If Animals Could Talk in Paris…
Friends! How about a visit to the City of Lights? While most of us can’t spontaneously hop a plane across the pond, we can curl up with a good book that takes you there…
My sweet “better two-thirds” predictably heaves a big sigh when retrieving our mail as we seemingly receive every catalog in print on the planet. Most of them go into File Thirteen, but a few favorites hang around to be perused.
My current favorite is one you must know about it and maybe even request for yourself: Bas Bleu: Books and Gifts for Avid Readers. I’ve discovered more fun gifts and books for all ages, grand angels included.
A recent purchase was such a fun read, I must share it with y’all! I read it thru’ first before I’ll read it to our oldest grandchild who adores horses and will positively flip over this story. I learned of this book thanks to Bas Bleu and promptly ordered it.
The book? Perestroika in Paris, a novel by Jane Smiley
Note the cover shows you some of the fun friends Perestroika meets during her time in Paris. Perestroika is the horse in the story. We learn her parents were also racehorses. We get to see early on how she comes to find a park in Paris, arriving with a lovely purse in tow. Huh?
Her journey allows us readers to meet various animals, befriending them along the way. From a raven (who keeps referring to himself as an “Ave,” categorizing other aves in the funniest of ways…), to a pair of ducks, a rat (of all things!) or two, a dog, and more.
One critic from The Book Page says, “Perestroika in Paris is a remarkable novel that splits the difference between Charlotte’s Web and Animal Farm.”
Another person from The Washington Independent Review of Books calls the book a “life-affirming grown-up fable we all need…where kindness is king.” That phrase, “where kindness is king,” makes you want to heave a sigh of relief and shout, “YES!”
And speaking of “kind,” our little Henry in Lexington taught me his Bible verse from preschool this last school semester:
The almost-three-year-old preschoolers learned the first part, “Be kind to one another…” and then sure enough, they cited the “address,” saying, “PHEESHUNS foa,thirty-two” to which of course we “ooh” and “ahh” while being a wee bit convicted your two year-old grandson is memorizing Scripture better than you are!!!
I found Perestroika in Paris delightful in every way. There’s humor (the different animals’ personalities are laugh out loud funny), loyalty, generosity, protective qualities all going on while the story is creating suspense with every twist. There’s never a dull moment— you find yourself so excited to be included in Perestroika’s adventures. (I kinda felt like I was jumping into Bert’s sidewalk chalk picture with Mary Poppins!)
A few humans enter the story, each with their own varied agendas, which somewhat complicate Perestroika and her friends’ daily escapades. Oh, but that’s what makes the story even better!
Of all the animals, I adore Frida, the German short haired pointer. She’s quite a character, capable of almost anything!
Of the humans, it’s a 2-way tie between a precious little boy named Etienne who lives and cares for his Great Grandmother, Madame de Mornay, who’s quite elderly. They live in a large home near the park where the animals have been hiding out. Etienne doesn’t go to school, he teaches himself to read thanks to their extra large library. (Of course we love this part!)
Watch with wonder how the animals come to move in with Etienne! How can it be? What will the Great Grandmother think and will she allow these animals into her home?
The second favorite human of mine is a baker of mouthwatering pastries who bakes all night long, Her name is Anais. When Perestroika begins her nightly explorations, she discovers Anais kneading bread, startling her. Anais gradually learns not to be afraid of Perestroika and starts feeding her oats each visit along with a sugar cube or two… They become fast friends. (I’m telling you, this book oozes with charm.)
Will Perestroika’s owners find her? What will happen to Etienne when his Great Grandmother passes? Ahhh, my friend, you must read the book to find out.
While this book isn’t officially considered a Christian book, it’s refreshingly clean and the characters’ attributes are most definitely Christian with a lovely emphasis on the importance of community. I know eventually all of our grand angels will come to love this book. Just yesterday I recommended it to three of my friends who have grandchildren of read aloud age…
Off you go to your nearest bookstore, or shopping in Bas Bleu’s catalog to procure your own copy of Perestroika in Paris! (Apologies, it may be a “bad” discovery to your wallet!!!)
‘Til next time!
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