Maurice
by Jessixa Bagley (Author)
The winning personality of Corduroy meets the fable-like storytelling of Extra Yarn in this uplifting story about a dog and his music amidst a changing Paris.
Meet Maurice: a gifted canine who was born to share his songs with the world. Whether selling out the Palais Garnier or delighting Parisian pedestrians, music is Maurice's love language. But time and things change, and when the world stops paying attention, those notes fall flat. . . .
This transcendent journey of one busking dog, who combines the power of inner strength and the gift of friendship to arrive at true self-discovery, is sure to inspire young dreamers and lift all souls in a stirring celebration of the world's inherent beauty, welcoming all who seek it. As readers follow Maurice through good times and bad in this beautifully illustrated children's book, his story shows that there's light at the end of the tunnel and even when we feel like we're at our lowest, we still have the power to meaningfully contribute to the world.
PASSIONATE AND PRESENT: Maurice is a character who loves what he does, and the joy he gets from playing music allows him to appreciate the little things in life. Whether it's simply saying hello to a neighbor or reveling in the world around him, his character is present and ready with a smile, showing that if we can find it within ourselves to pursue what we love, what drives us, we are able to make the world a brighter place to be.
PERENNIAL MESSAGE: Whether you're inside your home or listening to music echoing along the streets of Paris, the world can feel like a turbulent, chaotic place. This uplifting story shows that it's possible to weather great change and that even hard times eventually come to an end.
GORGEOUS WATERCOLOR ARTWORK: Each page of this charming book set in Paris is awash with color and details to delight the eyes and the heart. Although he's a dog that plays the accordion, Maurice is a character almost everyone can recognize in the real world, and each scene reminds us how music like Maurice's scores city streets, parks, plazas, and markets. Readers young, old, and in between will love this fresh, deeply felt story about those members of society we may forget to appreciate despite their impact on us all.
REASSURING MESSAGE: Inevitably in life, there are moments of loneliness and sadness. This story comforts young readers by showing them that, even when we feel alone and forgotten, there is always an audience and a community that will listen and accept us. All we have to do is share ourselves with those around us.
Perfect for:
- Dog lovers and music lovers
- Parents and grandparents seeking kids' books about music, generosity, empathy, and community
- Teachers and librarians to add to their picture book collection for toddler, preschool, and early readers
- Fans of such classics as Madeline, The Story of Ferdinand, and Where the Wild Things Are
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Publishers Weekly
The eponymous protagonist of this soulful picture book from Bagley (Courage Hats) is an orange canine accordionist who once played big concert halls. "But times and things changed. They always do," and now he busks on the streets of an entirely dog-populated Paris. C'est la vie: as elegant watercolor and digitally collaged vignettes make clear, Maurice "still had songs to play." Against the city's backgrounds, he serenades passersby ("each note soaring to the sky"), displays kindness and congeniality, and takes inspiration from the bevy of birds who share his humble apartment. But times keep changing; Maurice starts feeling "shushed by the city's chaotic rhythms," and begins to see far fewer coins in his cup. Low on birdseed funds and determined to keep his beloved birds from starving, he throws open his window and, in a breathtaking double gatefold image, releases them into the wild, resigning himself to a heart that feels "like an empty birdcage." Bagley has confidence that her readers can handle a little melancholy, and so the quietly happy ending arrives at a measured pace, slowly assuring Maurice, and readers, that love and the pursuit of beauty endure across time and seasons. Ages 5-8. Agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary. (May)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2--Maurice is a hound in a blue hat and blue slacks and familiar accordion player on the charming street corners of Paris. He was once a famous musician, but now he has a simpler life and enjoys every interaction with his neighbors, the people he passes on the streets, those sipping coffee in the small cafes he passes. His life is full and exactly as he likes it. But the city gets chaotic and drowns out his music; soon Maurice is not making enough to buy the seed for his friends at home, and he opens his windows to let them fly free. What follows is a melancholy winter, and just as readers feel as if they are in for a Little Match Girl ending, spring returns, and so do Maurice's friends and revenue stream. It's a happy ending that may ring false to children, suggesting that Maurice can reverse urban growth or even aging itself. And yet the scenes are so pretty, and the message so earnest. VERDICT So much of this charms, with the early clarity about simple pleasures. It loses its way, but remains nice to look at.--Kimberly Olson Fakih
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV023000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | City & Town Life
JUV006000 - Juvenile Fiction | Business, Careers, Occupations
Picture books
Music
Sharing
Animal fiction
Street entertainers
