On a Wednesday, and when I do whole-school visits, I am lucky enough to work with children aged 7 and under – from as young as 2, and I love it!
In this blog, I have gathered some of my (and their) favourite stories!
A couple of quick thoughts on using stories with the younger children: they love them (even if they can’t understand them at all, they watch and listen!), it is best (if possible), to have a few up your sleeves and tell them each story more than once (in the same session and over several sessions). Like me and my pupils, you will soon have favourites!!
From the age of 2 (EYFS):
Books I have written blogs on:
- Le secret – a mouse finds an apple and hides it… but will it stay hidden? click here for the full blog on it.
- Les chaussettes – how hard is it to find socks? Click here for the full blog on it.
- Nénègle sur la montagne – the very cute story of a baby eagle learning to fly… Click here for the full blog on it.
- Mon petit coeur – pet names that we use in French; very cute. Click here for the full blog on it.
- Il fait comment le caméléon ? – a fun story to find out what noise a chameleon makes. Click here for the full blog on it.
- L’âne Trotro fait du vélo – everyone joins in to ride their imaginary bikes with Trotro! Click here for the full blog on it.
- bonjour ! – a small wolf says hello to everything in the garden… It is tiring business though! Click here for the full blog on it.
- Bon… – a very simple story (and song) about a duck family. Click here for the full blog on it.
- Petit Poisson blanc – a classic “is this their mummy?” book in French. Click here for the full blog
- Lapin is hungry – a different book as the story is in English but the dialogues in French. Very effective! Click here for the full blog.
- Le yoga des petits – perfect to join in and quieten down with at the end of a storytelling session. Click here for the full blog.
Extra books that are ready to use:
- Saute ! – my favourite ever, I think! The children have to jump and say “saute” if the animal I show them can jump… but not if it can’t!! Such fun!! Click here for more info about it.
- Qui vit là ? – you can show to the children a picture and ask them who lives there; when they have guessed in English, you can practise the word in French! Click here for more info.
- jardin – a book about things in the garden where they turn from black and white to colour… It is very effective and children love it! More about it here.
- Bonne nuit les amis ! – a book to practise saying good night to animals. The children might be familiar with it in English. Very cute and popular! Buy it here.
- 1, 2, 3, partons ! – a book for everyone to join in with, with a finger in the air! More about it here.
From the age of 5 (KS1):
Books I have written blogs on:
- Petit-Bleu et Petit-Jaune – 2 friends get mixed up and turn green… What will happen to them? Click here for the full blog on it.
- Les orteils n’ont pas de nom – a book to find out your toes’ names! Click here for the full blog on it.
- Déjà – what are all the animals waking each other early for? Click here for the full blog on it.
- Maman ! – why is a child running around the house (and its funny occupants) looking for their mum? click here for the full blog on it.
- Aboie, George ! – will Georges ever be able to bark again? Click here for the full blog on it.
- 3 souris peintres – the story of 3 painting mice. Click here for the full blog
- Lou et Mouf – Vole ! Vole ! – let’s look around the garden! Click here for the full blog.
- Bloub bloub bloub – what is coming up from the water? Click here for the full blog.
Extra books that are ready to use:
- Au secours ! – a brilliant book that open up like an accordion. The children can join in and show “au secours”. It is a lot of fun! More on it here.
- Et… badaboum – a simple but fun story about a cherry falling on an animal that falls on another animal etc. More on it here.
- Un loup ? – a fabulous story that you can use and tell with your whole body and it will keep the children on their toes! A favourite too! More on it here.
Were you looking for books for older pupils? Click here for my list of essential French books for children from the ages of 7-11!
Finally, if you found this helpful, please click here to receive my new resources (and more) regularly straight in your mail box!
Merci !
Nathalie