Extrait du livre Smarty pepin
Smarty pepin Pascale Vignali Illustrated by Justine Cunha Le Regard Sonore Editions
Once upon a time in a sun-drenched country called…. Spain. There, people loved to celebrate, sing and dance to the sound of guitars and castanets. They also enjoyed telling stories... such as this one…
Pepin lived in a little house surrounded by olive trees. He was small for his age ...About five inches in all... But he was as bright and cheerful as any other. One hot summer’s day a ladybird flew into the house, to cool off. Her name was Olguita. Pepin asked her a thousand questions about her insect world and they became firm friends...…
PEPIN Olguita, what’s outside, beyond the olive trees? OLGUITA: Mmm… A field of golden-eared wheat. A village too, with roofs as pink as a cat’s tongue. And a castle! An old abandoned castle, standing on a hill, guarded by twelve giants...!
PEPIN: Giants! OLGUITA: Yes, with four arms and pointed helmets! When the wind blows, they wheel their arms to fly away but they are too heavy to take off!
Pepin was eager to see all these marvels with his own eyes. One day, he asked his mother’s permission to leave the house … MOTHER: My Pépìn, the world is so big and you are so small! PEPIN: I am small but I am smart, Madre, as you know! Please… Yes, Pepin’s mother knew... She sighed … MOTHER: All right. Here is a 10 peseta coin for you to buy sweetmeats at the village. Be back before nightfall!
Thrilled, Pepin set out. He rolled the coin before him on the road. Olguita flew at his side. As he passed under a fence, Pepin felt the earth shake beneath his feet: « Boom! Boom! Boom! » Olguita flew higher to get a better view: PEPIN: What is it? A giant? OLGUITA: No, it is a wild bull, and he looks furious! He is charging at an apple tree.. as if he were trying to uproot it!
Pepin climbed the fence: PEPIN: Hey! You! Bully! Stop! The animal charged at them and screeched to a halt just in front the fence! Steam rose from his nostrils: BERNARDO: Mind your own business, little... little... worm?? PEPIN: I'm no worm! I'm Smarty Pepin! And I feel sorry for that tree that you’re bashing about!!