Azil #1

A charming young bear cub named Azil — backpack strapped on and arms outstretched for balance — tiptoes across a mossy fallen log above a gentle stream, with wildflowers, leafy trees, and a fluttering butterfly filling the warm, watercolor scene. The subtitle Chez Gaëtan Becpincé hints at an adventure just beginning, perfectly matched by that wide-eyed, determined little stride. Jean-Marie Omont, Charlotte Girard, and Tanja Wenisch bring an immediately inviting gentleness to this 2016 Éditions de la Gouttière release.