Top 10 French Learning Books for Kids and Teens

4/19/2024

Reading is a fantastic way to apply your language learning. It allows us to explore the language in new ways, inspire our imagination, and delve into French culture. This article will outline 10 French books that a language learner can read to expand their use and understanding of the French language. The ten books offered in this blog range in difficulty and are here presented in order of ability from beginner to advanced.

1. Histoire de Babar Jean de Brunhoff (1931) (Beginner)

These French classic recounts the adventures of a young African elephant named Babar. First published in 1931, Babar has become an animated TV series and has even inspired classical music compositions by Francis Poulenc and Raphael Mostel.

The book is written in simple yet beautiful French prose for children and serves as a wonderful introduction to the language and culture for young learners. The beautiful illustrations will also help learners to work out the story for themselves, before researching unfamiliar vocabulary.

2. Madeleine, L’école des loisirs Ludwig Bemelmans (1939) (Beginner)

Madeleine is an illustrated book in a series of six original tales. It follows the story of a 7-year-old girl, Madeleine, and her stay at an all-girls boarding school in Paris.

Bemelmans’ paintings of Paris capture the imagination of the reader and delve fully into the culture of life in France’s capital city. The French is written in rhyming prose, allowing the reader to easily remember the flow of the language and new vocabulary.

3. Les Aventures de Tintin Hergé (1929-1976) (Intermediate)

The series of 24 comic albums details the adventures of Tintin, a young Belgian reporter, and his dog Snowy. It’s set in the backdrop of the 20th Century and features famous characters such as Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus.

The series is for an intermediate reader who is interested in expanding their vocabulary. The comics also present many French sayings and phrases which are fun to learn for the more advanced learner. Again, the illustrations help to guide the reader for a more seamless reading of the tale.

4. Le Petit Prince Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943) (Intermediate)

This philosophical novella recounts the adventures of the Little Prince who visits different planets, including Earth. It appeals to both children and adults as aspects of human nature are explored through the lens of a child’s imagination. The French in this work is for an intermediate reader, but once again the illustrations, drawn by Saint-Exupéry himself, will help the reader to understand the text at first glance.

This masterpiece is a wonderful first dive into the world of French literature and novellas. It is beautifully written and is at once edifying and poetic.

5. Voyage au pays des arbres Jean-Marie Gustave le Clézio (1978) (Intermediate)

This novel is about a little boy who wishes to travel and decides to travel in his dreams to the land of the trees. There he is invited to a tree party and becomes friends with them all.

The French is understandable for an intermediate learner, whilst still providing a challenge in vocabulary. Once again, the lovely illustrations of Henri Galeron will help to guide you through the tale.

This fantasy world allows the reader to delve into the fantastical world of philosophical French imagination.

6. Vingt milles lieues sous les mers Jules Verne (1870) (Intermediate - Advanced)

Any young reader would love to read Jules Verne’s classic science fiction novel. It is one of three sci-fi classics in Verne’s Voyages Extraordinaires and is filled with imagery and adventure.

The tale, narrated by Professor Pierre Aronnax, recounts Captain Nemo’s expedition around the world’s Oceans to find and destroy a mysterious sea monster, the Nautilus.
Although quite dense for a language learner, the adventure and storytelling are so captivating that one should find it a thrilling read.

7. La Gloire de mon père Marcel Pagnol (1957) (Intermediate - Advanced)

This is an autobiographical novel written by Pagnol, often seen as one of France’s greatest 20th-century writers. Pagnol depicts the magical world of his childhood summer holidays in the mountains of Provence, southern France, with his family.

His writing style is clear and constructed in a way that is not too difficult for a French-language learner to understand. Whilst the syntax is unproblematic, the learner will have the chance to expand their vocabulary in this beautifully crafted novel. The book was also made into a charming film.

8. Arsène Lupin Maurice Leblanc (1905) (Advanced)

Arsène Lupin is the protagonist in a crime novel series by Maurice Leblanc. He is the ultimate gentleman thief, working against the backdrop of fin-de-siècle Paris.

Written in 1905, the French is composed in classical form, so the reader will need to adapt themselves to this style of language. However, the series is great fun to read and a very well-known classic. One of the tales even includes English detective Sherlock Holmes. It was also recently adapted into a French-language series on Netflix.

9. La mare au diable George Sand (1856) (Advanced)

This is the first in a series of four pastoral novels by George Sand, an important female novelist from 19th-century France. An aristocrat who championed the poor, these novels recount the lives of peasants in the French countryside.

This story is one of love, marriage, and social norms in the French countryside.

The language is advanced in both syntax and vocabulary, but the size of the novella means it is still manageable for the avid reader and learner.

10. La Tartuffe Molière (1664) (Advanced)

This satirical, comedy play is written by one of France’s most important playwrights. It tells the story of the Tartuffe, a pious imposter, who is taken in by the Orgon household, and eventually exposed by Elmire, Orgon’s wife.

Written in old-style French prose, La Tartuffe is for the advanced learner, but certainly a cultural must! Feel free to read it alongside films of the play, where the dramaturgy will allow you to access the language at first glance.

As you begin to read in French you should aim to use the dictionary sparingly. Instead rely on guesswork (from the layout, pictures, headlines, or titles) and your logical understanding of etymology to get a first understanding of the text you are reading. After you’re confident that you have the gist of the text, you can start to focus on the details and expand your vocabulary with the help of your dictionary and grammar books.

I hope you enjoy these texts and have fun in your exploration of French literature! If you would like to learn more about our course offerings at the Music & Language Learning Centre, schedule a free consultation with us today.