"If the illustration adds to the story, if it widens its scope, the whole book becomes more interesting, richer. And the artist, other than the writer, has been given the opportunity to express him/herself. To me, it's like a duo where each person plays a different musical instrument in harmony. This is how I perceive the relationship between story and illustrations." (translation)
(Ginette Anfousse quoted in "Rencontre avec Ginette Anfousse", by Marie-Jeanne Robin. Lurelu, volume 2, no. 4, hiver 1979. Montréal: Communication-Jeunesse, 1979. P. 13.)
Jiji (Jojo in the English translations) and her lovable toy aardvark, Pichou, are the colourful creations of author/illustrator Ginette Anfousse, one of the first picture-book artists in Quebec to gain recognition in the rest of the country. While growing up in Montreal, Anfousse's passion for reading was equaled only by her interest in drawing. After high school she studied at L'École des Beaux Arts in Montreal, and then moved on to a career at Radio Canada as a graphic artist. Although she wrote her first two books about Jiji in 1972, they languished in a drawer for four years before a friend sent them to a publisher. When working on picture books, Anfousse works on text and illustration simultaneously, partnering her fresh, colourful images with simple, straightforward text. Harmony between image and text is essential to this award-winning author and illustrator. In the Pichou books, a few lines of text per page provide the basis of each story and the accompanying illustration supplies the rest. She uses a storyboard to arrange her rough drawings chronologically. From there, she proceeds to more detailed pencil sketches, followed by ink drawings. Vivid splashes of colour are added with watercolours, India ink, and coloured pencils. The National Library holds material from the Mon Ami Pichou series, 13 illustrated stories for young children published by Les éditions la courte échelle. Each book is documented from conception to publication, and includes the inspiration for Jiji, the main character of the Pichou series as well as storyboards and original illustrations.
Awards
 1978 | Canada Council Children's Literature Prize, French language, text and illustration, for La Varicelle and La Chicane. |
| 1982 | Canada Council Children's Literature Prize, French language, text, for Fabien 1: Un Loup pour Rose and Fabien 2: Une Nuit au pays des malices. |
| 1987 | Le prix Fleury-Mesplet for the best Quebec children's author of the last 10 years. |
| 1988 | Prix Québec/Wallonie-Bruxelles for Les Catastrophes de Rosalie. |
| 1989 | Mr. Christie's Book Award for French text for Rosalie s'en va-t-en guerre. |
Selected Bibliography
Books for Children
Arthur Throws a Tantrum. Written by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Sarah Cummins; illustrated by Anne Villeneuve. Halifax: Formac, 1993.
58 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (First Novel; FN 11)
ISBN 0887802214 (pbk.)
ISBN 0887802222 (bound)
(English edition of Les Barricades d'Arthur)
Arthur's Dad. Written by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Sarah Cummins; illustrated by Anne Villeneuve. Halifax: Formac, 1991.
59 p.: ill.; 19 cm. (First Novel; FN 4)
ISBN 0887800947 (paper)
ISBN 0887800955 (boards)
(English edition of Le Père d'Arthur)
Arthur's Problem Puppy. Written by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Sarah Cummins; illustrated by Anne Villeneuve. Halifax: Formac, 1994, c1993.
59 p.: ill.; 19 cm. (First Novel; FN 13)
ISBN 0887802761 (paper)
ISBN 088780277X (boards)
(English edition of Le Chien d'Arthur)
A Baby Sister. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Linda Gaboriau. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou, 9)
ISBN 2762551684
(English edition of La Petite soeur)
Les Barricades d'Arthur. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Anne Villeneuve. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1992.
61 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Premier roman PR 23)
ISBN 2890211630
The Bath. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Mayer Romaner. Toronto: New Canada Publications, 1981.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 0919601685
(Reissued in 1988 as Soap. English edition of Le Savon)
La Cachette. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1979, c1976.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 2)
ISBN 2890210154
Les Catastrophes de Rosalie. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1987.
95 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman-jeunesse 6)
ISBN 2890210650
La Chicane. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1979, c1978.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 3)
ISBN 2890210170
Chicken Pox. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Mayer Romaner. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1981, c1979.
21 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 4)
ISBN 2762551633
(English edition of La Varicelle)
Le Chien d'Arthur. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Anne Villeneuve. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, c1993.
62 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Premier roman; PR 30)
ISBN 289021186X
Devine? Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1990.
23 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou, 11)
ISBN 289021138X
L'École. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1983.
23 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 7)
ISBN 2890210413
La Fête. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1983.
23 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 8)
ISBN 2890210421
The Fight. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Linda Gaboriau. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988, c1978.
21 p. col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 3)
ISBN 2762551625
(English edition of La Chicane)
Le Grand rêve de Rosalie. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, c1992.
89 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 38)
ISBN 2890211827
La Grande aventure. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1990.
23 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 12)
ISBN 2890211398
Le Héros de Rosalie. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988.
91 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman-jeunesse 12)
ISBN 2890210758
Hide and Seek. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Mayer Romaner. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988, c1978.
21 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 2)
ISBN 2762551617
(English edition of La Cachette)
L'Hiver ou Le Bonhomme Sept Heures. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1980.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 6)
ISBN 2890210243
I'm Sulking. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Linda Gaboriau. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 10)
ISBN 2762551692
(English edition of Je boude)
Je boude. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1986.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 10)
ISBN 2890210618
Un Loup pour Rose. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Leméac, 1982.
40 p.: col. ill.; 31 cm. (Collection Littérature de jeunesse) (Fabien 1)
ISBN 2760998444
Mon ami Pichou. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1979, c1976.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 1)
ISBN 2890210146
My Friend Pichou. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Linda Gaboriau. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988, c1978.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 1)
ISBN 2762551609
(English edition of Mon ami Pichou)
Une Nuit au pays des malices. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Leméac, c1982.
40 p.: col. ill.; 31 cm. (Collection Littérature de jeunesse) (Fabien; 2)
ISBN 2760998452
The Party. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Linda Gaboriau. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988.
21 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 8)
ISBN 2762551676
(English edition of La Fête)
Le Père d'Arthur. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Anne Villeneuve. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1989.
60 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Premier roman; PR 12)
ISBN 2890211126
Le Père Noël. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, c1993.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 13)
ISBN 289021205X
La Petite soeur. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1986.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 9)
ISBN 289021060X
Quand on joue.... Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Centre éducatif et culturel, c1987.
4 v.: ill.; 29 cm.
Contents: v.1, La Tour de cap-chat.- v.2, La Mitaine perdue.- v.3, Dans un château.- v.4, Du gâteau, j'en veux!
ISBN 2761703782 (v. 1)
ISBN 2761703804 (v. 2)
ISBN 2761703774 (v. 3)
ISBN 2761703790 (v. 4)
Quand on joue.... Cahier de l'élève. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Montréal: Centre éducatif et culturel, c1987.
88 p.: ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 2761703766
Rosalie s'en va-t-en guerre. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1989.
94 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 19)
ISBN 2890210936
Rosalie's Battles. Written by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Raymonde Longval; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Charlottetown, P.E.I.: Ragweed, 1995.
91 p.: ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 0921556500 (pbk.)
ISBN 0921556519 (bound)
(English edition of Rosalie s'en va-t-en guerre)
Rosalie's Big Dream. Written by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Linda Gaboriau; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Charlottetown, P.E.I.: Ragweed, 1995.
89 p.: ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 0921556527 (pbk.)
ISBN 0921556535 (bound)
(English edition of Le Grand rêve de Rosalie)
Rosalie's Catastrophes. Written by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Linda Gaboriau; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Charlottetown, P.E.I.: Ragweed, 1994.
93 p.: ill.; 20 cm.
ISBN 0921556470 (pbk.)
ISBN 0921556497 (bound)
(English edition of Catastrophes de Rosalie)
Le Savon. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1980.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 5)
ISBN 2890210235 (pbk.)
School. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Linda Gaboriau. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988.
21 p: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 7)
ISBN 2762551668
(English edition of L'École)
Soap. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Mayer Romaner. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 5)
ISBN 2762551641
(Issued in 1981 as The Bath. English edition of Le Savon)
Sophie et Pierrot [kit]. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1987.
1 game, 1 audio cassette, 1 book: ill., 1 teacher's guide; in container, 23 x 23 x 2 cm.
ISBN 2890210669
Sophie, Pierrot et un crapaud. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1983.
1 game, 1 record, 1 book: ill., 1 instruction sheet; in container, 23 x 23 x 2 cm.
ISBN 2890210373
Un Terrible secret. Written by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1991.
155 p.; 18 cm. (Roman +; R+ 19)
ISBN 289021107X
Les Vacances de Rosalie. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1990.
92 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 21)
ISBN 2890211169
La Vache et d'autres animaux. Written by Ginette Anfousse and others; illustrated by Gité and others. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1982.
22 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 2890210316
La Varicelle. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1979, c1978.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Les Aventures de Jiji et Pichou; 4)
ISBN 2890210162
Winter, or, The Seven-O'Clock-Bogey-Man. Written and illustrated by Ginette Anfousse; translated by Mayer Romaner. Montreal: Héritage/Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988, c1981.
21 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (My Friend Pichou; 6)
ISBN 276255165X
(English edition of L'Hiver ou Le Bonhomme sept heures)
Books for Adults
La Montée des marguerites: 13 nouvelles. Written by Pierre Sarrazin and Ginette Anfousse. Val-David, Québec: Éditions Pigi, 1977.
91 p.; 23 cm.
Quand on joue... Guide pédagogique. Written by Ginette Anfousse; illustrated by Marisol Sarrazin. Montréal: Centre éducatif et culturel, c1987.
xi, 146 p.: ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 2761703758
Original Illustrations and Manuscript Material Available at the National Library of Canada
Fonds Ginette Anfousse, 1976-1993 [manuscript].
2 m.
Montreal, Quebec
Manuscripts, sketchs and original illustrations of 13 books.
Finding aid available.
No restriction on access.
| 
