Caillou is the main protagonist of the TV series and books, all of the same name. He is presented as a curious, adventurous young child who enjoys exploring the world around him and is intended to be a representation of a real preschooler. Created by child psychologist and publisher Christine L'Heureux and illustrator Hélène Desputeaux, Caillou debuted as an infant in a series of books running from 1989 onwards, and is also the mascot of the Chouette publishing company, which was founded by L'Heureux.