Elaine Arsenault

Readings

Passepoil is a growing series of 4 books, published in 6 languages. (Only one has been published in English, entitled Doggie in the Window. I bring copies of the various languages of the books, which is always a delight since there are usually a few students whose mother tongue is other than French or English. The visit is richer if the teacher or librarian has read a few of my books to the children before-hand to acquaint them with the character. In any case I usually read the most recent book or/and a book of their choice.

With younger children, after a reading, I have them do an activity related to the story, such as a collage. With the older children I show them the process of coming up with a story line, writing multiple drafts, submitting final copy to the illustrator. I then show samples of the preliminary sketched, the intermediary and final; then the book in its completion. We then brainstorm various story idea and ask I ask the children to work in teams of 4. They then draw 4 different “acts” of the story. When they are finished each team take its turn to show the illustrated story.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

L’or de gitans
L’or des gitans is a fanciful saga of a young gypsy, Ophélia, who finds an abandoned child. Beside the infant is an empty ebony box. Ophélia names the little girl Lily and raises her as her own, teaching the child how to make herbal potions and read the future in people’s palms. As Lily grows up, she fills her box with objects that she finds along her way that will serve her well and even help save her life.

Over twenty years ago, I bought at a barn sale an ebony box that was the size of a violin case. It was left in the back of my closet for decades. One day, while I was deciding what to do with the old box, I found stuffed behind the worn and dusty felt lining a sepia photo of a child. Immediately I was inspired to invent a story about this forgotten little girl. I filled the box with small antiques that I had collected here and there; the same objects that Lily gathers during her journey. In my presentation, I bring along the mysterious box and explain to children the sources of my inspiration.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Biography

Elaine Arsenault lives in the heart of Montreal. She walks and rides her bike to work everyday and shops in small little stores, much like the ones along the street in the series Passepoil and the book Doggy in the Window.

She grew up on Ile Bizard, a small island north of Montreal and was the middle child in a family of five girls. She spoke English at home and French everywhere else. They had few toys and never watched television until sundown. So, to amuse themselves, she and her younger sister would invent stories and play the parts. To this day, creating something is far more interesting to her than being entertained.

She spent our summers on my uncle's farm in the Gaspée where she ran free, swam in the creek, collected eggs in the coop, fed the cows, walked along the railway track and hid in the woodshed when it was time to come in for dinner.

She attended French primary and secondary school. By the time she was in my mid teens, although she could speak English fluently she could neither read nor write the language. So she self thought by reading children's stories that were for younger children in English such as Black Beauty, Charlotte's Web, The Wizard of Oz, The Little Prince, Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan.

Elaine began writing in 2000. Her books have received national and international prizes and recognition. Recently she published three books for middle grade in the series L’or de gitans; La prophétie d’Ophélia, Le destin de Ballanika and La quête de Lily.