Present French in context to beginning students of all ages with these fun, classic stories.

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar -- by Eric Carle

In French: La chenille qui fait des trous (Mijade, 2004), translated by Laurence Bourgignon

Generations of children have enjoyed following the hungry caterpillar as he nibbles little holes in his food. For elementary students, the content of this book makes a connection to science as it reinforces the life cycle of a butterfly. Readers also learn the days of the week, weather, foods, and simple adjectives.

2. The Grouchy Ladybug -- by Eric Carle

In French: La coccinelle mal lunée (Mijade, 2001)

Oh, that little ladybug is just itching for a fight! Your students will love the recurring phrase, "Hé, toi! Tu veux te battre?" ("Hey, you! You want to fight?") Use this fun picture book to teach students how to tell time, identify animals and use adjectives. More advanced students can focus on the verb vouloir (to want), object pronouns, and comparisons.

3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? -- by Eric Carle and Bill Martin

In French: Ours brun, dis-moi . . . (Distribooks, 1999), translated by Laurence Bourgignon

The repetition in this book provides the necessary practice for second language learners. Introduce your students to colors, adjective placement/agreement, and the verbs dire (to say) and voir (to see.)

4. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? -- by Eric Carle and Bill Martin

In French: Ours blanc, dis-moi . . . (Mijade, 1999) translated by Laurence Bourgignon

Like Ours brun, this delightful little picture book is a fun exercise in pattern-practice. Expand your students' animal vocabulary and practice using the verb entendre (to hear.)

5. Elmer -- by David McKnee

In French: Elmer (Kaleidoscope, 1989)

Everyone loves the patchwork elephant named Elmer. This picture book provides a wonderful context for learning colors.

6. Little Blue and Little Yellow -- by Leo Lionni

In French: Petit Bleu, Petit Jaune (L'École des loisirs, 2000)

This story is fun to tell with gestures and actions. Your students will learn colors, sizes, and a variety of useful verbs like run, jump, climb, and dig. For younger children, the concept of blending primary colors is reinforced.

7. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear -- by Don Wood

In French: La petite souris, la belle fraise bien mûre et le gros ours affamé (Child's Play International Ltd., 1984)

A mouse, interacting with a tricky narrator, tries to protect its strawberry from an unseen bear. This book has great examples of adjectives that come before and after the noun in French.

8. Go Away, Big Green Monster! -- by Ed Emberley

In French: Va t'en Grand Monstre Vert! (L'École des loisirs, 1996), translated by Elisabeth Duval

Here's an entertaining story for teaching body parts, colors, and adjective placement and agreement. Have your students design and describe their own monsters, too.

9. Where Are You Going, Little Mouse? -- by Robert Kraus and Jose Aruego

In French: Où vas-tu Petite Souris? (L'École des loisirs, 2004)

Little Mouse is running away from home! The Little Mouse books are rich in grammatical patterns. Practice possessive adjectives, the verb aller (to go), family members, the future tense, the irregular adjective nouveau (new) and object pronouns.

10. Come Out and Play, Little Mouse -- by Robert Kraus, Jose Aruego, and Ariane Dewey

In French: Viens jouer avec moi, Petite Souris (L'École des loisirs, 1988)

A mischievous cat is trying to get Little Mouse to come out and "play". Use this story to review the days of the week, the future tense using the verb aller, and the expressions Je ne peux pas . . . (I can't) and Je dois . . . (I have to).

The French versions of these picture books are available online at the French Amazon website.