The culture of Books permeates the small town of Saint-Gervais-la-Forêt and if it shines to this extent, it is thanks to its children. Of the 3,200 inhabitants of the peri-urban commune, around 250 children attend school from kindergarten to CM2. And they have truly become, in a decade, the ambassadors of children's books. “If there is such success for our Children's Book Fair, it is above all thanks to the preparatory work done with the childrenexplains Isabelle Jallais-Guillet, deputy mayor of Saint-Gervais. All classes in the commune each receive an author and work on their album beforehand. The leisure center is also heavily involved, the children receive an author, the decoration is provided by the center, there is the Délires de narration prize, for children who do not yet know how to read. But who know how to express well which book they want to be told again! »
On weekends, it's the children who drag their families to the living room, to find the author they discovered, and the twenty other guests. And it works. “It’s also because we are offering a real celebration around books over three days, testifies Catherine Bony, also deputy mayor of Saint-Gervais. With workshops, activities, shows for all ages. We have an enclosed area with different spaces, ideal for children. It's a bubble of happiness, the children leave with their treasure, their book. » Exhibitions outside the walls, notably at the Maison de la bd in Blois and in libraries, complete the bookish panorama.
“Years later, they remember it, it’s magical! »
The Salon will have its tenth edition in March 2025 and book culture has spread well beyond the town. The arrival of authors in schools is offered to all classes in the department, as does bd Boum in Blois. In 2024, 170 classes participated from north to south, including 7 middle schools from the 6e at 4e. “For it to work, the event must be nearby, that’s obvious. What is lacking in fact is the difficulty for classes from towns even a short distance away from coming to the show, because transport and its cost remain a real problem”adds Isabelle Jallais-Guillet. But work around reading must be done in partnership, between elected officials, teachers and parents. It's up to them to take the opportunity to take their children to an event which remains free, apart from the books to be purchased.
And so as not to forget anyone, the Salon works in coordination with the Department and its Books for Oneself project. Around fifteen families from Vendôme, very far from the book, came during the previous edition. “The Department takes them by bus, they spend the day, enjoy one of the shows re-enacted especially for them. And from the Salon, since the Department offers a Read Check to each child so that they leave with their signed book”specifies Catherine Bony. More locally, every year, elected officials see new families come with pleasure to enjoy the Salon celebration, pulled by the sleeve by their child.
Gaya Wisniewski, godmother of 10e salon
“With each edition, adds Isabelle Jallais-Guillet, Authors and illustrators leave a drawing in the class they visited. It's incredible to see how much it impacts the children, years later they remember it. It's magical! » Drawing is often the easiest way to access a children's book, then comes the work of writing and reading the text. In 2025, the godmother of 10e show (from March 21 to 23) will be Gaya Wisniewski, and the theme will reflect what the team of elected officials and volunteers have wanted to achieve for a decade: building links, friendships, sharing meetings. Quite a program.
