author / illustrator: Chiara Mezzalama, Mariachiara Di Giorgio
ages: 4+
40 pages
25 x 21 cm
hardback
French
Les Éditions des Éléphants
Sold: Italian, German, Korean
Our Fears
A remarkable picture book that delicately addresses phobias, told in the eyes of a little girl and a pigeon, in the marvelous setting of Venice.
She lives in Venice, and so does he. One might think they are lucky, and yet... the little girl is terribly afraid of pigeons. But, in Venice, they are everywhere. And our pigeon... is terribly afraid of children. But, in Venice, children are everywhere!
One autumn evening, the little girl and the pigeon suddenly find themselves face to face in an alley, just a few meters apart. They are paralyzed but also surprised: the one opposite is trembling... could he be suffering from the same fear?
This book is cleverly constructed, with alternating narrators: first the little girl's point of view, then, on the next page, that of the pigeon. The two texts echo each other until the face-to-face encounter...
AWARDS
- 2025 Prix Saint Exupéry, valeurs jeunesse
IN THE MEDIA
"The album tackles a universal theme - fear - with finesse, a touch of humour and tenderness." - La mare aux mots
"A magnificent picture book, as much for its original approach as for its layout and warm illustrations. Venice is superb, and the message is one of gentle kindness. A must-have for everyone." - L'Avenir
"The beautiful illustrations depict an everyday Venice with originality, and the layout—where the album's fold symbolizes both distance and the meeting point—perfectly describes the gradual process of overcoming fear. A delicate and sensitive picture book to place in children's hands to help them conquer their fears." - La revue des livres pour enfants
"A journey through this beautiful city, magnificently rendered, to explore the roots of phobia, that immense, unreasoning fear of certain situations or objects. With subtlety, the author shares the feelings of the two protagonists, their respective terrors, and tames them with gentleness. The setting of the City of Doges offers splendour and mystery to the whole, and under the illustrator's brushstrokes, the charm works ..." - L'Est Eclair
"Far from adopting a simplistic or falsely didactic tone, the author demonstrates genuine insight. The narration alternates between the little girl and the bird, allowing the reader to understand the animal’s emotions as seriously as those of the child. Through a play of verbal repetition and visual parallels, text and image come together to suggest the reciprocity between the two characters. The framing and transitions are thoughtfully crafted to reflect their gradual taming of one another and the unfolding of their successive encounters.
Indeed, through courage and empathy, initial apprehension slowly gives way to a bond that is as unexpected as it is poetic.
A picture book filled with sensitivity, intelligence, and gentleness—helping us face our fears and respond with kindness. The story is accompanied by sumptuous watercolours in misty tones, with shades of mauve and pink dominating the palette." - Ricochet jeunesTHE AUTHOR
Chiara Mezzalama is an Italian writer, translator and psychotherapist, living in Paris. She writes for both adults and children. Her picture book The Garden of Inside Outside, nominated for the Kate Greenaway medal 2021 and winner of the 2018 Prix Sorcières has been translated into 5 languages. She is also the author of The Silk Dress, illustrated by Régis Lejonc.
THE ILLUSTRATOR
Mariachiara Di Giorgio is Italian. She studied illustration in Rome and then Paris. Her talent has been rewarded, two times exhibited at the Bologna Book Fair Illustrator's exhibition (2015 - 2016), two Prix Sorcières (France, 2018 - 2022), a Luigi Malerba award and the 2022 Andersen Prize (Italy) for the best silent book. She lives in Rome.