This book is a new fun take on a traditional French song, “Promenons-nous dans les bois.” (see video below) I love the humour in it as the pigs tease the wolf and the unexpected ending makes everyone smile!
Author or source: Mario Ramos
Intended age of students: Key Stage 2/3
Source reference: 978-2-211-09107-7
Approaches:
This is a lovely story which in the first instance can be read and shared with a whole class as everyone can join in the chorus. The teacher could then read it again and the pupils will also have to join in with actions to show what the “wolf” is doing.
Rationale:
You can use this book either as an introduction to daily routine or to clothes in French; alternatively you can use it to reinforce the vocabulary, in context, at the end of a unit of work.
Outcomes:
The children will particularly enjoy this story and the humour in it if they first learn the original nursery rhyme, “Promenons-nous dans les bois” as this book is a new take on the traditional song.
Topics or themes:
It is best used when the children are learning about daily routine and/or clothes as well as typical French nursery rhymes.
Grammar:
Reflexive verbs, possessive adjectives (mon/ma/mes).
Strategies:
The pupils may want to act out the nursery rhyme in small groups of 3 or more and adapt to use their own favourite phrases for daily routine or clothes, with props.
How much time required:
It can be used for a stand alone lesson or referred to over up to a term.
There is a “fiche pédagogique” by “l’école des loisirs” about this book with lots more ideas and resources here!
You can see Mario’s bibliography here. As I’ve been reading about him, I have just found out that he died in 2012 and it is making me feel sad to think that he won’t be writing any more stories… I love them so much! No doubt there will be another Mario Ramos book blog some time soon though…
All in all, I strongly recommend this book: I can guarantee you and the children you read it to will love it! Buy it here at Little Linguist.
Check out this other Mario Ramos story, “Tout en haut”, which I very often read on my bus!
Alternatively I am listing his stories and their blogs here.
What is your favourite French nursery rhyme or song which has been made into a book?
Finally, please click here to receive my new resources (and more) regularly straight in your mail box!
Merci !
Nathalie