A Parisian Adventure: Read Our Review of The Travelling Bookshop #3: Mim and the Anxious Artist by Katrina Nannestad, Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

The right book might just change your life…

From award-winning author Katrina Nannestad and beloved illustrator Cheryl Orsini comes The Travelling Bookshop, an enchanting series for young readers aged 7+ that sparks exploration, imagination and curiosity.

The series follows Mim Cohen, a young girl who roams the world in a travelling bookshop with her dad, brother and a horse called Flossy. Flossy leads them where she will, to the place where they’re needed most… the place where the perfect book will find its way home.

In Mim and the Anxious Artist, Mim has arrived in elegant Paris where meets Pierre, a talented but anxious artist who cannot bear to give up his paintings, even to sell them. He’s miserable and poor. His customers are cross.

Mim knows they’re here to help Pierre. To calm him down. To turn him into a successful artist. To make him truly happy. If only Mim could find him the right book. If only Dad would stop getting muddled and giving everyone the wrong book.

In this series, there’s a continued emphasis on words – both written and spoken. Through Mim’s hobby of collecting words, she proves that you can take any word from anywhere and turn it into something special.

Mim and the Anxious Artist is another touching tale about the magic of books and words. Mim and her eccentric family get to physically roam across the globe in their travelling bookshop, and we get to read our way there with them. Opening with baguettes used as a boomy-knocker, a poodle parlour and iconic Parisian landmarks, the scene is set as Mim wakes up and finds herself in France.

Pierre’s anxious state instantly intrigues Mim, noticing his refusal to give away his paintings. But just as quickly, she notices his lively and charming personality. From then onwards, she realises why Flossy has brought them to the magical city of Paris, embarking on a journey to find him the perfect book.

Cheryl Orsini adds an illustrated touch of magic to the city of love with her visually stunning artworks. From the Eiffel Tower and The Tuileries Garden to berets-galore, I felt fully immersed in the Parisian landscape. So get ready to be whisked away to France in this glistening new adventure in the Travelling Bookshop series.

Buy a copy of Mim and the Anxious Artist here.