Petit Ours Brun veut une histoire

I have had this book since my son, now nearly 19, was little. When I contacted Bayard Jeunesse about writing a blog on it, they kindly pointed out to me that this was an old edition and offered to send me some more up-to-date Petit Ours Brun books… for free! How amazing is that?

Language of text: French
Type of text: picture book
Author or source: Danièle Bour, published by Bayard Jeunesse
Intended age of students: Key Stage 1/2
Source reference: 9782747006002

Approaches:
After looking at the cover of the book and trying to predict with the children what might happen in the story, I will read it all the way through (it is very short) then ask if our predictions were correct.
On second reading, we will all join in with actions; on 3rd reading I will extract the words and sentences that I want to focus on with the children and we will start practising them. I particularly like “tu relis ?” at the end which will enable us to look at the prefix “re-“.

Rationale:
This story includes all the vocabulary you may want to use in French to talk about reading and books.
I particularly like this book because the dad is reading the story to the bear; there are still many books where the mum is the central character with younger children/animals. Also the dad is in the middle of reading a book himself (not a newspaper!) when the bear asks for a story; he is therefore a good role model.

Outcomes:
I will ask the children where and with whom they best like or would like to share a story, then they will make their own minibooks showing them with that person, with a simplified version of the writing in French. The children will be able to choose the title of the book being read too and it will be great fun.

Topics or themes:
Fathers’ Day; World Book Day; hobbies

Grammar:
2nd and 3rd person of verbs in the present tense

How much time required:
1 lesson

You can subscribe to Petit Ours Brun videos here on YouTube (sorry, it is not on TV5 Monde) and enjoy the cartoons with your children too!

What is YOUR favourite Petit Ours Brun story or cartoon? Please share it in the comments below!