In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.
In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.
Ferdinand Cheval: The Postman Who Delivered a Palace Trade Book (Paperback)
Written ByAnne Renaud
Illustrated byAna Salopek
Written ByAnne Renaud
Illustrated byAna Salopek
Critically Reviewed
Critically Reviewed
Award Winner
Award Winner
In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.
In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.
In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.
Theme19th Century Communities, Arts and Culture, Biography, Dreamers and Inventors, Historical Biographies
BISAC Subject HeadingsJuvenile Nonfiction / Lifestyles / Country Life Juvenile Nonfiction / Art / Sculpture Juvenile Nonfiction / People & Places / Europe
Juvenile Nonfiction / Lifestyles / Country Life Juvenile Nonfiction / Art / Sculpture Juvenile Nonfiction / People & Places / Europe
Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens
Author & Illustrator
Anne Renaud
Anne Renaud is an award-winning children’s author who writes in both French and English. Her readers often ask her why she writes books. She tells them it is because she likes to do creative things and she finds writing to be a very creative exercise. It is also because she cannot dance well, sing well, juggle well, or do magic tricks, so she tries her best to write well. Anne stumbled upon the story of Ferdinand Cheval quite by chance while she was researching another one of her books. This often happens with writers. She found Ferdinand Cheval to be particularly inspiring because it told the story of how one man never gave up on his dream. Anne hopes this story will inspire children to pursue their dreams too.
Ana Salopek
Ana Salopek lives in Ogulin, Croatia. She is a proud mom of a five-year-old girl who occasionally borrows her daughter's worldview on what truly matters in life. She creates and exhibits under her real name, Ana Salopek, as well as her pseudonym, gospođica ura. She uses books as her private time machine and creates using digital techniques as they give her more freedom. She believes that during the night, her legs lengthen as a giraffe’s neck allowing her to reach for the stars.
In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.
In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.
Theme
19th Century Communi
19th Century Communities, Arts and Culture, Biography, Dreamers and Inventors, Historical Biographies
Juvenile Nonfiction
Juvenile Nonfiction / Lifestyles / Country Life Juvenile Nonfiction / Art / Sculpture Juvenile Nonfiction / People & Places / Europe
Full Description
In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.
Author & Illustrator
Anne Renaud
Anne Renaud is an award-winning children’s author who writes in both French and English. Her readers often ask her why she writes books. She tells them it is because she likes to do creative things and she finds writing to be a very creative exercise. It is also because she cannot dance well, sing well, juggle well, or do magic tricks, so she tries her best to write well. Anne stumbled upon the story of Ferdinand Cheval quite by chance while she was researching another one of her books. This often happens with writers. She found Ferdinand Cheval to be particularly inspiring because it told the story of how one man never gave up on his dream. Anne hopes this story will inspire children to pursue their dreams too.
Ana Salopek
Ana Salopek lives in Ogulin, Croatia. She is a proud mom of a five-year-old girl who occasionally borrows her daughter's worldview on what truly matters in life. She creates and exhibits under her real name, Ana Salopek, as well as her pseudonym, gospođica ura. She uses books as her private time machine and creates using digital techniques as they give her more freedom. She believes that during the night, her legs lengthen as a giraffe’s neck allowing her to reach for the stars.
Awards
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens
