BnF Showcases Agnès Rosenstiehl Donation, From Mimi Cracra to L'Alphabet fou
From 3 November 2026 to 25 January 2027, the Bibliothèque nationale de France will present a collection donated by author Agnès Rosenstiehl in the Galerie des Donateurs at its François-Mitterrand location, with no admission fee required. Rosenstiehl is known for creating Mimi Cracra, who first appeared in Pomme d'Api in 1976, captivating children with her playful behavior. This exhibition will also focus on her lesser-known works, such as children's books addressing sexuality (1973), divorce (1975), and Les Filles (1976). In 2025, the BnF acquired 625 plates and about one hundred preparatory pieces for twenty-three albums released from 1967 to 2022. Curated by Clarisse Gadala, the exhibit comprises four distinct sections. Additionally, L'Alphabet fou will be reissued on 22 October, accompanied by an audio version.
Key facts
- The BnF exhibition runs from 3 November 2026 to 25 January 2027 in the Galerie des Donateurs at the François-Mitterrand site, with free entry.
- Mimi Cracra first appeared in 1976 in Pomme d'Api and remained there for thirty-two years.
- Agnès Rosenstiehl trained at the Conservatoire, earning a first prize in harmony, and was self-taught in drawing.
- Her books addressed sexuality for children in 1973, divorce in 1975, and Les Filles with Antoinette Fouque in 1976.
- The BnF received a 2025 donation of 625 plates and about one hundred preparatory works for twenty-three albums published between 1967 and 2022.
- The donation entered the Centre national de la littérature pour la jeunesse.
- The exhibition is organized in four sections: 1966-1973, the Mimi Cracra years, documentary work 1977-2020, and today's reissues.
- Clarisse Gadala curated the exhibition, and L'Alphabet fou ou le Livre des syllabes sibyllines is reissued on 22 October as a 48-page book with an audio version.
Entities
Artists
- Agnès Rosenstiehl
- Mimi Cracra
- Clarisse Gadala
- Antoinette Fouque
Institutions
- BnF
- Bibliothèque nationale de France
- Pomme d'Api
- Centre national de la littérature pour la jeunesse
- Conservatoire
Locations
- Paris
- France