A Happy New Year's Day

by Roch Carrier, Gilles Pelletier (Illustrator)

The preparations for the joyous New Year’s Day celebrations of Roch’s childhood began long before winter came. In the summer, his grandmother made her cherry wine. The neighboring villagers painted and repaired their sleighs in anticipation of the winter’s parade. When the big day finally arrives, it is a whirlwind of activity: the cooking and eating of the lavish feast, the arrival of visitors and distant relatives, the singing and dancing, and the family blessing. In the end, Roch knows who to thank for such a wonderful day.

Genres: Picture Books

24 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1991

About the author

Roch Carrier, OC is a Canadian novelist, playwright and author of "contes" (a very brief form of the short story). He is among the best known Quebec writers in English Canada.

From 1994 to 1997, he served as head of the Canada Council. In 1998, he ran as an electoral candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party under Jean Charest, in the riding of Crémazie. He was defeated by 309 votes.

In 1991, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. From 1999 to 2004, Carrier was National Librarian of Canada.

A quote from "Le chandail de hockey" ("The Hockey Sweater"), one of Carrier's contes, is reprinted on the back of the Canadian five-dollar bill.