The Adventures of Teddy and Tina (Vol. 2)

【Editor's Recommendations】
Recording the ordinary lives we've experienced but overlooked
Preserving the joys and sorrows we've felt but can't quite articulate
Learning to take care of ourselves and our families
Feeling self-worth and belonging
Allowing children to do what they can for the family
Enabling children to be proud of their small achievements
The "Ernest & Celestine" picture book series is a classic, internationally acclaimed work by the renowned Belgian artist Gabrielle Vincent. Since its first publication in 1981, it has been translated into 12 languages, including French, American English, Italian, and Japanese, winning numerous international awards and selling over 2 million copies worldwide.
“Ernest & Celestine” arrived in China in the early 21st century. It tells the story of the gentle and naive bear Ernest and the sensitive and mischievous mouse Celestine: when the family repeatedly falls into difficulties, each family member works together, eventually overcoming the low point, and discovering that the key to solving problems is not merely making money, but mutual support. The vivid depictions of childlike expressions and the detailed portrayal of ordinary life record daily snippets we've experienced but ignored, preserving the joys and sorrows we've felt but can't quite articulate. Because of its authenticity, growing children and every adult who was once a child can find their own resonance and healing in a particular scene, expression, or action.
This re-release of the "Ernest & Celestine" picture book series is the first time the original Belgian hardcover design has been restored in China. This authentic presentation aims to let this simple seed sprout and take root in the hearts of Chinese readers, wishing us to maintain patience in increasingly fast-paced lives. May we cherish our unadorned souls. May we be proud not only of our success but also of how happy we are.
In the stories of the second collection (including "The Street Musicians," "Ernest is Sick," "Ernest Falls Down," and "Aunt Josephine's Bedroom"), Ernest has bad luck – sometimes he's sick, sometimes he falls, sometimes he's unemployed, sometimes he doesn't have money to entertain relatives. Celestine, whom Ernest has always considered a child, patiently accompanies Ernest and comes up with many clever ways to resolve the difficulties! Ernest and Celestine, this family, happily experience the ups and downs of life.
When we spoil our children and try to protect them for life, we inadvertently neglect their rights – children have the right to learn how to overcome difficulties. In fact, we can be "filters," filtering out situations that children can face and handle, and then consciously stepping back, allowing children to experience and grow, and always being ready to help when they truly cannot solve a problem, returning the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment from overcoming life's difficulties and challenges to the children.
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I. Why re-release "Ernest & Celestine"?
1. Restoring the hardcover, large-format design of the original Belgian book. The meticulously selected paper and materials support repeated reading and imagination, while the spacious illustrations comfortably convey the delicate emotions poured in by the author. This helps children appreciate the visual details in a natural and comfortable way, generating a serious reading mood the moment they open the cover, immersing themselves in the artistic world depicted by the author.
2. A curated selection of 16 representative works released in collections, each addressing a topic of child development and offering inspiration for adults exploring themselves.
Collection 1: Gaining lifelong security
(4 books - "Simon is Lost," "The Story of a Photograph," "The Holiday Home," "Celestine's Quandary")
Collection 2: Giving children self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment
(4 books - "Ernest Falls Down," "Ernest is Sick," "The Street Musicians," "Aunt Josephine's Bedroom")
Collection 3: Creating happy times
(5 books - "Let's Go for a Picnic," "Celestine's Cunning Idea," "The Maze Game," "At the Art Gallery," "At the Circus")
Collection 4: A Christmas with a sense of ritual
(2 books - "The Christmas Party," "The Christmas Tree in the Snow")
Special Collection: The Secret of Their Origins (Finalized Line Drawing Edition, 1 book)
3. Inviting renowned children's author and translator Mei Sifan to conduct the third review and revision of the translation, and to add exclusive introductory analyses.
Mei Sifan has dedicated over a decade to translating Gabrielle Vincent's works. Currently, all original translations of Gabrielle's works in China are from her pen, making her the first to introduce Gabrielle to Chinese readers and the translator with the longest and most comprehensive research. Gabrielle once described her creative process: "There's no need to draw everything; just use very simple lines to express all meanings." Mei Sifan's translation closely adheres to the author's artistic pursuit – concise and condensed, leaving ample space for readers to experience emotions and content. The calm and understated text complements the subtle and profound illustrations, fully expressing the author's rich inner world.
II. How a Master Was Forged - An Unconventional Artistic Personality and Humble Craftsmanship
Gabrielle Vincent, whose real name was Monique Martin, was a professional painter who graduated from the Brussels Higher Institute of Arts. Due to the prejudice against popular picture books at the time, she did not hesitate to hide her name to complete the creation of this book. From the publication of the first book in the series, "Simon is Lost," in 1981, until her death in 2000, the "Ernest & Celestine" series was Gabrielle's longest-running picture book project, taking nearly 20 years to illustrate the entire set. She rarely gave interviews, did not chase trends, and maintained a calm attitude towards the success of the book. "Everything I want to express is already in my work." "A touching picture book must be created out of joy and for oneself, so that a great rapport can be established between adults, parents, children, and the author, and everyone can share joy and emotion."
The stories of Ernest and Celestine are deeply loved by children, so businesses often contacted the author Gabrielle Vincent, hoping to market merchandise related to Ernest and Celestine, but Gabrielle always refused. She believed: "If I did that, mothers all over the world would be forced to buy them. I want every child to cherish everything in their imaginative world, just like Celestine and Ernest. Let children enter a beautiful, imaginative world, their own world, while reading..."
III. Numerous Awards, and the Adapted Animated Film Was Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 86th Academy Awards.
The first book in the "Ernest et Célestine" series, "Simon is Lost" (ont perdu Siméon), published in 1981, caused a sensation at the Bologna Children's Book Fair that year. Over 20 years, the "Ernest & Celestine" series has received numerous international awards and recognition from several governments: a nomination for the Picture Book Award at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, the world's largest, most authoritative, and influential children's book fair and annual children's book exhibition; the Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award, which moved Japanese readers across the ocean; inclusion in the New York Times' Ten Best Illustrated Books; and more than a dozen international awards, including the Belgian French Community Minister's Award and the French Foundation Grand Prize. It was selected for "1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up," edited by the famous British children's author, publisher, and judge Julia Eccleshare. It was hailed by renowned Japanese children's book promoter Kunio Yanagida as one of "the picture books adults should also read."
In 2014, the adapted animated film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 86th Academy Awards, narrowly losing to "Frozen."
IV. Media Reviews
"Ernest & Celestine" tells a universal theme: human emotional connection. With incredible simplicity and refinement, it depicts the everyday details of life. The author, Gabrielle Vincent, was someone who disliked interviews and ignored all trends. While she was delighted to receive letters from admirers on the other side of the world, her attitude towards the international success of her characters was generally very calm. When she refused an invitation from a famous television station or an interview with a well-known journalist, she would always say to me: "Everything I want to express is already in my work."
—Arnaud de la Croix (Editor of the original "Ernest & Celestine" series)
You don't even need to open the book to know you will be moved by its stories and characters. On the cover, Gabrielle Vincent's illustrations of Ernest and Celestine convey the tenderness and poetry she infused into her work.
Ernest is a poor bear. While sweeping the streets, he discovers the mischievous baby mouse Celestine in a dumpster, and from then on, he begins to shelter and raise her. They live happily together, despite their poverty. Every book in the "Ernest & Celestine" series deals with themes of love, generosity, and imagination. Most impressive is how, at Christmas, Ernest and Celestine are too poor to buy a Christmas tree, yet they still manage to make all their friends happy with thoughtful small gifts.
"Ernest & Celestine" is a rare, almost perfect series of storybooks, focused on emotional expression. The simple stories skillfully address many poignant issues, such as loss and grief, which can be relevant to children. This series of stories is very charming, and it's easy to see why Gabrielle Vincent has gained worldwide recognition.
—"1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up"
(Edited by Julia Eccleshare, renowned British children's author and publisher)
Among picture books that demonstrate the power of "touching the heart," my favorites are Gabrielle Vincent's picture books. Reading her books, we shed tears from an inner warmth, and when the tears stop, a fresh feeling arises in our hearts, and the will to live is revived.
"Forgotten loneliness" is a major theme of the twenty-first century. Someone ignored and abandoned needs only simple tenderness and love. In modern society, where leisure is scarce, parent-child communication barriers occur in almost all families, and Gabrielle Vincent's message can be said to be extremely important.
—Kunio Yanagida (Renowned Japanese children's book promoter, advocate of "picture books for adults")
【Content Synopsis】
Ernest the bear is gentle, naive, and shy, sometimes a little pessimistic and melancholic.
Celestine the mouse is sensitive, fragile, and childish, and very lively and mischievous around those she is close to.
In the stories of the second collection (including "The Street Musicians," "Ernest is Sick," "Ernest Falls Down," and "Aunt Josephine's Bedroom"), Ernest has bad luck – sometimes he's sick, sometimes he falls, sometimes he's unemployed, sometimes he doesn't have money to entertain relatives. Celestine, whom Ernest has always considered a child, patiently accompanies Ernest and comes up with many clever ways to resolve the difficulties! Ernest and Celestine, this family, happily experience the ups and downs of life.
Contrast runs through the entire second collection: Ernest, as the family's pillar, faces life's setbacks and helplessness, and even the seemingly indestructible him has moments of helplessness and despair. And Celestine, who has always been cared for and carefree, unearths optimistic, strong, and skillful aspects of her personality when facing repeated changes. The tiny Celestine, who needs to stand on a stool to reach the cutting board, happily cooks for Ernest; the delicate Celestine, to protect Ernest, bursts with athletic energy, sprinting to the pharmacy to buy medicine with the speed of an athlete. Celestine is truly amazing! With the desire to protect her family, Celestine overcomes her preconceived notions of being small and weak with astonishing courage. She yearns to be an equal member contributing to her family, and when she realizes she can do many things, she gains a new sense of self-worth and belonging, and achieves an inner courage.
As parents, we should not deprive children of the opportunity to experience their own abilities, as this prevents them from understanding whether they have the capacity to face and solve problems, and from developing a sense of security from growing capabilities.
Furthermore, Kunio Yanagida, a renowned Japanese children's book promoter and advocate of "picture books for adults," specifically mentioned "The Street Musicians" from the second collection in his new work, "Picture Books That Move Adults," stating:
They succeeded in becoming "street musicians" because Celestine's singing and Ernest's violin playing blended together, moving passersby. They were poor but not desperate; instead, they supported each other and lived optimistically, and I believe music can warm the heart. The cover of this picture book shows Ernest holding Celestine amidst other mice on the street. In fact, the author is gently telling us about the "inner warmth" and "motivation for life" that music brings.
So, if you consider yourself a "mature adult," don't miss this collection of stories!
Synopsis of individual books
"The Street Musicians"
Celestine and Ernest are preparing to fix the roof, but they don't have enough money for materials. They need to find a way to solve this problem. Finally, the clever Celestine comes up with an idea. She finds Ernest's old violin and wakes him up from his nap, telling him to practice playing the violin to perform on the street... But the next day, on the street, Ernest and Celestine don't earn any money. Why is that? It turns out Celestine's beautiful singing was missing! Eventually, with Celestine singing and Ernest playing the violin, they earn a lot of money. However, they still don't manage to fix the roof. What's the story behind that?
"Ernest is Sick"
Like many sleepy children, Celestine loves to sleep in in the mornings. So, every morning Ernest would get up early, light the stove, make breakfast, and then wake Celestine up and urge her to get out of bed. But today, why didn't Ernest come to wake Celestine? The stove wasn't lit either... It turns out Ernest is sick! Celestine is distraught! She sprints to find the doctor. The doctor arrives, prescribes medicine for Ernest, and then suggests that Ernest hire someone to help around the house and also look after the "little child." It turns out the doctor didn't see Celestine as an adult at all, but rather as a "little child"! But Celestine says, "I can take good care of Ernest!" So, she starts acting as Ernest's "nurse"...
"Ernest Falls Down"
Ernest and Celestine are excitedly heading to their friend Jérôme's wedding. The big day is tomorrow, and Celestine, the little bridesmaid, puts on her rose-colored velvet jacket and brings bright red flowers, ready to offer warm wishes to her friend. Unexpectedly, on the way, Ernest falls down! And he's badly hurt! What should little Celestine do? Will Celestine and Ernest still be able to attend the wedding as planned?
"Aunt Josephine's Bedroom"
Ernest's aunt is coming back, and Ernest and little Celestine discuss how to beautifully arrange a comfortable and respectable bedroom for Aunt Josephine. But where will they get furniture? Ernest comes up with a great idea – to scavenge for things in the junkyard. So they go together to salvage many items from junkyards and garbage dumps, such as old carpets, old chandeliers, old pajamas, and old umbrellas, old mattresses, old sofas, and so on. They clean and mend these items, and finally manage to furnish a bedroom. But then an even more serious problem arises – the weather isn't cooperating, and their house keeps leaking...

2018-12-01

贵州教育出版社

250

9787545612059