schools,
the
Alliance Française will host field trips on November 1-3. We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to the French immersion
schools in New Orleans for their support of My French Book Fest. Your
dedication to nurturing a passion for French literature in young readers is invaluable. Your commitment
to
bilingual education is essential in celebrating the French language and culture.
SPONSORS
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to
the sponsors of My French Book Fest 2023. Your
generous support made this literary celebration a
resounding success. Your dedication to promoting French language and culture is invaluable to us. Thanks to your sponsorship, we brought
together
French authors from around the world, creating a vibrant
and inspiring environment for all attendees. Your commitment to fostering a love for French literature has left a lasting impact on our
community.
VOLUNTEERING
Are you passionate about promoting French language and culture?
Join our team as a volunteer and be a part of our
mission to make a difference in the
community! Your support is invaluable in helping us
bring engaging events and programs to life. Contact us today to get involved!
Use our SignUp form to choose your choice of volunteer time slots! Email Karla
Ewing, volunteer coordinator,
for any questions.
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about My French Book Fest:
Discover Free Family Fun at My French Book Fest in New Orleans!
Looking for exciting and educational activities that won't cost you a dime in New Orleans? Look no further! Join us in November 2023 for the fantastic Festival of children's literature, also known as My French Book Fest. This event is a highlight of the youth literature season from October 30th to November 11th.
What's in Store:
- Book Fair in the Big Easy: Immerse yourself in a vibrant book fair in the heart of New Orleans. Explore a world of French-language literature with books from French, Canadian, and American publishers.
- Public Event at Alliance Française: Engage in creative and digital approaches to reading in French. We aim to make French literacy accessible and fun for kids.
- Workshops in Schools: We'll be visiting local schools to conduct workshops, fostering a love for reading among young learners.
- Author Meetings in Schools: Renowned authors will meet with students in schools to inspire a passion for French literature.
Our Goals:
- Promote French youth literature from publishers in France, Canada, and the USA.
- Encourage a creative and digital approach to reading in French, making it accessible to children.
- Introduce the Alliance Française to a wide audience of students in immersion programs and their parents.
- Foster collaboration among key players in French-language literature in Louisiana, including Alliance Française, schools, bookstores, and local publishers.
Who's Invited:
- Students in immersion programs (over 5,500 children in 36 schools).
- Parents and extended families.
- The wider New Orleans community.
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself and your family in the world of French literature and culture—all for free! Mark your calendars for this exciting event in November 2023. Join us, and let's celebrate the joy of reading together.
Highlights from Last Year's My French Book Fest:
-
Author Talks: Renowned French authors took the stage to
share their literary journeys, discuss their latest works, and engage in thought-provoking conversations.
-
Book Fair: Discover an exquisite collection of French
books, ranging from timeless classics to contemporary bestsellers, available for purchase and signing.
-
Art Exhibitions: Experience the fusion of literature and
art through captivating exhibitions that brought stories to life.
- Storytelling Sessions: Engaging storytelling sessions for children and families, where imaginations soared and young minds explored new worlds.
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