Perdu by Richard Jones

(Simon & Schuster, 2020)

Good to Read for:

developing empathy
discussing refugees and the homeless
cosy snuggles with your child

‘Perdu’ is French for ‘lost’. You probably knew that already. (I point it out because I didn’t!) It’s a nice little fact to share with your child. It’s also the name of the story’s protagonist – a scruffy little mutt searching for a place to call home in Perdu by Richard Jones (Simon & Schuster 2020).

In his publisher’s Q & A, Jones recalls how, as he developed his idea, the media was full of images of people fleeing conflict and persecution. “It was at the same time heartbreaking and inspiring to witness, and the notions of home and place were at the forefront of much of the reporting.” (Sadly, some two years later at the time of writing this, the media is once more filled with displaced people – this time from Ukraine.)

These notions of home and place helped shape Jones’s ideas. Like Paddington, he explains, Perdu “would be a displaced soul, a refugee of sorts, strong and brave.” The School Library Journal praised the resulting picture book as a ‘touching story’ and an ‘excellent way to teach compassion and empathy.’

You may disagree that the plight of refugees is a suitable subject for the young and innocent. But that was Jones’s intention – and it works. Children will pick up snatches and snippets of distressing news from the world around them, however much you may try and protect them. More importantly, they may be sat next to a refugee in the classroom. And that’s when picture books like Perdu – and the theme of searching for safety – come into their own. (Other choice examples of picture books about refugees and the homeless include Mr Toots, Refugee and The Suitcase.)

On the other hand, Perdu works splendidly as the simple story of a little lost dog in search of a home. Jones’s art is exquisite. Textured and bold, to my eye, it has a warm, retro feel reminiscent of illustrators like Ezra Jack Keats and Charley Harper. Perdu himself has all the charm of a scruffy little mongrel, and much of the story’s emotion is told through the brilliant way Jones captures his body language.

He wears an eye-catching red scarf. It’s a helpful device to draw our attention to the dark-coloured dog, particularly in scenes where he’s deliberately shown to look small and vulnerable. (For the same reason, I gave Mole a red striped jumper in DANGEROUS!).

Perdu begins with the pup, head held low, wandering alone in a large, open landscape. As the reader turns the page, night sets in.

The sky was dark, the wind howled and so did Perdu.

He spies a falling leaf which ‘land[s] with a whispery tap on the water.’ It’s the first of several evocative lines that capture the sensation of a particular moment. Here’s another, after Perdu has followed the leaf, carried along by a stream, through the countryside:

The ground beneath his paws felt different now.
Tip, Tip, Tip, Tip, Tip, Tip, Tip, Tip
went his claws on the city concrete.

The review site Get Kids Into Books praised Perdu for its ‘wonderfully rich’ language. “There’s a poetry to Richard’s words,” remarks Rachel. “I loved savouring them as I read the book aloud to my son.” This raises an important point: sharing stories with children should also be satisfying for the adult reader (a key factor when selecting my recommendations).

Crowds of people rush past Perdu as he searches the streets for a place to belong. I must find my place, thought Perdu. I must find somewhere.

But no one gives the tiny dog a second glance. No one – apart from a girl wearing a large, red bobble hat. On first reading, she’s easy to overlook. With subsequent reads, you see the power of picture books at play. Because there she is, in the background throughout the story, a sub-text of kindness, watching little Perdu.

Jones’s writing is evocative, yet it is paired down. He allows space for his illustrations to tell the tale. So Perdu is seen atop a massive statue of a lion, searching for his special place. Reminiscent of the lions at Trafalgar Square, the sculpture is a nod to Jones’ earlier creation, The Snow Lion.

But there was no place for Perdu.
“Get out!” they shouted.
“Go away!”
“Shoo!”

Perdu’s body language says it all and tugs at the heartstrings. Scared and lost, he stares longingly through a café window. ‘His tummy rumbled and grumbled. He had to find something to eat.’

In his attempt to get at the food, Perdu pulls at a tablecloth, sending plates, bags and chairs flying. Crash, bump, clang! People shout, and Perdu becomes cornered.

He cowered and trembled until…
Scared, he growled back.
Scared, he snarled. Scared, he barked.

Petite Perdu is no threat. The unfriendly crowd (mentioned in the text but not shown visually – instead, the focus is on Perdu) chases him out of the café. In the kerfuffle, Perdu’s scarf comes loose and falls to the ground.

Perdu makes his escape, coming to rest in a park:

He made himself a circle of pine cones, pebbles and leaves and curled up tight in the middle, a scared ball of worry.

Remember the red bobble-hatted girl? Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted her sitting at a table in the café window. Witnessing the commotion, she follows Perdu to return his scarf.

“Is this yours?” she asks softly.
Perdu looked into her kind eyes as she tied his scarf.
And all at once, he knew he was safe.

It’s a tender moment that doesn’t need explanation. The illustration of the girl and the dog – shown eye-to-eye in a quiet moment of intimate connection – says it all.

As well as serving as a beacon to highlight his position on the page, Perdu’s red scarf has an intentionally more profound significance. Here’s Jones in an interview for the book’s blog tour:

“For [Perdu,] the scarf is a connection to his previous life and it means everything. So when the little girl finds it lying on the road and returns it to him, she is returning to him his sense of self, his status and worth. A small, kind gesture with wonderful consequences.”

– Richard Jones, The Children’s Book Award Blog Tour – Perdu by Richard Jones (Library Lady blog)

And what of the fact that both the girl’s scarf and the dog’s scarf are both bright red?

‘The red scarf [Perdu] wears and the red knitted hat worn by the girl stand out as beacons to connect them throughout most of the book’, notes Just Imagine’s review of the book. Initially, this connection (as with the girl) is easily overlooked. But it adds a subtle layer, and kids will enjoy searching for the little girl in the pictures over subsequent readings.

Kids without a soft spot for animals must be few and far between – so Perdu is a sure-fire hit.

It pulls on the heartstrings for sure, reminding me of a previous recommendation, the wonderful, Let’s Get a Pup! by Bob Graham. Like Pup!, it has a satisfying conclusion. Perdu finds his forever home – curled up alongside his new friend, the little girl, her red bobble hat hanging from a peg on the bedroom wall.

Safe and warm.

Home at last.

I’m glad Jones wasn’t tempted to give Perdu a back-story. Sometimes it’s nice to retain a margin of mystery.

This open-fronted aspect of Perdu’s story presents an opportunity for kids to get creative and develop their own ideas. It may seem obvious – but this simple act of storytelling is hugely empowering. How? Because there are no rights or wrongs, however fanciful the child’s own ideas.

It may be ‘just’ a picture book. But Perdu contains a lesson for us all. In response to the question: What do you hope readers will take away from Perdu? its creator replied:

Above all, the story is one of kindness and hope. It would be wonderful if readers were inspired not only by Perdu’s bravery and determination but also by the compassion and patience of his friend, the little girl.

– Author Spotlight: Richard Jones on Perdu, Peachtree Books

Tips for sharing Perdu

The quiet tone of the words and pictures make this an excellent winding-down book for bedtime. Get ready for extra snuggles – particularly from sensitive kids – as they experience empathy for Perdu.
Jones deliberately left Perdu’s origin story to his readers’ imaginations. Chat with your child about where Perdu may have come from. How did he come by his red scarf, and why is it important to him?
Use Perdu to start age-appropriate conversations about the homeless and refugees. Focus on the positive messages of finding a safe refuge and caring strangers. Then feel good about yourself for developing your child’s sense of empathy.

STORIES WORTH SHARING

Perdu by Richard Jones

(Simon & Schuster, 2020)

Good to Read for:

developing empathy
conversations around refugees and the homeless
cosy snuggles with your child

cick here for perdu activity sheets

Copyright © 2020 Richard Jones (Text & Illustrations)

From PERDU by Richard Jones

(Simon & Schuster)

GOOD TO READ

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My New Home by Marta Altes

Melrose and Croc by Emma Chichester Clark

King of the Sky by Nicola Davies & Laura Carlin

Beegu by Alexis Deacon

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

Perdu by Richard Jones

Red Ted and the Lost Things by Michael Rosen & Joel Stewart

There is a Tribe of Kids by Lane Smith

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