I was not looking for another book, I really wasn’t… However when a friend (Vicky Cooke, in the Facebook group “Languages in Primary Schools”) recommended this one for World Book Day I just felt the urge to order it (I don’t normally buy books without seeing them 1st!) and I am so glad I did!!
Click here to watch a short video of me introducing this story.
Type of text: picture book
Author or source: Géraldine Collet / Magali Le Huche; Éditions p’titGlénat
Intended age of students: Key Stages 1/2/3
Source reference: 9782723469517
Approaches:
This is a great book to encourage reading as it shows that really there are no right or wrong places to read! It is also fab to introduce rhymes in French and get the children thinking about them. After looking at the front cover with everyone, I will start reading it to the class and after 4 pages ask the children if they have spotted anything special about the language (ie the rhymes) then will carry on reading it. After each name, I will ask 3 children if they can guess where that person reads (in French or in English depending on their age and level) then reveal it, insisting on the end sounds. I can guarantee that when we get to the last page everyone will giggle!! The girl’s name is Lorette… can YOU guess where she reads??
On second reading, the children can repeat/join in with the names and places where they read, focusing on the rhymes.
Rationale:
This book is fab because it will make the children smile but will also get them thinking hard about sounds in French. I am guessing they will all want to find a French word that rhymes with their names which will be a challenge! We will try though!
Outcomes:
Once the story has been shared several times and the children are feeling confident joining in with it, they can attempt to match up a list of names with a list of places in French (resource here tu lis ou match names and places) thus focusing on the graphemes this time. It will enable us to reinforce work which has already been done on phonics and/or get children to work out new rules they have not encountered yet.
Finally we will attempt to write a class version of the poem… in French or in English (or even half and half!), it will be a great challenge!
Topics or themes:
World Book Day; places in town; rooms in the house
Grammar:
au/à la/aux; possessives
How much time required:
1 lesson
Reading this in the inside cover makes me want to meet the authors of the book…
There are plenty of extra ideas to exploit this story and others relating to books in these authentic French blogs: here, here again on Bout de Gomme, then here and here!
Should you wish to, you can buy the book here.
Click here for more books about books!
Where do YOU best like to read? Please do tell me in the comments!
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Merci !
Nathalie