Three new books from the series have just been published by La Bibliothèque des écoles, allowing everyone to follow the adventures of Maestro and his companions through eras and major events in history.
« Make people think while smiling and make them smile while thinking »
The titles published in October 2024 recount periods as rich as they are intriguing, such as those of Clovis and Charlemagne, the Viking Age, or even the travels of Marco Polo. Each time, the Alsatian author Sylvie de Mathuisieulx succeeds in combining historical anecdotes and entertainment. “ Make people think while smiling and make them smile while thinking», explains the Strasbourg writer to France 3 Grand Estfaithful to the spirit of the original series which aimed to make the story accessible and enjoyable for a young audience.
The seriesOnce upon a time… Manwhich was broadcast for the first time in 1978 on FR3, aimed to popularize the history of humanity, from prehistory to the 20th century, through characters like Maestro, Pierre, le Gros or le Teigneux.
Sylvie de Mathhuisieulx, herself a great admirer of the series in her youth, says: “ I was a little too big when the cartoon first came out to be the target audience. But I looked behind my little brother’s shoulder and I was already saying to myself: “Damn, that’s really well done.”If someone had told me that one day I would write these stories, I would have fainted.» It was these childhood memories and this admiration for the series that pushed her to take up the torch and adapt the stories into books.
After publishing works on historical subjects, notably the Vikings, Charlemagne and the Pax Romana in April 2024, Sylvie de Mathhuisieulx explores in her new books themes as varied as the Hundred Years’ War, the Silk Road and the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV. In-depth historical subjects, but made accessible thanks to in-depth documentation and adaptation work for an audience aged nine and over.
« I am not at all a historian by training. So obviously, this requires considerable work of documentation and research, before adapting the speech to the intellectual capacity of the children.», explains the author.
Don’t underestimate young readers
However, despite this popularization work, she insists on the importance of not underestimating the intelligence of young readers: “I never take children for idiots. For young people, books help to nourish their minds, to think for themselves, to choose their life…» This respect for the intelligence of young readers is reflected in the stories, which remain stimulating while being accessible.
The books are short, dynamic and have pages full of anecdotes and enriching historical vocabulary. Young readers can discover uncommon words while understanding the historical context thanks to the definitions at the bottom of the page. “I always care that a book made for a certain reading level can be read by someone who has exceeded it.», specifies Sylvie de Mathuisieulx. It is therefore not impossible that parents, attracted by the quality of the writing and the richness of the subjects, will borrow these works from their children.
A timeline to be discovered in the cover flaps also allows readers to visualize the periods and major events mentioned. Sylvie de Mathhuisieulx says she is enthusiastic about the idea of continuing to write for the world ofOnce upon a time… Manand talks passionately about his future projects: “I would love to continue writing the adventures of Maestro and the others. But we have to wait and see what the public reception is. »
Photo credits: The school bookstore
By Clotilde Martin
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