FV 076 : (Part 1) Marie-Louise Gay, author and illustrator for children

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Meet Marie-Louise Gay, an award-winning Canadian author and illustrator of children’s book. This is the first part of a fascinating conversation between two book and language lovers: Marie-Louise and myself! In this part, Marie-Louise will tell you a bit about her childhood and to what extent it influences the adventures of the heroes she’s been creating. Do you know Stella and Sam, two very cute siblings? They were born from Marie-Louise Gay’s imagination! Marie-Louise is perfectly fluent in both French and English, so which language comes first when she starts writing? Are there any differences between the French and English version of one same book? Listen to find out! Marie-Louise will also describe her creative process and illustrating techniques.

Episode Timeline

Part 1

Marie-Louise’s childhood

The adventures of Stella and Sam

Part 2

2 languages = 2 different books

Adapting rather than translating

Part 3

About Marie-Louise Gay’s young readers

Illustration techniques

Part 4

The creative process of writing and illustrating

Drawing: a late talent for Marie-Louise!

Vocab List

album jeunesse (nm) = book for youth

aquarelle (nf) = watercolour

assidu,e (adj) = diligent, hardworking, assiduous; regular, constant

avoir (qch) en tête = to have (sth) in mind

bande dessinée (nf) = comic strip

bout de papier (nm) = piece of paper, paper scrap

brouillon (nm) = draft, first draft, rough version

crayon de couleur (nm) = colour pencil

crayon de mine (nm) = pencil, lead pencil

enfance (nf) = childhood

esquisse (nf) = sketch, outline

fidèle (adj) = loyal, faithful

fioriture (nf) = embellishment, flourish

fourmiller = to be filled with/full of; to swarm, to teem

intrépide (adj) = daring, audacious

oeuvre (nf) = (art) work

sage (adj) = well-behaved

se plaire à = to like to, to be content to (think, say, etc)

traduire = to translate

Questions:

(Part 1) What is Stella’s brother called in the English edition of Marie-Louise’s books? In the French edition?

(part 2) How does Marie-Louise qualify/describe the English language? What about the French language?

(Part 3) What makes Marie-Louise’s books so popular?

(Part 3) Which creative technique does Marie-Louise use in some illustrations that may not be noticeable at first glance?

Answers:

He’s Sam in the English edition and Sacha in the French edition.

English is economical, ideal for short sentences, precise. French is more poetic and embellishing.

They are very simple, with lots of images

Collage

Links & Resources

Website: www.marielouisegay.com

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