2012 Bestseller

Paris-Chien made the list.
Between the Cover's 2012 Bestsellers in Children's Books.
Grace à Daiva and everyone at BTC!

We visited Bretano’s American Bookstore in Paris on Saturday, where the buyer oohed and aahed over Paris-Chien,  and will be stocking the second printing! Shakespeare and Company is also sold out, but will  order books from Ingram when the second printing is out in May.

Brentano's Bookstore, Paris

We visited Brentano's American Bookstore in Paris, and showed Paris-Chien to Catherine, the children's book buyer. As she turned the pages she smiled, then laughed. Which made us smile. When she closed the book she said she loved the "authentic" and "nostalgic" paintings and would order ten copies to put in the window. That really made us smile!

Shakespeare and Company, Paris

We visited Shakespeare and Company in Paris in November, and showed Paris-Chien to Sylvia Whitman Beach. She ordered on the spot.

They sold out and will re-order when the reprint is available in June.

We have a national distributor!

Small Press United from IPG, which stands for Independent Publishers Group, the original and second largest independent book distributor in the United States. Now bookstores and librarians can place orders from Ingram, Brodart, Baker & Taylor, Quality, Follet or their favorite supplier. Paris-Chien will be available again in June wherever books are sold. www.ipgbook.com

Interview with Spencer le Border at Perrin Paris

November 15, 2012 at Perrin Paris

SLB: Jackie has come from California for her first Paris booksigning. We met on this occasion, a few months after I discovered her book, Paris-Chien: adventures of an ex-pat dog, where Jackie has used her art to describe Hudson’s

JCM: Bonjour, Spencer. It’s always a pleasure to come to France and to Paris in particular. Thank you for coming to the signing.

SLB: This signing has given us the opportunity to meet, and to share the adventures of Hudson with Parisians. What made you want to write the book?

JCM: I’ll tell you a secret: Hudson didn’t really go to Paris. My friend Ariane had adopted him just before I left to stay in Paris for a few months. From the moment we met, Hudson and I were fond of each another. I consider myself his aunt. When I was living in Paris, I liked to sit in the park and draw dogs, and I often thought of him when I took photos and made gouaches of people and dogs I saw on my walks in the city. Paris is a city of dogs. You see them everywhere with their owners. Little by little, the sketches took shape and the idea came to me of bringing Hudson into the picture. I don’t speak French well, and I substituted Hudson for myself.

SLB: How has the book been received in the U.S.?

JCM: Oh, it’s been a success. Each book signing is an event, with dogs and children. In fact, Paris-Chien has become as much a book for adults as for kids.

SLB: The dog is a wonderful companion who guides children as they discover a new city, a new culture in the pages. For Francophiles, this little book is a way to reconnect with Paris and French culture. For those who don’t know French, it allows them to quickly learn a few words and discover French customs, the bakeries, neighborhood markets, gardens.

Paris-Chien is not just for kids and dog owners, but will be enjoyed by all urban adventurers. Americans love Paris and France and Hudson is a marvelous ambassador!

JCM: Thank you, Spencer. It was great getting to meet you in person. À la prochaine! (until next time!)

Learn more about PARIS A 4 PATTES on Spencer's
Premier e-guide des chiens parisiens par Spencer Le Border,
Informations, adresses, conseils, vous feront (re)découvrir la Ville Lumière côté chien.
impressions and encounters in Paris.

Monsieur Marcel

Paris-Chien: adventures of an ex-pat dog can be found at Monsieur Marcel in the L.A. Farmer's Market and their new Beverly Hills store.

Book signing at Reader's Books, Sonoma

It was great to see old friends!

and make new ones

In good company at Barnes & Noble

Book Signing at Perrin Paris Beverly Hills

Publishers Weekly

"Hudson, a plucky terrier, can't wait to meet some French dogs while spending a year in Paris. Though Hudson sees many other dogs running errands with their owners, everyone is "so busy going places" that he isn't able to make friends. When he finally finds a dog park, another obstacle arises: the dogs only speak French ("Oh great," Hudson thinks. "I thought all dogs spoke Dog"). Hudson slowly absorbs the French language (thanks to lessons from—who else?—a French poodle), and debut author Mancuso includes a sprinkling of French words throughout, which are defined in a glossary. The story showcases Mancuso's playful, gouache paintings of Paris and its human and canine denizens (Hudson appears in roughly half of the images), and she gives Hudson a bold, amusing narrative voice tinged with self-righteousness ("Are you kidding me?" he grumbles, seeing a no-dogs sign at one park), and he ends the story on a droll note, announcing that he's becoming a real Parisian—"I mean Paris-chien."  Ages 3–6.

Book Signing at Between the Covers in Telluride

Storytime at pages, a bookstore

Today Jackie read to some little kids in Manhattan Beach. When she asked if anyone had ever been to Paris, one little boy raised his hand and said, "I was just there this weekend!" Who knows--maybe he was? When she finished reading, they passed out paper and crayons and everyone drew a picture of me!

bonjour tout le monde

I am an artist and writer, and I’ve just published a children’s picture book about a dog who goes to live in Paris for a year.

In my book “Paris-Chien,” Hudson, an adventurous Norwich Terrier, moves to Paris for a year with his mom. He loves the new sights and smells, but when he tries to make friends, Hudson discovers the Parisian dogs don’t speak Dog, they only speak French. Nobody told Hudson about this part! He’s lonely and wants to go home. When his mom suggests going to French class, Hudson discovers other ex-pat dogs are in the same boat. Determined to make friends, he hits the books, studies, and things begin to look up. Hudson becomes a Paris-Chien!

The book carries a message for children about how to cope with change in their lives. Little Hudson’s desire to make friends and thrive in his new environment is so strong that he learns a new language.

Illustrated with colorful gouache paintings of Paris streets, parks, markets, cafes, and dogs, the story will entertain children (and adults) who like dogs and France. Some French words appear in the gouache illustrations, so the book also serves as an introduction to learning French – although Hudson’s successful experience will be consoling to any child set down in any new country, regardless of language.