author/illustrator: Cruschiform & Gazhole
ages: 7+
64 pages
20.7 x 27 cm
hardback, cloth and hot stamping on the cover
French
Maison Georges
Rights sold: Simplified Chinese, Korean, Italian, Spanish and Catalan, Russian
Once Upon A Shape
Once upon a time, there was a King and Queen with very strict geometric principles. Their subjects must be made of straight lines and sharp angles. Alas, their own children don't follow the official morphology. The first is flabby, the second very wavy, the third completely limp and so on. But the miracle they had been waiting for finally happened.
Their last child is a marvel: an isosceles girl, perfect in every way. Now they have a right heir! But then, lo and behold, she falls in love with an oddly-shaped suitor...
A unique album and a fascinating reading experience in which the universality of fairy tales mingles with the jubilant echo of geometric shapes and words.
A gem packed with graphic discoveries for everyone to enjoy.
- 2022 Sorcières award (France)
-
Selected for Best Illustrated Album by Angoulême Festival
2022 (France) -
Llibreter Prize for Best Illustrated Album 2023 (Catalunya)
IN THE MEDIA
"Brilliant!" - Télérama
“It’s full of poetry and very funny. [...] An utterly marvelous book, praising difference and non-standard.” - La Critique, France Culture
“A demanding, funny and mischievous text, paired with illustrations of great beauty and rare intelligence.” - Mollat bookshop
VIEW A VIDEO PRESENTATION
Video presentation by the authors
THE AUTHORS
Marie-Laure Cruschi (alias Cruschiform) is a French illustrator based in Paris. Her work lies at the intersection of art, graphic design, illustration and typography. Sensitive to color and geometric modular designs, she enjoys experimenting with various graphic devices in playful, poetic and sometimes even didactic manners, creating narrative universes that are perpetually in renewal. Carried by the desire to question our ways of seeing the world, she has employed her sensibility towards serving the children’s literary community with several awards books. Her heightened visibility in cultural press reviews allowed her to gain international recognition through the years, and working with various luxury brands and cultural events.
Gazhole is an author, illustrator and animator. He got his start as a colorist on an animated short film, then in different production studios. He frequently works for children publishing as well as for major brands and institutions.