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The Children’s Book Review | October 4, 2019
Written by Giovanna Yessoufou
Illustrated by Gisela A. Molina
Age Range: 4+
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Tellwell Talent (November 23, 2018)
ISBN: 978-0228805625
What to Expect: Family and Pets
Written as a ‘Dear Diary’ picture book, Thor the Troublemaker is about a French bulldog that loves his family—even if they do have a few too many rules.
Thor’s mommy Diana is the boss of the house and loves to keep it clean and spotless. When she returns home from a day of work at a legal aid office, the house is filthy. This means Thor gets a sit-down with his mommy to talk about what he did wrong and why. His other mommy, Eva, works as a brain surgeon at the hospital, which means that sometimes she isn’t home for days because she’s taking care of her patients. Thor’s human brother Elijah goes to daycare while both mommies are at work. This means that Thor gets to be king of the house—just the way he likes it. His other housemate, Frigga the cat, is a traitor and occupies Mommy Diana’s lap. The sweet illustrations have varied views: wide angles give a good view and sense of his home, while close-ups provide visuals of Thor contemplating his behavior and how much he actually looks like Frigga the cat—not that he likes that. Frigga is not a loyal friend, but his diary is.
Complete with a gently amusing and feel-good ending, this quiet story manages to pack a punch, encouraging readers to take responsibility for their actions while remaining true to who they are—Thor’s resilient personality shines. The story delightfully and nonchalantly showcases women (Thor’s mommies) of high intelligence in skillful vocations, while also showing the normalcy of Thor’s LGBTQ family.
Animal lovers—especially those enamored with Frenchies or pet owners that return to messy homes after a hard day’s work—are bound to enjoy this endearing picture book.
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About the Author
A world citizen of Italian descent, Giovanna Yessoufou received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Affairs from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and a Master’s degree in Media, Culture, and Communications from New York University. At university in Boston was where she met her husband Farid, with whom they share four beautiful boys, three French Bulldogs, and a human child named Zahl. Giovanna combined her passions for books, social change, and French Bulldogs in the first children’s book, Thor the Troublemaker. She is currently working on her second title Louis the Lovebug.
www.giovannayessoufou.com | Instagram: @giovannayessoufou | Instagram: @the.frenchiediaries
Read our exclusive interview: Giovanna Yessoufou Discusses Thor the Troublemaker
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This non-biased review of “Thor the Troublemaker” was sponsored* by Giovanna Yessoufou. Learn more about getting a book review …