Skip to content

11-year-old with Guelph roots pens (with a little help) her first book

Ava Barr Desautels co-authors the book with her grandfather, Guelph businessman Bob Desautels

Ava Barr Desautels, 11, is launching her first children’s book based on her love of cheese.

The Girl Who Loved Cheese will be launched at the eBar on Dec. 10 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Barr was six in 2012 when she was visiting her grandparents, Sue and Bob Desautels. During dinner in the side garden Ava’s grandfather said that her love of cheese was extraordinary, said a news release announcing the book's launch.

“Sometimes I think you’re going to turn into cheese,” her grandfather told her.

Ava came up with a story where she actually does turn into cheese. She said that her belly would become a round piece like Babybel cheese, and she would be able to roll down hills at the park with her friends.

Ava then said, “The best thing is that when I go to school I can eat myself when I get hungry. One day the teacher will call attendance and she’ll call out ‘Ava’. I’ll answer ‘I’m here, I’m here’ but she won’t see me. Finally, she’ll come to my desk and there will only be my eyeballs left.”

The story was a bit ghoulish, so Bob turned it all into a dream. At the end of the story, Ava wakes up and declares to her grandparents “I’m human again.”

This book is an excellent teaching tool that shows children that dreams are not real, said the news release.

Illustrations by Gillian Wilson help tell the story visually.


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.