Caillou, My House

Mary St. Onge-Davidson is president of the Essential English Centre in
Ottawa.

Christine L’Heureux, founder, president, and publisher of Chouette
Publishing, created Caillou in 1990. L’Heureux was inspired by the
work of French physician and psychoanalyst Franзoise Dolto
(1908–1988), and specifically by the belief that if emotional and
other problems arising in childhood are identified and verbalized, they
are less likely to hinder a child’s development. The Caillou books are
designed to contribute to the overall well-being of very young children
at each stage of their development; in effect, they grow with the child.

The five books in the Merry-Go Round series show Caillou between three
and five years of age. Each book is filled with fun and activities for
the preschool child, with simple tasks focusing on observation and
reasoning skills. Notes at the bottom of each page explain the
objectives of each activity, thereby enabling parents to encourage their
child’s progress. The illustrations by Tipéo are colorful and
uncomplicated, while the text and concept provided by Jeannine Beaulieu
can be easily adapted (i.e., either enhanced or simplified) by parents
working with their child. More than 50 glossy stickers are included with
each book, providing hours of fun and entertainment for little fingers.
Each page features tasks that help preschoolers grow and learn not only
about themselves, but also about the world in which they live. Highly
recommended.