‘Comme un million de papillons noirs’ by Laura Nsafou: How an Afrofeminist Picture Book Gave the Impetus to a Discussion About Inclusive Children’s Literature in France

The article analyses the success of the French picturebook "Comme un million de papillon noirs" by Afrofeminist blogger Laura Nsafou. The book was rejected as a 'niche product' or even as a 'communitarian' book by several French publishing houses, but finally became a serious success. I examine how this book served as a catalyst, raising awareness of the lack of racial diversity in French children's literature. I also link the success of the book to the social and cultural context of the book's publication, in particular to the importance of blogs, podcasts and crowdfunding by Black French people, that have altered the power relationship between BPoC authors and the predominantly white French publishing industry.