Perrin makes moody, intimate lift-the-flap books full of hidden surprises.

The New York Times

Inside the Suitcase

A magical lift-the-flaps adventure—part puzzle, part fairy tale—where the boy’s suitcase full of tricks and treasures is the key to getting him home.

Selected by The New York Times for their Holiday Gift Books for Children Guide 2021

A 2022 USBBY Outstanding International Book.

Written and illustrated by Clotilde Perrin, translated by Daniel Hahn.


  • Description

    A magical lift-the-flaps adventure—part puzzle, part fairytale—from the bestselling author and
    illustrator of Inside the Villains.

    Away behind the hills you’ll find a charming little house. Who’s inside? Knock knock… A boy packing his suitcase. Lift the flaps to see what he takes, and travel with him over oceans and mountains, underwater and into the forest. With every step on this voyage of obstacles the boy faces a decision that will lead to a new adventure and help him get home. Delve deeper into each page and remember to use what’s in the suitcase!

    From the mischievous Clotilde Perrin comes a fairy tale full of twists and turns where the boy’s suitcase full of tricks and treasures is the key to getting him home. Curious readers young and old will love all 35 unexpected flaps that help tell the story of this interactive giftbook adventure – there’s even flaps inside flaps to discover over and over! For fans of Alice in Wonderland.

    Clotilde Perrin is an illustrator and author living in France. She has published over 30 books and is known for her intricate interactive lift-the-flaps books including the international bestseller Inside the Villains.

    A 2022 USBBY Outstanding International Book.

    Other books by Clotilde Perrin:
    Inside the Villains
    The House of Madame M


  • Book Details

    Country of Origin France
    Reader Age 2-5 year, 5-7 year
    Book Size
    ISBN

  • Reviews

    1. USBBY Outstanding International Books

      2022 Selection


  • Reviews

    1. Mr Alex’s Bookshelf (verified owner)

      Perrin manages to merge a delightfully engaging narrative and wonderfully detailed illustrations into some basic and intricate folds that elevate this Flap Book to another level.

    2. Creative Steps Magazine

      A delightful lift the flap picture book packed with bold illustrations, what a triumph!

    3. Kids Lit is Lit

      My kids are STILL obsessed with Inside the Villains years later and Inside the Suitcase has her same imaginative signature style. Little readers will delight in the many layers of engaging flaps because obviously flaps equal happiness.

    4. Wandering Bookseller

      This is a story unlike any I have read before and truly an experience of delight and artistic genius to behold.

    5. Book Trust

      Flap books are nothing new, but Perrin’s use of multiple flaps-inside-flaps makes this book a real immersive adventure.

    6. Elizabeth Bird, School Library Journal SLJ, 2021 Translated Books for Kids, 2021 Fantasy for Kids

      I do truly believe that Clotilde Perrin elevates the lift-the-flap aspects of her titles to another level. In some books such flaps are novelty elements. For Perrin, they are integral to the plots themselves.

    7. Volume Books

      This is a charming story for curious young minds, with adventure and playful discoveries on every page and under every flap. Perfect! Wonderfully illustrated, beautifully designed and cleverly told. Click-clack.

    8. Lancashire Evening Post

      The simple but richly evocative illustrations, and the joy of multi-layered discoveries on every page, are all guaranteed to delight curious youngsters. A voyage of adventure that children will want to experience time and time again!

    9. Armadillo Magazine

      An utterly charming and captivating story to engage the imagination. This book is tactile, innovative and an absolute must-read and enjoy, time and again – the adventure will never end, so much depth is there to this book!

    10. School Reading List

      A modern masterpiece, this is a beautiful book to give to younger children for Christmas.

    11. Red Reading Hub

      Surprises aplenty await any reader in this cleverly designed book. The illustrations throughout are a delight, full of life and executed in a colour palette that enhances the mysterious fascination of the boy’s journey into the great unknown in this superb neo-fairytale.

    12. Get Kids Booked

      My 5-year-old showed pure excitement when reading this book. The constant interactivity…the predicting…the wondering…the unique style… she loved it! I must admit, it’s one of my favourites too!

    13. The New York Times

      Little fingers will be itching to touch her tempting cut-outs of storybook A-frame houses, a faceted diamond and a towering mousse cake. And Perrin’s technique of embedding these paper flaps within flaps within yet more flaps creates an Alice in Wonderland sensation of journeying deep into a secret place.

      Holiday Gift Books for Children, 2021.

    14. Kids Book Buzz – Lydia aged 7

      The flaps in Suitcase are bigger and wider than those in Madame M; lots of times, they went from big to little as you found out the secret something underneath all the flaps.

    15. Readings

      This is a funny fairy tale with warm and characterful illustrations and a witty story.

    16. Book Trailers 4 Kids And YA

      Clotilde Perrin’s illustrations and paper engineering are amazing.

    17. Poetry Box

      A book of the utmost comfort and daydream-drift. I love this book so much, I wish I were the richest woman in the world and could buy a copy for anyone who needs a picture-book comfort boost.

    18. Kirkus Reviews

      A surreal or, perhaps, metaphorical journey, rich in surprises.

    19. Midwest Book Review

      Young readers will delight in delving ever deeper into each page and will always remember what’s in the suitcase!

    20. Youth Services Book Review

      As in any good fairy tale quest, each of the seemingly mismatched items plays an important role, if our hero is able to puzzle it out. Readers will delight as each flap reveals more secret flaps and the story rolls on with suspenseful cliffhangers. Sometimes, the text asks questions and attentive readers will enjoy shouting out the answers.


Available worldwide from your local bookstore or online.

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