MELI & MAC

In Joannides’ illustrated children’s book, an adventuresome brother-sister duo learns French while helping a lost flamingo find his way to a shrimp festival.

Meli and Mac, two pale-skinned, English-speaking siblings, plan to travel with their family to France. One day, bored of studying French, Mac proposes that they go on one of their signature expeditions. The pair pack up and head to Serendipity Forest and up a tree, where they encounter a “very chic but weary looking flamingo” from France. The flamingo, Freddie, got lost on his way to a “Shrimp Extravaganza”—the biggest shrimp-eating festival for flamingos—because he struggled to read the English on the road signs. He’s been flying for days with no shrimp or algae to give his feathers their signature pink hue. Meli and Mac decide to help him and, armed with their “magic map,” they make it to his destination. The siblings enjoy themselves at the festival, catching shrimp for Freddie before they return home, where Mac resumes studying French. Joannides’ text is lively and entertaining with a clear storyline that young readers will enjoy. Ende’s full-color, painterly illustrations add to the story, and French phrases are peppered throughout with footnoted translations to encourage youngsters to learn new words. One drawback is that the focus on the French language may somewhat limit its accessibility for readers who are unfamiliar with French pronunciation. However, the book’s focus on the importance of multilingualism for cultural understanding is one that many will find refreshing.

An energetic and engaging tale that introduces French phrases to English speakers.