Paris here we come! Picture books which will give students a feeling for France!

In the lead up to the Olympic Games, Bastille Day (14th July) and because the students at my school learn French and I know their French teacher will be talking about France and in particular Paris I have collected together, books for a display. There are so many great picture books to whet their appetites for France. At my school I know too, that many of my students have been there and will enjoy revisiting via stories.

Let's go to Paris first.

This is Paris  by Miroslav Sasek

First published in 1959 and now updated for the 21st century. We see its famous buildings, its beautiful gardens, the museums, the sidewalk cafes, and the people who live there -- artists, the concierges, the flower girls, and even the thousands of cats. Take a tour along the banks of the Seine, or through the galleries of the Louvre, or to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

A Walk in Paris  by Salvatore Rubbino

Paris...It’s the perfect place for a girl and her grandad to spend the day. Join them as they explore Paris’s iconic landmarks and experience its culture and style first-hand: visit a traditional street market, climb to the top of Notre-Dame, wander through the Tuileries Gardens and gaze up at the Eiffel Tower. 

Mr Chicken Goes to Paris  by Leigh Hobbs

Mr Chicken is overcome by the magic of Paris and all that the city has to offer, but the inhabitants of this most stylish city don't quite know what to make of him!

Mr Leon's Paris  by Barroux

I'm Monsieur Leon, Mr Leon, a Parisian taxi driver of many years, spends his days ferrying colourful characters to designations corresponding to his passengers' personalities and nationalities.

Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris  by Kate Knapp

Ruby and her grandmother are on holiday in Paris. She explores cafes and markets, practises her French, eats baguettes...

A Lion in Paris by Beatrice Alemagna

On arrival in Paris the lion is disappointed to find that despite his size, people barely pay attention to him, not even when he lets out a ferocious roar on the busy Metro... Taking in the sights and sounds of Paris, this beautifully illustrated book successfully conveys the experience of being a stranger in a new city and the process of understanding our own identity.

Where's Claris: in Paris!  by Megan Hess

In this Look and Find book can you find Claris, the chicest mouse in Paris and her friends in fabulous Parisian places?

Dodsworth in Paris  by Tim Egan

Dodsworth and his (crazy) friend the duck have just arrived in Paris.It is their first time in the City of Lights, and they are ready for some adventures magnifique! Right away they see mimes, painters, and people wearing berets.They climb the Eiffel Tower, and the duck even finds some bent-over guy who rings bells for a living.It looks like it is going to turn out to be a great vacation in Paris ...but trouble is never far from a misbehaving duck!

For other books set in France that might be at your library see this Pinterest page.