Marie

Wabbes

A Journey Through Imagination

A Virtual Museum Dedicated to Marie Wabbes

Welcome

Welcome to our digital sanctuary dedicated to the enchanting world of Marie Wabbes, a beloved Belgian author whose words resonate with young hearts. Our mission is to celebrate her legacy, share her captivating stories, and inspire a new generation of readers.

Step into the pages of Marie Wabbes’ enchanting books—a museum where words bloom, illustrations dance, and wonder whispers. Here, her legacy unfurls—a tapestry woven with love, resilience, and over 200 published works. Explore the depths of imagination as you journey through Marie Wabbes’ extraordinary universe, where every story is a portal to endless possibilities and every illustration a window into the magic of childhood.

Over the next months, we will be adding much more to this site, including virtual tours of Marie’s studio, sketches, and the backstory of the Teddies. Not to mention her entire library of over 200 books, both published and unpublished. Each book will be available in its entirety. Thumb through the pages of her amazing children’s books, and share them with your children, friends, and family!

Stay tuned as we unveil more of Marie’s creative world and continue to celebrate her timeless contributions to children's literature.

One Style Many Mediums

From Newsprint to Storybooks

Marie Wabbes’ artistic journey began at La Soir newspaper, where she created pen and ink drawings for 15 years. However, her desire to tell richer stories led her beyond newsprint. Explore how she transitioned from daily sketches to the enchanting world of children’s books.

Coming Soon! more in-depth look at Marie’s studio, sketches and journey is coming soon! (launching Autumn 2024)

Published Book Series 1965-2004

  • Olivier La Page, 1965

    First book of 9 titles published by Ecole Des Loisirs in France and INC Blank in UK and Western Publishing in USA.

  • Caroline at the Kings Ball, 1968

    Using the Pen name ‘Florence’ Marie created 5 books in the La Vache Caroline series, published by ….

  • Paul and Fritzi's Year: Summer, 1972

    Set of 4 books, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Published by

  • Petit Jean, 1986

    A series of 16 books in 3 different reading levels, published by Christian De Boeck. Translated to Italian, Spanish and English

  • Ma Mamam, 1988

    Series of books based off French Uno Due Tre for Africa, published by African Editions in French, Swahili, Lingala and later English.

  • Rouge Tomate, 1994

    Seven books in this series published by Ecole des Loisirs between 1993-2007 were distributed to schools across France.

  • La Citrouille de Petit Lapin, 1996

    Rabbit Series need more info publish in French and English

  • Une Amie pour Petit Ane, 2004

    Six small bilingual Arabic-French Books published by L’Agence La Francophonie. Distributed in the most remote regions near Algerian border.

For Marie, teddy bears weren’t mere toys; they were childhood incarnate. Their soft fur whispered secrets, their button eyes held wonder, and their stitched hearts beat with love.

Textiles for Dujardin: A Silent Symphony

Behind the Seams: More than Books

Marie collaborated with Dujardin, a renowned textile house. Together, they spun threads into symphonies—fabrics that whispered stories. Uncover the delicate dance between Marie’s imagination and Dujardin’s looms.

Africa!

Kinshasa’s Melody

Marie journeyed to Kinshasa, immersing herself in the vibrant rhythms of Africa. Her goal? To create books that resonated with local teachers and children. The pages needed to echo their teaching styles and connect with young hearts.

Initially, Marie sought local Zairian artists to illustrate her vision. But the canvas remained empty—no one stepped forward. Undeterred, she took matters into her own hands, weaving words and images that celebrated Africa’s essence.

From Cameroon to Mali

Marie’s heart beat in sync with Africa. In Cameroon, alongside her diplomat husband, she orchestrated workshops. Young adults became authors and illustrators, breathing life into their own storybooks. Mali, Benin, and Cameroon danced with creativity.

Akomam’ba: A Seed of Hope

Marie’s dream sprouted—a publishing house that would amplify local voices. With little resources but boundless determination, they birthed six books on-site. These treasures later graced the Book Fair in Bologna, catching the eye of US publishers.

Let’s Work Together

Only a few of Marie’s amazing books are still in print and a large beautiful amount have never been published.

If you are interested in publishing, exhibiting or collaborating we would love to hear from you!