Bruno

Reviews / Votes

A yellow-eyed cat sporting a jaunty blue cap recalls his more interesting days in this quirky collection of vignettes. Ranging from the downright strange (a fish literally out of water follows Bruno to the corner shop) to more plausible scenarios (Bruno and his friends play on the escalators at the train station), the episodes are linked by a unifying thread of Bruno's delight in embracing the experiences that come his way, no matter how unexpected. A unique cast of characters include Ringo, an elderly pony with childlike tendencies, and a canary who chirps only non sequiturs. Though trouble frequently arises, it is always resolved, and everyone goes to bed happy. This delightfully oddball picture book features line drawings with bright colors and a few comic panels, and is visually very appealing. Translated from the French and set in an unnamed European city, the story retains its Continental flavor; caretakers may bristle at chapter titles like 'A Stupid Day That Ends Pretty Well, ' but young readers will be drawn to Bruno's unfailingly positive outlook and opportunistic sense of adventure.--Booklist


-- "Journal" (4/1/2017 12:00:00 AM) In six brief chapters, Bruno, a small cat in a blue checked cap, recounts in turn the peculiar, stupid, less-than-perfect, and almost-perfect goings-on of his life (so far). In a busy city packed with apartment buildings, shops, and canal boats, Bruno is joined by a motley crew of friends and foils--including Ringo the old pony, Gerard the dreaded wolf, and Georgette the nice plump turtledove--often finding himself in the middle of the action. Some chapters are chock full of the surreal and extraordinary (a lengthy tale of a lost fish swimming through mid-air), while others focus on the more quotidian (a two-page, four-sentence chapter musing on the beauty of candlelight during a power outage). Each scenario is presented in a straightforward, conversational tone and through playful, observant art. Bruno himself is a dichotomous blend of childlike sensibility ('We came up with the idea of all going together to the station. But not to catch a train . . . to play on the big escalators!') and budding philosopher ('I thought of how days go by, like clouds, each one different') who unquestionably belongs in and to his weird and wonderful world. Recurring characters and visual details--drawn in a slightly unsteady, inviting black line--produce a rewarding interconnectivity between chapters. A superb early reader/early chapter book import and kindred spirit to Emmanuel Guibert's Ariol series.--starred, The Horn Book Magazine

-- "Journal" (7/1/2017 12:00:00 AM)