Learning a second language is a valuable skill that can provide many benefits. It opens up new opportunities, expands cultural understanding, and enhances cognitive development. We’ve previously talked about the methods parents usually use to raise bilingual children. Bilingual French children’s books are a great resource for children who are learning French, as well as for French-speaking children who want to develop their skills in their mother tongue. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best French children’s books that are available on the market today.
The Cat in the Hat in English and French (Le Chat Au Chapeau)
This is a classic children’s book that has been translated into many languages, including French. The bilingual version of the book is perfect for young readers who are learning French or for French-speaking children who want to practice their reading skills. The book features the lovable character of the Cat in the Hat, who takes children on a wild adventure filled with fun and mischief.
The Little Prince: A French/English Bilingual Reader
Le Petit Prince is a beloved French children’s book. The bilingual French edition of the book is a great way to introduce children to the story of a young prince, a boy who travels from planet to planet in search of friends and adventure. The book has beautiful illustrations and features simple language that is easy for young readers to understand. It also comes with an audiobook CD!
Am I small? Je suis petite, moi ?: Children’s Picture Book English-French
Fly, Little Bird – Vole, petit oiseau: Bilingual
This is a great bilingual children’s picture book for young children learning English or French. The story follows a shy little bird who wants to fly but is too afraid to do so. Through problem-solving, cooperation, and teamwork with other birds, the little bird is able to overcome his fears and take to the skies. The story is simple and suitable for early age learning, and the colorful illustrations are engaging for kids.
The Fabulous Lost and Found and the little French mouse
This book is a fun and effective way to introduce young children to the French language. The “Story-powered Language Learning Method” seems like an engaging and innovative way to teach children a new language. It’s a blend of English and French that tells a story and also teaches over 50 French words and phrases. However, it doesn’t tell you what the French words mean, so it’s best for a native French speaker to teach their kids.
French-English Picture Dictionary
This is a great tool for parents raising bilingual children or for those who want to introduce their children to French vocabulary. With its 350 illustrations of familiar objects, the dictionary makes learning French fun and easy for little kids. The dictionary also provides the phonetic spellings of French words, which is helpful for parents who may not speak French fluently themselves. The words in the dictionary are grouped by themes, which helps teaching French words that are related to each other.
Children’s Stories in Dual Language French & English
This book offers a collection of 10 fantasy stories for kids, specially designed to be read in both English and French. This allows children to learn new vocabulary in both languages and helps to boost their reading and listening skills. The book comes with downloadable audio in both French and English, which allows children to follow along as they read or listen to the audio with their parents. This makes the bedtime routine fun and exciting for both parents and children. It’s perfect for bilingual families!
Bilingual Fairy Tales in French and English: A Story Collection from Charles Perrault and James Planché
This book is a collection of 10 classic fairy tales written in both French and English. The stories are written in a mix of dialogue and description, which can help children learn new vocabulary and grammar structures naturally. In addition to the written stories, the book also comes with an audio in both French and English. While this might be for more advanced learners and older children, it’s also great to have something to play to your bilingual child as a bedtime audio.
Bilingual French children’s books are a great way to introduce children to the French language and culture. They could of course also be used the other way around for french children to learn English. They provide an engaging and interactive way for young readers to learn and develop their language skills. The books listed above are wonderful bilingual French children’s books that are available on the market today. So why not pick up a few and start exploring stories in both English and French?
As your kids get older they might even want to read some full on French books or French comic books. It’s also worth noting that TV shows in French can help them learn French, too. And of course conversation.