Histoire de Quillembois Soldat

Quillembois is a wooden soldier born from a turned‑over pine block, painted in blue and red by a careless craftsman. His crooked nose, misaligned mouth, and steady black eyes give him a charmingly imperfect look, while his blue tunic, yellow rifle, and red pom‑pom shako mark him as a dutiful French toy. Placed in a cushioned box with a handful of fellow figurines—drums, cannons, trees, and a tiny shepherdess in a green skirt and pink bodice—he spends his days staring through the workshop’s shelves at miniature farms and animals waiting their turn.

When the box is lifted and set upon a rattling train, Quillembois embarks on an unexpected voyage toward an unknown destination. The clatter of wheels, distant animal cries, and a flickering light through the night hint at a world beyond the workshop, where his wooden heart beats with curiosity and a faint longing for the shepherdess he has never truly seen. The story unfolds with gentle humor and a touch of melancholy, inviting listeners to follow this small soldier’s first steps into a larger, colorful landscape.