Bilingual children's book in support of the Allied Forces, following a little girl from colonized Senegal who wants to help in the war effort.
Very good.
Price: $500.00
"When she landed in England, the police officer could not believe that she was only a little negro girl who came to join the allied armies. He thought she might be a dangerous fifth-columnist and arrested her."
Young Coucou wants to "play her part," and signs up to be an ambulance driver, exchanging her red pants and blue and white jersey shirt for a uniform. She sees battle in Belgium, and tries to join the forces in England after France is defeated; the English are so surprised by her they assume she's a spy and imprison her. Despite elements of racist condescension and unexamined colonialism, the story center's Coucou's bravery and repeated sacrifices for the country she considers hers. The work is further remarkable for its vivid color illustrations: overall, an unusually World War II-era patriotic work for children.
(London): Chatto & Windus, (1942). 7.25'' x 5''. Original staple-bound glossy pictorial wrappers, with unclipped (3s 6d) French flaps. Illustrated with full-page color images facing nearly every page of text. Text in English and French. [8], 54, [2] pages. Ink gift inscription from military officer dated September, 1943 on half title. Some faint soiling to rear wrapper, only faint edgewear; a few barely visible indentations on front wrapper. Text clean and bright.
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