Best Selling Books by Daniel Pennac

"Anyone who loves to read and wants our young people to develop a similar passion will savor" Better than Life "- an enchanting, beautifully written, and wise book."--Regie Routman An essential guide to helping children discover the pleasures of reading! In "Better than Life," Daniel Pennac shares the secrets that all book lovers treasure. Delving into his experiences as a parent, a writer and a teacher, he asks, how does the love of reading begin? How is it lost? And how can it be regained? This remarkable book explores simple ways to create a life-long devotion to reading: how reading aloud can ensure that a love of books beginswhy it is important that children develop a private relationship with bookswhat "The Reader''s Bill of Rights" can do to guarantee children value reading This book reads like a novel with gripping anecdotes from literature and fresh insights into creating and nurturing enthusiastic readers.

Benjamin Malaussene is a downtrodden publisher at Vendetta Press. Treated as a scapegoat by Queen Zabo, doyenne of publishing, he finally resigns, only for Zabo to offer him a starring role. All he has to do is to impersonate the world''s best-loved, but hitherto anonymous author, J.L.B.

Daniel Pennac has never forgotten what it was like to be a very unsatisfactory student, nor the day one of his teachers saved his life by assigning him the task of writing a novel. This was the moment Pennac realized that no-one has to be a failure for ever. In School Blues, Pennac explores the many facets of schooling: how fear makes children reject education; how children can be captivated by inventive thinking; how consumerism has altered attitudes to learning. Haunted by memories of his own turbulent time in the classroom, Pennac enacts dialogues with his teachers, his parents and his own students, and serves up much more than a bald analysis of how young people are consistently failed by a faltering system. School Blues is not only universally applicable, but it is unquestionably a work of literature in its own right, driven by subtlety, sensitivity and a passion for pedagogy, while embracing the realities of contemporary culture.

A comedy on a public relations man in a department store in Paris whose job is to mollify angry customers. Benjamin Malaussene is doing splendid work until the store is bombed and people die, whereupon he becomes a suspect.

Analyse : Roman d''humour. Roman policier (énigme).

The Fairy Gunmother is the first of a series of novels featuring the same anti hero, Benjamin Malaussène. Pennac has created a uniquely comic, indeed deranged, story of flying bullets, battered egos - and coppers left a little perplexed.

Benjamin Malaussène and family are far from happy when his fortune teller younger sister Thérèse marries the aristocratic Count Marie-Colbert de Roberval at a televised wedding – a ceremony from which Marie-Colbert has unceremoniously banned the madcap Malaussène clan. Two days later, Thérèse turns up in Paris’s Belleville quarter back early from their honeymoon, only to narrowly escape death as her fairground caravan is mysteriously torched to the ground. When that same day his sister Thérèse’s husband is found dead at the foot of his luxury apartment’s stairwell, Benjamin Malaussène, professional scapegoat, packs his bags ready for the police to haul him off. Only it’s Thérèse the police arrest when she refuses to disclose her whereabouts the night of her husband’s murder. Without her alibi – which might have something to do with her sudden pregnancy – it’s over to Benjamin to save the day. Family and friends join forces to leave no corner of Paris unturned in their search for the true culprit.

Manuel Pereira da Ponte Martins, beloved dictator of the state of Teresina in Brazil, develops agoraphobia the day a fortune-teller predicts he will die being torn limb from limb by an angry mob. His life becomes unbearable and he decides to hire a double to stand in while he set off to enjoy himself in the fleshpots of Europe. A few years later, the barber-turned-dictator also grows tired of running the country and employs the same trick as his predecessor to leave for Hollywood. On the boat there, he introduces himself as Charlie Chaplin. But everyone is convinced that he is none other than Rudolph Valentino disguised as Chaplin. When he arrives in New York, both the real actors are waiting for him. Back in Teresina, the doubles follow one another, fooling the people with ease. When Pereira comes back, he is astonished to discover that his stand-in doesn t look anything like him and reacts in a way that can only precipitate his meeting with fate."

Rescued from certain death by a kindly dog at the city dump, an abandoned puppy grows up fending for himself until he finds a home with a willful little girl. Could she be the mistress of his dreams?

From a particularly humiliating accident at scout camp, to the final stages of terminal illness, Daniel Pennac''s warm, witty and heart-breaking novel shows the rise and fall of an ordinary man, told through his observations of his own body. It is with damp eyes (not to mention underpants) that our narrator begins his diary, seeking through it to come to terms with the demoralising quirks of his fleshy confines. Through the joys and horrors of puberty to the triumphs of adolescence, we grow to love him through every growth, leak and wound, as he finds himself developing muscles, falling in love, and then leaving school to join the French Resistance. Yet, as ever, this is only half the story. As years pass and hairs grey, everything he took for granted begins to turn against him. Tackling taboo topics with honesty and charm, Pennac''s wit remains sharp even as everything else begins to sag. This is a hugely original story of the most relatable of unlikely love stories: a human, and the body that defines him.

A classic, essential read by master storyteller Daniel Pennac, with a new foreword written by Michael Morpurgo. The wolf has lost nearly everything on his journey to the zoo, including an eye and his beloved pack. The boy too has lost much and seen many terrible things. They stand eye to eye on either side of the wolf''s enclosure and, slowly, each makes his own extraordinary story known to the other...

“Passionate and witty. . . . Affirming.” — Booklist This witty, refreshing treatise from a celebrated author and seasoned teacher is a passionate defense of reading—just for the joy of it. Drawing on his experiences as a child, a parent, and an inner-city teacher in Paris, Daniel Pennac reflects on the power of story and reminds us of our right to read anything, anywhere, anytime, so long as we are enjoying ourselves. Foreword and illustrations by Quentin Blake.

After their umpteenth defeat at Lucky Luke’s hands, the Dalton brothers get into a big argument that ends with the four of them splitting up. They make a deal: Whoever is first to get a million dollars will be the leader of the gang. Going their separate ways, trying various schemes, each spreads his own kind of mayhem, forcing poor Lucky Luke to do four times the work to keep up with their antics !

It’s the start of the 1860s, and the Old West is changing—a change that comes as a shock to the Daltons when they’re arrested not by Lucky Luke, but by... Allan Pinkerton! The man is determined to turn bandit-hunting into a modern, rational business—even at the cost of the American people’s personal freedom. It’ll be up to Lucky Luke to ensure that the USA is protected against all evil-doers, rascals and lawmen alike...

Lecture suivie

Jean and Germaine are the most affable couple the little village of Colle sur Loup has ever seen. A duke married to a commoner, they have no children, no jobs, and are disastrous cooks! They like to indulge in life''s small pleasures; their books, their garden, and their after-lunch naps. They live for each other, and for their love. Their simple happiness intrigues, fascinates, infuriates and is the envy of all those around them. Daniel Pennac knew Jean and Germaine well. He spent his time at their house reading, watching, learning, and, of course, trying Germaine''s catastrophic efforts in the kitchen! He''s now taken it upon himself to tell the story of those happy days, and of a love that has always captivated him.

"Benjamin Malaussene, the Belleville scapegoat, and his family of half sisters and brothers are once again the target for a series of increasingly catastrophic mishaps which culminate in his imprisonment on 21 counts of murder. Meanwhile, the real serial killer remains at large." --Book Jacket.

Kamo won''t get on a bike. Not even his friend''s grandfather''s classic. He says he has a bad feeling - it turns out he was right. As he lies in his hospital bed it seems to his friends that their funny, crazy pal is turning into someone else - someone firece and strong who can escape from anywhere.

Sujet : vous vous réveillez un matin et vous constatez que, dans la nuit, vous avez été transformé en adulte. Complètement affolé, vous vous précipitez dans la chambre de vos parents : ils ont été transformés en enfants. Racontez la suite.

Neste romance escrito por Daniel Pennac, ele traz duas histórias de vidas: a do Lobo Azul, que foi capturado no Alasca, sua terra natal e posto em um zoológico do outro lado do mundo, e o menino África, que depois de perder sua família e ter sua vila destruída, parte pelas areias do deserto do Saara com um camelo e um mercador chamado Toa, até chegar no mesmo zoológico que o Lobo Azul se encontra. Ao se olharem fixamente, durante horas, e repetidos dias, África enxerga a vida do Lobo Azul pelo único olho aberto do lobo (o lobo teve um dos olhos atingidos quando foi capturado). E o Lobo também enxerga tudo que passou na vida de África, pelo seu único olho aberto (após conhecer o lobo, África fecha um dos olhos e não abre por meses).

Essai.

Quand il était gosse, Daniel Pennac passait ses vacances à La Colle-sur-Loup, sur la Côte d''Azur. Soleil, figuiers et grande treille sous laquelle on joue à la pétanque. C''est là qu''avec son frère Bernard il fait la rencontre de Jean et Germaine : lui, grand chauve façon héron ; elle, maigre, rose et rieuse. Toujours de bonne humeur, ils intriguent avec leur joie de vivre. Pas d''enfants, pas de boulot, Jean et Germaine vivent un amour sans intermédiaire, un amour sédentaire, un amour exemplaire !

La question de l''école est abordée du point de vue du mauvais élève, mêlant souvenirs autobiographiques et réflexions sur la pédagogie et les dysfonctionnements de l''institution scolaire, sur le rôle des parents et le souhait des jeunes de savoir et d''apprendre. Prix Renaudot 2007.

Torna Daniel Pennac i la mítica família Malaussène amb una comèdia coral plena d''ironia, amb trets del millor thriller. Benjamin Malaussène, convertit en guarda de seguretat d''una editorial, està passant una temporada allunyat de París per ajudar a protegir Alceste, l''autor d''un best-seller amenaçat de mort pels seus propis familiars. Mentrestant, els joves de la tribu Malaussène passen l''estiu dispersats pel món ajudant diferents ONG. A París, un important empresari corrupte ha estat segrestat, i la jutgessa Talvern, germana petita de Benjamin, és l''encarregada de la instrucció del cas, que es complicarà de mala manera a mesura que avancin els esdeveniments. Pennac torna amb una comèdia coral a l''estil de Molière però amb trets i ritme de thriller, farcida de fets estrambòtics que flueixen en cascada i amb els girs tan ben posats que el lector no pot parar de llegir.

Mercredi 18 novembre 1936 Je veux écrire le journal de mon corps parce que tout le monde parle d''autre chose. (13 ans, 1 mois, 8 jours) Jeudi 10 janvier 1974 Si je devais rendre ce journal public, je le destinerais d''abord aux femmes. En retour, j''aimerais lire le journal qu''une femme aurait tenu de son corps. Histoire de lever un coin du mystère. En quoi consiste le mystère? En ceci par exemple qu''un homme ignore tout de ce que ressent une femme quant au volume et au poids de ses seins, et que les femmes ne savent rien de ce que ressentent les hommes quant à l''encombrement de leur sexe. (50 ans et 3 mois) Lundi 26 juillet 2010 Nous sommes jusqu''au bout l''enfant de notre corps. Un enfant déconcerté. (86 ans, 9 mois, 16 jours) De 13 à 87 ans, âge de sa mort, le narrateur a tenu le journal de son corps. Nous qui nous sentons parfois si seuls dans le nôtre nous découvrons peu à peu que ce jardin secret est un territoire commun. Tout ce que nous taisions est là, noir sur blanc, et ce qui nous faisait si peur devient souvent matière à rire.

Escrita de manera sencilla y con grandes dosis de fantasía, esta desternillante aventura cuenta la historia de tres niños que una mañana se despiertan y se dan cuenta de que se han convertido en adultos. Durante la clase de francés del profesor Crastaing, tres de sus alumnos, Igor, Nourdine y Joseph, se pasan un dibujo satírico. En él una multitud enfurecida marcha tras una pancarta que reza: «Crastaing, cabrón, irás al paredón!». El profesor, ofendido, les impone un castigo: para el día siguiente tienen que hacer una redacción sobre el tema: «Despierta usted cierta mañana y comprueba que, por la noche, se ha transformado en adulto. Enloquecido, corre a la habitación de sus padres. Se han transformado en niños. Cuenten la continuación». Así comienza la desternillante aventura de estos excéntricos personajes: los señores niños y los niños señores que deberán enfrentarse a los problemas cotidianos de sus nuevas identidades. ¡Qué difícil es meterse en la piel del otro! La crítica ha dicho... «Pennac exhibe una sencillez vecina a la coquetería y una candidez astuta.» El Periódico «Un libro excepcional.» El Mundo «Con humor y ternura, análisis críticos y fórmulas efectivas, Pennac ofrece una brillante y sabrosa lección de inteligencia.» Faro de Vigo

¿Es posible burlar el fracaso escolar cuando ya hemos dado pruebas de ser unos auténticos zoquetes? En Mal de escuela, Pennac comparte su experiencia escolar para poder responder en alto a varias preguntas. -¿ Otro libro sobre la escuela , pues ? ¿No te parece que ya hay bastantes ? -¡No sobre la escuela ! Todo el mundo se ocupa de la escuela , eterna querella entre antiguos y modernos : sus programas , su papel social, sus fines, la escuela de ayer , la de mañana ... No, ¡un libro sobre el zoquete ! Sobre el dolor de no comprender y sus daños colaterales . Daniel Pennac Mal de escuela aborda la cuestión de la escuela y la educación desde un punto de vista insólito, el de los malos alumnos. Pennac, un pésimo estudiante en su época, estudia esta figura del folclore popular otorgándole la nobleza que se merece y restituyéndole la carga de angustia y dolor que inevitablemente lo acompaña. Desde su propia experiencia como «zoquete» y como profesor, el autor reflexiona acerca de la pedagogía y las disfunciones de la institución escolar, sobre el sentimiento de exclusión del alumno y el amor a la enseñanza del profesor. Reseña : «Debería ser leído por cualquier profesor o padre que desee comprender los defectos de nuestro sistema educativo.» The Times Literary Suplement «Un libro excepcional.» El cultural de El Mundo «Es una historia deliciosa, divertida y seria. [...] La crónica de un largo sufrimiento que le llevó al umbral del suicidio, una exploración del dolor de no entender ni aprender nada, escrita sin patetismo [...], un elogio de maestros decisivos y el relato de una metamorfosis espectacular.» La Croix «Ningún tratado sobre los problemas de la docencia, por muchas cifras y autorizadas opiniones que aporte, podría competir con algo así, con algo contado desde las entrañas mismas del conflicto.» Clara Sánchez, Babelia, El País

La obra más íntima de Pennac, una memoria que convierte al Bartleby de Melville en un espejo para comprender y recordar a su hermano. En su libro más personal hasta la fecha, Daniel Pennac recuerda de la manera más emotiva y original a su hermano fallecido: a través de la figura de Bartleby, el célebre escribiente de Herman Melville. Así, Pennac amplía las costuras de la literatura de duelo y se sirve de su amor por las letras para crear unas memorias preciosas. El autor parte de una certeza compartida por todos: nunca llegamos a conocer en su totalidad a nuestros seres más queridos. Con el objetivo de comprender mejor a su hermano, Pennac revisita al escribiente procrastinador de Melville, un personaje muy querido por los dos, y le convierte en una suerte de espejo en el que observar y recordar a Bernard. Así Pennac firma un libro de una ternura infinita que se convierte a la vez en una oda a la literatura. La crítica ha dicho... «Un texto de una gran belleza.» Le Figaro «El escritor rinde un bello homenaje a quien le transmitió el amor por la literatura, su hermano mayor Bernard, tan parecido al personaje de Melville.» Le Monde «Magnífica historia, un grito sobrecogedor de amor al hermano desaparecido.» L''Express «El escritor francés da voz a una dimensión íntima» Eleonora Groppetti, Corriere di Novara «La fragilidad de los supervivientes.» Nadia Terranova, Il Foglio «Pennac [...] no necesita ganarse el corazón de sus lectores. Ya está en sus corazones.» Eleonora Groppetti, Corriere di Novara «Un homenaje al hermano amado y perdido.» La Repubblica «Refinado.» Corriere di Novara «Una novela que describe la figura del hermano perdido, entre los recuerdos personales y la literatura.» La Stampa «Esta historia de construcción admirable está impregnada tanto por la ternura hacia un hermano como por el amor hacia la literatura. Jamás se ha encontrado nada mejor para prolongar la vida de los desaparecidos. Daniel Pennac lo logra con una naturalidad abrumadora.» Olivia de Lamberterie, Elle France «Con una ternura infinita, Daniel Pennac habla de la distancia y el humor de su hermano, el placer de su compañía, su presencia atenta y discreta.» Michel Abescat, Télérama «Un libro de una gran belleza melancólica donde Daniel Pennac -el seductor, el profesor que agrada a su público- abandona el centro de atención para revelar la originalidad herida, la renuncia de su hermano soñador.» Patrick Grainville, Le Figaro Littéraire

Après L''Agence Babel et L''Evasion de Kamo, on retrouve le narrateur et son inséparable ami Kamo. Leur professeur de français leur donne un sujet de rédaction qui provoque une véritable épidémie dans la classe...

Un chien raconte les déboires qu''il a eu à endurer à cause de la méchanceté des parents de sa petite maîtresse

À plusieurs années d''intervalle, Daniel Pennac est séduit par deux images peintes au pochoir sur les murs de Belleville, dont l''ombre noire d''un personnage portant un chapeau mou et ceinturé dans un imper à la Philip Marlowe. À ses côtés, une valise sur laquelle quatre lettres se détachent : NEMO... Pennac, le romancier, retrace ici les circonstances de sa rencontre avec Nemo, le peintre des rues, deux Bellevillois qui devaient se croiser. Apparues dans l''est de Paris au milieu des années 1980, les interventions de Nemo ont investi au fil du temps tous les quartiers de la capitale. Adoptant la silhouette type du détective de polar, son personnage récurrent essaime désormais ses messages sur les bâtiments décrépis et les palissades de chantier de plusieurs métropoles. Doué d''une étonnante maîtrise de l''espace, Nemo crée des images fortes avec peu de moyens, une palette de quelques pochoirs : une valise, un parapluie, un ballon... Pourvu de cette panoplie minimale, son passe-muraille réalise des miracles de tendresse et de poésie. Un monde où l''on naviguerait dans des bateaux en papier, où la pêche à la ligne serait une activité urbaine, où les pistolets cracheraient des étoiles, des fleurs ou des poissons volants... Un univers délivré de la pesanteur du quotidien. " Nemo par Pennac " rassemble l''essentiel des interventions de Nemo, artiste des rues qui, depuis bientôt trente ans, s''efforce d''apaiser la brutalité des grandes cités.

In Better than Life, Daniel Pennac shares the secrets that all book lovers treasure. Delving into his experiences as a parent, a writer and a teacher, he asks, how does the love of reading begin? How is it lost? This remarkable book explores simple ways to create a life-long devotion to reading.