Emmanuel Guibert named godfather of 12th Partir en Livre festival

Emmanuel Guibert, the French author and illustrator best known for creating the beloved children's comic series Ariol, has been appointed as the godfather of the 12th edition of Partir en Livre, France's major youth literature festival. Organized by the Centre national du Livre (CNL) under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the festival will run from June 17 to July 19, 2026. This year's theme is "Nos petits et grands héros" (Our Little and Big Heroes), with a special nod to Ariol the little donkey, whose latest collection "Les vacances chez papy et mamie" was released on June 10. Guibert, born in 1964, has been writing Ariol's adventures for 26 years, chronicling the life of a bespectacled donkey perpetually in CM1 (fourth grade) alongside friends like Ramono the pig, Pétula, Batégaille, and Tiburge. The series has sold over 3 million copies, cementing its status as a children's classic. Guibert's work is noted for its humor, wordplay (e.g., "internet" becomes "interbête"), and sensitivity. Beyond Ariol, he is acclaimed for graphic novels such as "La Guerre d'Alan" (about a WWII soldier), "Le Photographe" (with Didier Lefèvre and Frédéric Lemercier), and "Les Sardines de l'Espace" (with Marc Boutavant). The festival also features a segment where Lucie Bouteloup decodes the French expression "Être coiffé au poteau" with lexicographer Sarah Decottignies from Le Robert and students from École Arago in Paris's 13th arrondissement.