TALES & CONSTRUCTION
In collaboration with
The construction trades have always fascinated both young and old. Just watch how many people linger in front of a construction site to see it for yourself. From an early age, children love hearing the story of The Three Little Pigs and playing with plastic tools. As they grow older, however, those toys are no longer enough: they want to swing a hammer themselves. To avoid injuries or more serious accidents, they need to know what each tool is for, be cautious, and use them under adult supervision.
Drawing inspiration from his children’s novel La cabane de Léo, author Gabriel Anctil offered a workshop on building and construction. Young participants, both girls and boys, played with words and ideas as they explored tools, building trades, and the joy of creating. An inspiring activity to spark imagination and foster creativity. This series was made possible thanks to financial support from BMR.
To complement these library activities for young people and their families, we also provide a suggested reading list.
MEET GABRIEL ANCTIL, WORKSHOP HOST
Born in Montreal in 1979, Gabriel Anctil is a screenwriter and author. He has written for numerous television shows, was at the heart of the radio series Sur les traces de Kerouac (Ici Radio-Canada Première), and is the author of the children’s book series Léo (Dominique et compagnie).
For as long as he can remember, Gabriel Anctil has lived surrounded by words, books, and images. Through them, as a child, he discovered the profound joy of being told stories. Many years later, he decided to invent his own, hoping that young and grown-up readers alike would find just as much pleasure in reading them.
Gabriel loves traveling, sports, and the outdoors. He is passionate about comic books, hockey, soccer, movies, and Indian restaurants. He studied film, works in television, and published his first novel for adults in 2012, Sur la 132 (Éditions Héliotrope), which received an enthusiastic response from both critics and the public.
He has countless projects in mind and two wonderful sons who inspire him every day.
ACTIVITIES TO DO IN CLASS or AT HOME
READING SUGGESTIONS (IN FRENCH)
Des suggestions de lectures sur la construction, les maisons, les cabanes et les outils.
Pour les plus jeunes enfants
Yasmin aime construire, Saadia Faruqi (textes) et Hatem Aly (illustrations), Scholastic, 2019
Léa Lapin et le concours de cabanes, Steve Richardson (textes) et Chris Dunn (illustrations), Éditions Caurette, 2021
La cabane de Carmelito, Marie-Christine Olivier (textes) et Jean-Christophe Raufflet (illustrations), Éditions Bordas, 2024
La cabane, Sandra Edinger, Éditions L’École des loisirs, 2021
Le petit menuisier, Lars Klinting, Albin Michel jeunesse, 2017
La cabane de Liselotte, Anne Clairet, Éditions Auzou, 2019
Le loup et les trois petits cochons, Ariane Gauthier (textes) et Mika (illustrations), Québec Amérique, 2025
Malourène et les trois petits cochons, Laurent Chabin (textes) et Jean Morin (illustrations), Éditions Michel Quintin, 2012
Les trois p’tits jambons, Daniel Laverdure, Soulières Éditeur, 2016
Quel fouillis!, Mireille Messier (texte) et Julie Cossette (illustrations), Éditions ERPI, 2009
Pour les enfants un peu plus âgés
L’horrible cabane dans l’arbre, Mika, Boomerang, 2024
Théo chez l’architecte, Sylvie Provost (textes) et Annie Harrison (illustrations), Éditions Pierre Tisseyre, 2007
La cabane à 13 étages, Andry Griffiths (textes) et Terry Denton (illustrations), Bayard jeunesse, 2024
Construis ta cabane, Louis Espinassous et Sébastien Chebret (textes) et Amandine Labarre, Milan, 2021
Notre cabane, Amélie Billon Le Guennec (textes) et Solenn Larnicol (illustrations), Éditions Kilowatt, 2015
Le concours de cabanes, Camille Garoche, Éditions Little Urban, 2022
La cabane dans l’arbre, Henriette Major (textes) et Alain Gagné (illustrations), Éditions Pierre Tisseyre, 2006
Le livre animé du chantier d’une maison, Anne Blanchard (textes) et Didier Balicevic (illustrations), Éditions Tourbillon, 2023
Le grand livre des outils, Raphael Martin (textes) et Pronto (illustrations), Éditions de la Martinière, 2014
Les animaux, ces architectes : Quand la nature inspire nos constructions, Christiane Dorion (textes), Yeji Yun (illustrations), Éditions Multimondes, 2025
