cover image Mr. Hulot at the Beach

Mr. Hulot at the Beach

David Merveille. NorthSouth (IPS, dist.), $18.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7358-4254-0

Merveille (Hello, Mr. Hulot) returns with a second wordless picture book about Monsieur Hulot, the hapless figure of French cinema created and played by Jacques Tati. The slapstick events and beachside setting of this book recall the first film to feature Hulot, 1953’s Mr. Hulot’s Holiday. Here, Hulot fumbles with beach chairs, has a shoe stolen by a seagull, and gets swept out to sea after falling asleep—a restful trip it is not. The yellowed newspaper Hulot attempts to read throughout is the only spot of color in black-and-white scenes that again nod to the book’s cinematic inspiration. Ages 4–8. (May)