Pamela Hunziker and Marie-Claire (Lorem) recently published a children's book that is worth knowing about. They were inspired by the Swiss culture they were surrounded by every day as they worked together at the Château de Prangins. Marie-Claire has also written short stories for the Château de Chillon. This is the first book they have collaborated on.
Pamela goes on to tell knowitall, "In all there will be 5 volumes. We are waiting to see if this one sells before starting volume 2! There is a lot of research to do as we must be accurate which is fascinating but time consuming."
She explained that the biggest obstacle was starting this project just before COVID. They finally finished it 4 years later. "It wasn’t easy finding a publisher because everyone wrote a book during that time… But we did and we are very pleased with Jets d'Encre Editions."
What is the storyline?
Pimprenelle and Léo are two adorable young Saint Bernard dogs born in Martigny, Switzerland. They will soon be nine months old, and the time has come for them to acquire the qualities worthy of a Saint Bernard. Being one of Switzerland's emblems has to be earned!
The story takes them through Switzerland starting near Grimentz with their grandparents, a picturesque village in the Valais, but the weather keeps them indoors and the grandparents bring a mysterious box from the attic. The twins are all excited. What could it possibly contain?
In the darkness of the attic, Léo bumps into an old coat rack and drops an old cell phone. Does it still work? Léo, ever curious, decides to test it and takes a photo of one of the postcards lying around. Click-clack, flash... Oh, but... what's going on?
The telephone triggers a strange phenomenon that transports Pimprenelle and Léo into the heart of a violent storm (Tempête au Grand-Bernard). "Ding". A message announces that the adventure has begun.
In future chapters, they have an encounter with a cow festooned with flowers on her head. Pimprenelle and Léo find themselves in Gruyère on Desalpe day.
Each chapter takes them on a new adventure somewhere in Switzerland, all thanks to this mysterious cell phone. They have to solve riddles and partake in a sort of escape room, with puzzles and maps, messages to decipher, and challenges to overcome.
About the author and illustrator
Pamela Hunziker (right): A graduate in interior design, she has worked on various projects in London, Geneva and Paris. She created CNC (Cinquante nuances de culture), which organizes guided tours of the region. 2007 saw the birth of "Le Castor Bleu", delighting children all over Switzerland and many other countries with the crafts and stories of "Joe the beaver". Joe's adventures inspired her to continue in this field, passing on to children the cultural richness of the country.
Marie-Claire Romanet-Jahiel (left): Passionate about cultural heritage, her career path has evolved from architecture to mediation. She founded "Voir-art" in 1994, which became Openculture-agence in 2009. She has developed a range of tours, workshops and collaborations with museums, associations, schools and companies in the Lake Geneva region. She was co-responsible for children's mediation at the "Le livre sur les quais" festival.
Enter our competition to win a copy!
Pamela and Marie-Claire have kindly offered one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of PIMPRENELLE ET LEO AUX QUATRE COINS DE LA SUISSE (value Fr. 28.-/value Fnac.ch or €17.70 at Jets d'Encre).To enter the competition, just fill in this form and answer this multiple choice question: What breed of dogs are Pimprenelle et Léo?
Only one entry per person and per email is allowed. The competition closes at midnight on Tuesday, 26 March 2024. The names of all those submitting correct answers will be placed into the digital hat and the winner’s name drawn at random by Wednesday, 27 March 2024. No cash equivalent of prizes is permitted. The winner will be notified by email.
Pimprenelle et Léo aux quatre coins de la Suisse
Pamela Hunziker and Lorem
Publisher Jets d'Encre
EAN 9782355238864
ISBN 2355238863
162 pages, Paperback
French language
Published 1 February 2024
