The Ultimate French Back to School Book List
Focus on Text
Kindness Books
Ici, c’est chez nous! - There's a free resource on Les p'tits mots-dits to use with this book.
An old favourite of many seasoned teachers - As-tu rempli un seau aujourd'hui ? still has very valid messages in today's society.
Growth Mindset Books
Je suis le meilleur - a translated book by Lucy Cousins |
Un jour tu découvras - I love this sweet book!
Parfaitement imparfait This is another title I loved so much I had to buy my own copy. I think partially it's the grammar pun that got my attention initially. :-)
Nerves and excitement
Que mange la maîtresse pour son goûter ? Curiosity about teachers and maybe a little fear of the unknown is normal.
Souris, tu viens à l'école ? - French version from the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" series.
C'est la rentrée! (N'aie pas peur, Dragon!)
Je suis capable : C'est la rentrée !
Enfin, te voilà from Mélanie Watt is a classic way to welcome your French class. |
Being Different and Fitting In
Ovide à l'école
Le banc d'école bleu ciel - By the same author as Le bibliobus, which is another potential back to school read - but one I'd prefer to keep for a bit further in the school year. I like that selection better for talking about universal rights and Global Issues.
Tout ce qu'une maîtresse ne dira jamais
Pat se fait beau pour l'école I've included a separate list further on with other Pat le chat books that lend themselves well to "la rentrée" or to launching a particular subject area.
C'est la rentrée, Grand-Pied! I've read this one myself and enjoyed it, knowing it would be great to tuck away for the BTS season!
A book that I haven't yet used myself, but that I've seen recommended by several French Immersion (and even French First Language) Teachers is Et dans ta tête à toi. There is a free resource on J'enseigne avec la littérature jeunesse to help with using this book in class at the start of the year.
Rules and Expectations
Perspective Books
It's great to talk about perspective, and since it's about a little boy who has a "laundry malfunction" (his fav but embarrassing pair of underwear are stuck in his clothes and falls out at school) at school, it would work for the first week or so. I like it as a way to kick off Social Studies, before you're really ready to get into the Social Studies content itself.
Robert Munsch
Je raffole de l'école ! - French version of "School Rules"
La sortie scolaire - Class Trip - Munsch (A new book, coming out right about now)
On partage tout ! - French version of "We Share Everything!"
Le bouffon de la classe - French verison of "Class Clown"
Journée pyjama French verison of "Pyjama Day!"
Pat le chat
J'adore les Maths - For launching Math class in particular
Les roues de l'autobus Formulaic and recognizable because of the song.
À l'expo-sciences super cool For Science class, or for discussing setbacks
Je danse tout le temps - Do you also teach the Arts to your class? Whether you're a Core French teacher who ALSO teaches Dance, or a French Immersion Dance Teacher, I thought this would be a cute read aloud.
Other Recognizable Characters
La rentrée scolaire de Benjamin
Hello Kitty aime l'école It seems like there may be different variations of this, or more than one Hello Kitty book related to school. Either explanation makes sense. I own a copy of this myself, but I don't have a source for you online at this time.