ANGLAIS - carnet enfant - Tim et le mystère de la patte bleue

Tim
and the mystery of the blue paw
with the support of the DÉFENSEURE DES ENFANTS

2
Hello !
My name is Tim. I am a little squirrel.
I live in Boizibar forest
with my dad ,
my mum,
and my little sister Pitchounette.
My house is high up a big oak which is the most
beautiful of all big oaks in the forest.
Our family life is ever so peaceful in this lovely
place .

3

4
Tonight I can't go to sleep. My dad did not
come home from work and it is really weird.
He usually comes to fetch me at school.
Why is he not here ?

5
This morning, dad is still not back home
and something weird is happening to me :
one of my legs has turned blue.
I must tell mum.

6
At breakfast, I ask mum :
Mum, where is dad ?
Why is he not here ?
When is he coming back ?
Mum does not say anything
She looks so sad and she did not even notice my blue
leg !
I would like dad to be here. Why has he gone away ?
Is he ill ? Or maybe he is dead ?
Perhaps he does not like us any more ?
And my leg is getting even bluer !
Who can I talk to now ?

Who is going
to help me ?
7

8
At school today :
Hey look at Tim ! He has got a blue leg !
Did you dip your leg in some paint ?
Scared Tim with his leg all blue !
They are just too mean to me.

9
At break I prefer to stay on
my own.
Fortunately, in the afternoon
, the teacher tells us
about the school fair.
So I think of my dad . I
hope he will be able to
come.

10
When I come home for tea,
I immediately notice dad has not come back
home.
- Mum,
do you think dad will be here for the school fair ?
Tell me, where is he at the moment ?

11
Mum looks aside and says she has
a midge in her eye.
But I can see she is crying .
I really wonder why.

12
The next day, at school the teacher gives us a lesson
on our town On a map, he shows : the market,
the cinema, the townhall, the hospital, the prison...I
have a super idea ! I am going to give mum the
map so she'll be able to show me where my dad is.

13
Mum remains silent
and I notice a big tear
running down her cheek
Now I know for sure something
very, very, very serious happened to dad.

14
I feel so lonely and I feel like crying.
Why doesn't anybody talk to me ?
I am a big boy !
When I come back from school I am so sad I
burst into tears .
Mum takes me on her lap...At last !
Don't cry my little Tim
I'll tell you where dad is.
I didn't want to upset you, that's why I didn't say
anything up to now.

Dad is in prison because
he has stolen Mrs Tit's
hazelnut store.
15

16
Tonight I think of my dad and I wonder why he did
that to Mrs Tit.
I also wonder what it is like in prison and also if
dad is thinking of us.
Talking to mum reassured me. Even though
what's happening is very serious, now I know
where dad is. And suddenly my leg is less blue !
We will soon go and visit dad but we must wait for
permission first.

I know : I am going to draw a beautiful
colourful forest for my dad.
17

18
Today we are visiting dad. We are off
to the city !

We arrive at the prison.
While waiting till our visiting time, we go to the
house where they welcome families.
I meet Titou the hedgehog. He is a bit shy just like
me. But we play a game with Mrs Mole who is in
charge of the house, so time passes faster.
19

20
Mrs Mole explains to me what's going to happen.
The place where you are going to meet your dad
is called the visiting room. You'll be able to kiss
him, sit on his lap if you like. Whenever you come
back you'll be able to go and see me to play or
just to have a chat.
It's time for the visit at last.
The prison is a very big, very high house even higher
than the highest big oak in Boizibar forest,
with a huge iron door and a big lock. My heart is
beating wildly !

21

22
The big door opens and everybody walks in one
after the other.
Inside we must put all our stuff into lockers:
Mum's bag, her keys and even her cell phone.

23
A big owl dressed a bit like a policeman tells us
what to do. He is the warder owl. He is rather nice.
We also have to walk under a portal, a sort of big
door that starts making noise if you have keys in
your pocket. You must take off everything that
rings before you may go on.

24
Then we walk along big corridors.
We go through several gates which make a lot of
noise when opening and closing.

25
At last we reach the parlour where I am going to
see my dad.
I hope he will notice my blue leg and explain
what's happening.
We go into the parlour and dad comes in through
another door.

26
Dad immediately holds his arms and takes me on
his lap. He notices my leg straight away.
Don't worry about your leg.
Now you know where I am and feel reassured,
your leg will soon become red again.
Tell me dad : when will you come back home ?
I don't decide when I 'll leave here . I did something
silly so I have been punished. Meanwhile
you'll have to be patient.
I know it is difficult but I am counting on you, son !

The warder owl comes back
and says the visiting time is over.
I have to leave dad.
It is really hard !
I try not to cry.
27

28
Now I often visit my dad.
And guess what ?
My leg is red again !
Dad was right. In fact the hair of my leg had turned
blue from fear, because there were too many
questions in my head.
There is no more mystery of the blue leg now !
Now I know where my dad is.
I also know that when you are worried :
TALKING TO SOMEONE REALLY HELPS
A LOT

and I am ever so happy I can play with my
friends again !
And with my little sister Pitchounette too !
29

30
Tim has gone for a walk in the forest with his
mum and his little sister Pitchounette.
Can you see them ?
Solutions :Tim is in the bird’s house – Pitchounette is behind the hut – Mum is behind the tree on the
right.

31
This little book belongs to : ..........................
This page is for you. You can draw what you
like.

Your dad, your mum
or someone else in your family
is in prison...
The story of Tim the little squirrel is
meant to help you talk about that.
Edited and distributed by UFRAMA
with the support of La Défenseure des enfants
and :
- le Ministère de la Justice
- le Ministère des Affaires Sociales et de la Santé,
de la Famille, de la Solidarité et de la Ville
- le Secrétariat Général à la Ville
- l’Agence Nationale pour la Cohésion Sociale et
l’Egalité des Chances
- l’Institut National de Prévention et d’Education
pour la Santé
- la Caisse Nationale des Allocations Familiales
- la Fondation Ronald McDonald
- le Conseil Régional de l’Ile de France
Inside this book, you'll find some
« how to » pages for parents
Edited by UFRAMA, it is distributed
free to prisoners' families and relatives
UFRAMA
Union nationale des fédérations régionales
des associations de maisons d’accueil de
familles et proches de personnes incarcérées
8, passage Pont Amilion – 17100 SAINTES
Tél. 05 46 92 11 89
contact@uframa.org
Web site : www.uframa.org
No part of this booklet may be reproduced in
any manner whatsoever ©
Authors :
After a tale by Jean-François FAVRE
Illustrated by Quentin GRÉBAN
Translated from the French by Marie-Noëlle
DUPUIS
This little book was developped with the help
of the following people : Gérard BENOIST,
Isabelle BIANQUIS, Colette CLEMENT-
BARTHEZ, Jean Luc DOUILLARD, Henri
EICCHOLTZER, Jeannette FAVRE, Catherine
JOUSSELME, Odile NAUDIN, Jane
SAUTIÈRE
Printing : I.D.E.,
17100 Saintes (France) on 30 december 2016
ISBN n° 978-2-9537057- 4-4