I will be in France in September. I have 2 nieces (actually they are my best friend's daughters) who I always bring a little something to from my travels. I like bringing them books or some type of learning game from the places I visit.

One of their grandmothers speaks French (she is French Canadian) and she talks to the girls in French (however it's very basic French).

The girls are 8 (will be starting 2nd grade next year) and 4 (will be starting kindergarden next year). I thought a nice gift to bring back would be some children's books in French to help them when speaking with their Meme, or Meme can read the books to them.

My question to our Fodors France experts...could you recommend any childrens books or specific author that would be appropriate for the girls ages and French language ability (very basic).

Any information you can share is greatly appreciated!

How about Beatrix Potter books in French. I love my copy of Jemima Puddleduck.

Linea in Monet's Garden in French.

The French edition of Madeleine by Ludwig Bemelmans.

The books by Comtesse de Ségur-- "Les malheurs de Sophie" and several others.

my boys grew up on Tin Tin and Asterix.

My grandson was starting French class in school the next year. I found a children's dictionary in Paris - all in French with pictures. He loved it.

Wow! Thanks everyone for such quick responses!

Exactly what I was looking for!

<u>Le Petit Prince</u>

From wikipedia:

<i>The Little Prince (French: Le Petit Prince), published in 1943, is French aviator Antoine de Saint Exup&eacute;ry's most famous novella, which he wrote in the United States...

The book has been translated into more than 180 languages and dialects so far. To date it has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide, putting it at number 3 on the most printed books list, just behind the Bible and &quot;Gone With the Wind&quot; by Margaret Mitchell. It is one of the top 50 best-selling books...

It is often used as a beginner's book for French language students.</i>

I'm terrible at learning French-but I try. My favorite is Harrap's, TINTIN ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY in english-french

&quot;Les Contes de la rue Broca&quot; by Pierre Gripari.

Here are some more ideas:

- the Babar books (Jean de Brunhoff). Loved them as a child and the characters are still as popular as ever.

- there are plenty of classic fables and fairy tales that were originally written in French - for example, I'm sure most French bookshops would have lovely illustrated editions of Charles Perrault's fairy tales (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, etc.) and the fables of Jean de la Fontaine (the Grasshopper and the Ant, the Crow and the Fox, etc.). There should be editions using simpler language for younger children.

- a beautiful picture book that we just bought in French is Attrap'Mois, by Brigitte Vautier. http://preview.tinyurl.com/6mec57
It has gorgeous illustrations with short verses about the months on each page.

- the &quot;Petit Nicolas&quot; series (Jean-Jacques Semp&eacute; and Ren&eacute; Goscinny) -absolute classics and often hilarious. However, the level of French might be a bit advanced (perhaps one to bear in mind for later).

(Oh, and I'll probably be struck down for this, but I loathe Le Petit Prince!!)

My son just turned 3 so my suggestions may run too young for the 8 (and even the 4) year old. We bought him books that focus on colors and fruits and vegetables. That way, I knew what they were about and he could identify them as well. So, when he sees a picture of an apple he says &quot;apple&quot; and I can say &quot;or pomme.&quot; I think that it's easier for me to teach him very basic vocabulary than have both us trying to learn more advanced phrases right of the bat. Besides, it's so funny to hear him say &quot;pamplemousse!&quot;

Thanks to all! Your recommendations are great!

The Le Petit Nicolas series by Semp&eacute; and Goscinny (one of the two Asterix authors) is really cute. A ordinary, sometimes naughty, sometimes sweet little boy telling stories from his everyday life. Hilarious.