For Diane Therrien Freynet, storytelling has always been a part of her life. Growing up in rural Manitoba, she loved reading and writing and developed a real penchant for rhyming, often reciting to her younger nieces and nephews. 

“As there weren’t many French rhymes in Manitoba at the time, the children would ask me to translate these [English] rhymes, so I would interpret them in French. I adopted the same practice with my grandchildren,” she says.

Freynet’s passion for rhyme eventually led to the creation of the “Grand-maman raconte” series of picture books. She celebrates Manitoba’s iconic winter festival in her latest, Grand-maman raconte au Festival du Voyageur, which arose from her lifelong connection to the Festival as a devoted attendee and volunteer. 

“The Festival theme is an important part of Franco-Manitoban culture,” she says, “and through this picture book, I wanted to tell the story of where French-Canadians from the West, and Manitoba in particular, come from and what they represent.”

Her verses imaginatively encapsulate the spirit and traditions of the Festival du Voyageur, interweaving lively illustrations of various festival foods, events, contests, and displays, such as pea soup, the beard-growing contest, and the snow sculptures. 

“This annual event is part of our lives, our culture, and the festivities we experience,” she states. “HÉ HO!”

Many tales are inspired by real-life experiences. For one of the stories featuring a mischievous fox, Freynet drew upon both her great-granddaughter spotting a “red dog” and her granddaughter’s encounter with a thieving fox snatching her cell phone. These and other whimsical anecdotes create the engaging, rhythmic storytelling that defines her work. 

Rhyme is central to Freynet’s writing process. “It fascinates me, and I like the idea of working a little harder to get stories right,” she says. “It’s a challenge that excites and motivates me in my writing.” 

The vibrant illustrations bring great energy to the stories Freynet tells. For the first time, she collaborated with artist Francesca Da Sacco, who had previously illustrated for the publisher. 

Freynet carefully guided the process, providing detailed descriptions and reference photos to shape the images. “I explained in detail what I was looking for in each tale, which she ended up transforming into magnificent drawings in this new book.”

At its heart, Freynet’s work is about inspiring young readers. Grand-maman raconte au Festival du Voyageur invites children to celebrate the rich traditions of the Franco-Manitoban community and embrace creativity. 

Her message to them is simple: “Use your imagination and be passionate about reading. Everyone has a good imagination – you just have to use it.”