Poucet may be poor and small, but not in spirit. Beneath his weak exterior, he is without doubt the most attentive pupil at school, despite his outdated school bag, battered notebook covers and soaked ink blotters. While his dunce brothers keep being held back a year, he collects brownie points and is the only one able to bring back a signed report card.

Join in for a recitation on the blackboard, set against the fragrance of “Cleopatre glue” mixed with fresh wax crayons. The top of the class sit by the radiator with their parents.