Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio & Christian Robinson

A new picture book turned up at work last week that I knew would be just perfect to share with all my Paris in July and Dreaming of France friends.

Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio is about a family of French poodles.

There are four adorable puppies - Fi-fi, Foo-foo, Ohh-la-la and Gaston.

But a quick glance at the page below will tell you that there is more to this story than meets the eye.
Gaston, is obviously not a French poodle.

However, Gaston works hard, very hard, to be just like the other poodles. He learns to sip, yip and generally behave in a poodle-like manner.

It's not until the poodle family are walking through the park one day and come across a bulldog family that the problem becomes obvious.

The bulldog family also has four adorable puppies - Rocky, Ricky, Bruno & Antoinette.

They have been taught how to be perfect bulldogs - they love to run and play rough and bark loudly.

Gaston & Antoinette decide that they should live with their biological families...but everyone struggles with the swap.

The poodle family now all look the same, but Antoinette is just too rough & boisterous.

The bulldog family now all look the same, but Gaston is simply too tender and gentle.

Another visit to the park, and Gaston & Antoinette return to the family that they feel they belong with.

The families continue to meet as the years go by, so that the poodles learn to be a little tougher and the bulldogs learn a little tenderness.

Gaston is a gorgeous story about family, belonging and identity. The acrylic paint illustrations have a lovely retro feel and complement the gentle humour and grace that this story is told with.

But for now, I will let you discover the satisfying ending for yourself, below.