HEADLINER
Comic Books and Graphic Novels
RACISM EXPLAINED TO MY DAUGHTER
In 2025, Seuil Jeunesse published a comic book adaptation of Racism Explained to My Daughter – a global bestseller by Tahar Ben Jelloun, translated into more than 25 languages and still highly relevant today. Illustrated by Hélène Le Cam and adapted by Marzena Sowa, this comic book, aimed at 8–12-year-olds, has already been translated into German and Italian.
"The story follows Tahar Ben Jelloun’s character as he takes his daughter, Meryem, who is about 8–10 years old, to an anti-racism demonstration. Meryem simply asks her father: “What is racism?” From that point on, there is an ongoing dialogue between the two characters about the origins and causes of racism. For example, there is a chapter that deals with slavery, another that deals with apartheid, and another that explores differences between people.
What makes the book particularly interesting is that it remains highly accessible for younger children while also addressing more complex ideas. Some pages even encourage readers to carry out their own research and explore certain topics in greater depth. We also wanted to add a glossary and update the content with events such as the murder of the high school teacher Samuel Paty and the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. In translation, these examples can be adapted to the national and cultural context. The German version, for instance, refers to the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland.
For the illustration, I chose a very lively drawing style. I wanted to keep an emotional and sensitive approach because we are dealing with a serious subject, that does not necessarily require a dramatic visual style. I also tried to simplify a lot of things to make certain ideas easier to understandsmall characters become circles, squares, or triangles that fight with one another or reject each other.
This book is for children, aged around 8 to 10, but it can also be read at 15, 20, or any age. At festivals, grandparents bougt the book to read it with their grandchildren. I think many people see this graphic novel as a companion book - one that can accompany children as they grow up.»
Hélène Le Cam, illustrator
July 2026
In 2025, Seuil Jeunesse published a comic book adaptation of Racism Explained to My Daughter – a global bestseller by Tahar Ben Jelloun, translated into more than 25 languages and still highly relevant today. Illustrated by Hélène Le Cam and adapted by Marzena Sowa, this comic book, aimed at 8–12-year-olds, has already been translated into German and Italian.
"The story follows Tahar Ben Jelloun’s character as he takes his daughter, Meryem, who is about 8–10 years old, to an anti-racism demonstration. Meryem simply asks her father: “What is racism?” From that point on, there is an ongoing dialogue between the two characters about the origins and causes of racism. For example, there is a chapter that deals with slavery, another that deals with apartheid, and another that explores differences between people.
What makes the book particularly interesting is that it remains highly accessible for younger children while also addressing more complex ideas. Some pages even encourage readers to carry out their own research and explore certain topics in greater depth. We also wanted to add a glossary and update the content with events such as the murder of the high school teacher Samuel Paty and the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. In translation, these examples can be adapted to the national and cultural context. The German version, for instance, refers to the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland.
For the illustration, I chose a very lively drawing style. I wanted to keep an emotional and sensitive approach because we are dealing with a serious subject, that does not necessarily require a dramatic visual style. I also tried to simplify a lot of things to make certain ideas easier to understandsmall characters become circles, squares, or triangles that fight with one another or reject each other.
This book is for children, aged around 8 to 10, but it can also be read at 15, 20, or any age. At festivals, grandparents bougt the book to read it with their grandchildren. I think many people see this graphic novel as a companion book - one that can accompany children as they grow up.»
Hélène Le Cam, illustrator
July 2026
July 2026