This book has followed me around for years. I found it 10 years ago in the clearance bin of the Montreal Fine Art Museum, and just had to bring it home. I liked the sleek design and colorful cover. Today, I’m sharing The Art of Adornment, Design, Fashion, Art by Gibbs Smith Publishers.

I’m really happy to share this book with you because it is so well made and so special! This week, I’m presenting you with The Great Naiad Discovery of 1909 by Manelle Oliphant creator behind Tales Fantastic. If you like mermaids and stories, this one is for you!

I had completely forgotten about this book until a few weeks ago when we moved our office, and my art books, from one room to another. It’s so wonderful to rediscover your own books in this way. After re-reading and re-exploring it, I really wanted to share it with you because it is such a wonderful book! This week, I share Woodlands, by Ulla Thynell.

I found this week’s books, many years ago in the clearance bin of my university’s bookstore. I immediately snatched it because it was too cute not to be adopted on the spot! I now know that this book is a classic in children’s literature, but even if I discovered it as an adult, I still love it very much! Let’s take a look at Spring Story, by Jill Barklem.

This week, I bring you this beautiful book: The art of Heikala, works and throughts published by 3dtotal Publishing. I was really excited to receive this book at two summers ago, and it has been such a treat to come back to it again and again. Each time I open this book I am amazed!

This week I bring you a book that I brought back from a trip several years ago. Being born in the Pyrenees, it’s always a pleasure to go back and walk in the mountains. It is also very interesting to learn more about this extraordinary nature and mountains. I share Mémoire de Terrain, a collection of stories by rangers of the Pyrenees National Park illustrated by Philippe Lhez.

Yes, Isabelle Arsenault and Fanny Britt have struck again! After Jane, the fox and me and Colette’s bird, I share Louis Undercover with you this week. Released a few years after Jane, Louis is another graphic novel filled with sensitivity.

I wanted to share this book with you because it is yet another find I made in the books for sale at my library. I picked it up because as a child I loved the Thumbelina movie (1994): a fairy prince, singing frogs, exuberant costumes and goofy songs. It really had it all. And so, when I saw this Thumbelina book, I thought it was time to read the original version of this H.C. Andersen tale.

This book found its way to me at the perfect time! With all the Asian targeted racism stories going around in the news, I’ve been worried for my mom, cousins and friends, while feeling unsettled because I pass for white. Navigating all of this peacefully is quite difficult, but reading this book made me feel seen, and it felt great to connect with another Vietnamese artist through his work. This week, I’m sharing The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, aka Trungles.

This week, I share with you another book by a Canadian writer and illustrator: L’escapade de Paolo written by Lucie Papineau and illustrated by Lucie Crovatto. This sweet book is really charming and features little Paolo and his friend Camille.

This week, I share another book by Canadian writers and illustrators: Ocean meets Sky by the Fan Brothers. Some time ago, I had spotted this book in a small bookstore. I thought to myself, “this book is really beautiful… if it’s still there next time, I’ll take it! ” No big surprise, I went back on purpose to get it… and I’m not disappointed!

This week I share with you a second book by Isabelle Arsenault. I had already written to you about Jane, the fox and me which I simply adore. This time, I bring you a book for a younger audience: L’oiseau de Colette.

I am very excited to share this week’s book with you: Cozy Days, The Art of Iraville, by Ira Sluyterman van Langeweyde. Iraville is an illustrator from Germany. Her book Cozy Days is the perfect invitation to grab a warm beverage and cuddle up to flip through her beautiful work.

I found this book a few years ago at the Festival de la BD de Montréal. I was instantly drawn to it because of the colours and illustration style. Today, I share Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein, written by Linda Bailley and illustrated by Júlia Sardà. This one is another one of my favourite and even lives in a special part of my office so that it is always on hand.

Another beautiful find in the library’s book-for-sale box: Au bord de l’étang by Tilde Michels and Reinhardt Michl. This book, published in 1987, remains beautiful and brings a peaceful atmosphere to all readers.

This week I share another of my favorite books: L’herbier des fées, written by Sébastien Perez and Benjamin Lacombe. I like how this book fell into my collection: A long time ago, when it was possible to visit public libraries, I saw this book on the table of books for sale. The public library made room and sold books that were a little damaged, not much borrowed, too old… On several occasions, I flipped through this book, put it down again. Back home, I told myself that if it was still there next time, I would take it. After all, 50 cents for a book, I wasn’t risking much. Well, I went back to the library the next day because the book was stuck in my head: it was a very well spent 50 cents! I like that the book has a story and that many children have looked at it before me.

This week I am sharing another of my favorite books: Jane, the Fox and Me, written by Fanny Britt and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. It is a discovery I made last year and which I have read and reread over and over again.

This week I’m sharing the beautiful book My Friend Fear, by Meera Lee Patel. For the past two years, going through the process of building myself back up after a concussion, I have became very well acquainted with Fear. It’s been a constant companion, and it can be incredibly vocal at some time and quite paralyzing. A book that is helping me shift my perspective on fear is this one, and that’s why I’m very excited to share it with you this week.

This week, I’m not sharing an illustrated book. I go upstream in the creative process, and bring you on a journey in ink making with the fascinating book Make Ink by Jason Logan from the Toronto Ink Company. Every time I buy a bottle of ink or a tube of paint, I wonder at how they are made, but I also ask myself if it’s not something I could do myself. I’m a big fan of DIYing my way through the house and already make my own deodorant, surface cleaner and vinegar, so why not my own inks?

A few summers ago, I discovered Frida Kahlo, her immense work and her fantastical life. Through books, I looked at her paintings and was mesmerized by the detail and lushness of her scenes. Some painting are incredibly rich and lively, while others leave you with a sense of foreboding and violence. When I learned more about the woman behind the artist, I was touched by her determination to always paint and love despite all the medical and personal difficulties she had to endure. All this to say, I was thrilled to find the beautifully illustrated biography by amazing artist Maria Hesse: Frida Kahlo, An Illustrated Life.