FERDINAND CHEVAL

Determination can change the world.

Monsieur Ferdinand Cheval, a postman in Charmes-sur-l’Herbass, France, in the late 1800s, experienced a life-changing event when he stumbled over a rock one day. That stumble led Cheval to stop his delivery temporarily and consider the sublime beauty of the rock. And that rock led to the creation of the Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval (or Postman Cheval’s Ideal Palace), a structure constructed from found rocks and designed, carved, and built by Cheval over three decades. The palace—which still stands—is a testament to both the naïve architecture moment and to one individual’s resolve. Readers will be captivated by both the story and Renaud’s retelling, told in verse, which captures the whimsy and the drive of Cheval’s desire to leave a “reminder of my time here.” The stars of the show, however, are the illustrations, which use a prism of colors to depict the potential that Cheval saw in the light-colored stones that went on to form the palace. An author’s note provides additional information about the structure, including a link to a virtual tour, which will motivate readers to ask themselves, “What inspires me?” Cheval is depicted as light-skinned and brown-haired; those around him are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Readers will come away stirred—and wondering how they, too, can leave their marks on the world.