#Booky100Keepers Day 78: "La Visite De Petit Mort" by Kitty Crowther (Lutin Poche)

Kitty Crowther is a Belgian author whose work is now finally being recognised on this side of the English Channel - but way back in 2012 I discovered one of her books completely by accident, and became completely obsessed with trying to translate it.

I'd read about "La Visite De Petite Mort" in someone else's book blog, where they'd produced an amazing article that really kicked my love of all things French and Belgian into high gear. It was the first time I'd seen Kitty's work, and also made me realise just what an amazing kidlit scene they have over there in France / Belgium, where children's books are treated like the art form they actually are, rather than frivolous means for adults to push their moral codes and constructs on a child audience.

Petite Mort is death. When he shows up, your time is at an end and it's time to accompany him on your final journey to the afterlife.

Petite Mort is also an individual who questions the way people when he shows up - after all it's not exactly a huge amount of fun when people are stricken with terror at the mere sight of your black cape and your scythe.

But one day Death turns up to one girl's house to find that she is not afraid of him, she almost welcomes him in - and before shuffling off her mortal coil she's determined to show Death just how wonderful her life has been - and how even though it's at an end there's still joy to be found.

Bear in mind this is how my terrible pigeon French and interpretation of the illustrations spins out this tale. It probably doesn't bear any resemblance to what I've described above but it's a keeper for many reasons.You'll never see anything like this fetching up in UK publishing lists. It's a dark book, it deals with a subject that seldom few creatives cope with bringing to a young audience in an effective way.
Kitty's illustrations are beautiful. Simple but beautiful, as are her characters. The whole concept of a core character questioning their reason for doing what they do is sheer genius.

But despite its rather funereal and sombre tone it is a book of joy as we described above, when Elsewise reveals why she's actually pleased to see Death, it'll break your heart in two.

This is a truly lovely book. I've often wished it would be picked up by someone like Tate Publishing  for translation (they've done such a fantastic job with so many of Kitty's other books).

As well as a link to the review of this, we've also included other Kitty Crowther books below.

Original Review Links

Le Visite De Petite Mort by Kitty Crowther (Lutin Poche)

Poka and Mia at the Bottom of the Garden by Kitty Crowther (Tate Publishing)

Poka and Mia - Wakey Wakey by Kitty Crowther (Tate Publishing)

ReaditDaddy's Book of the Week - Week Ending 16th August 2019: "The Runaways" by Ulf Stark and Kitty Crowther (Gecko Press)

A love of French and Belgian Children's Books and a question - Are we done with 'dark and wordy' books? A ReadItTorial