Colette’s Lost Pet

Isabelle Arsenault

A charming and funny story about navigating new places and friendships. 

Colette is exploring her new neighborhood and wants to make friends. But when she encounters someone her age she’s never met before, she doesn’t know what to say—so she hastily invents a lost pet! Things spiral a bit out of control as a neighborhood-wide search party is assembled and Colette makes her pet bird more amazing with each telling. Will the neighborhood kids catch on to her ever-growing fib?
This charming story both clearly identifies the struggle of navigating a different experience and demonstrates to kids a lovely and welcoming way to treat someone new in their community.

Awards

Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design – Children (2017)
Prix des Libraires Award (2018)
A Quill & Quire Best Kids’ Book of the Year (2017)
A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids pick
A Booklist Editor’s Choice pick
Starred in CCBC’S Best Books for Kids & Teens (2017)

Press voices

“[M]agical . . . Arsenault continues to teach us about children while advancing the art of books created for them.” The New York Times

“Arsenault crafts a story rooted in themes of understanding, empathy, and the way imagination can be used to silently conspire and inspire.”Starred Review, Quill & Quire

“With a graphic-novel-like format, arresting artwork, and a story that will ring true to many little kids with big imaginations of their own, this warm, funny picture book hits all the right notes.” Starred Review, Booklist

“Arsenault’s story has the feel of a campfire song, increasingly fun and outrageous until the joyful end and its promise of new friendships.” Kirkus Reviews

“The boundary between picture book and comic is delightfully blurred in this sensitive story about a girl with a yellow raincoat and a fictional lost pet.” National Post

“Arsenault’s drawings, in grays, blacks, yellows and a bit of light blue, are sweet but not saccharine, and the hand-lettered text is relaxed and inviting—much like the entire story. Delightful.” —BookPage

“Isabelle Arsenault has created a memorable young protagonist who will charm readers with her vivid imagination and dynamic spirit.” Canadian Children’s Book News

 

Books in the Mile End Kids series