Buffalo Belle
Book not yet available in English
Summary:
When Annabelle was little, she preferred toy guns to dolls and turned every “il” (he) into “elle” (she). “People called me Annabil, my name was Buffalo Belle”. “Annabil” uses “il” instead of “elle” and “elle” instead of “il” when telling the reader about her daily life.
Edited by: Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
Comment:
Olivier Douzou is known for his imagination and playful humour. Yet in this title, the reader is overcome not with laughter, but with emotion. The sober text based on inverting the common French syllables “il” and “elle” and the pencil sketches of a growing girl mean the reader quickly grasps that the book is more than just an exploration of gender – it is about the freedom to be and to love whatever you want. For my part, I would love for this sensitive, poetic, heartfelt book to reach all children who are exploring their own identities. And for their sakes, for it to find a place on library bookshelves. [La Revue des livres pour enfants, Best books of 2016]