Do you want to give a nice book to your toddler (it also works with grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc.) for the end of year celebrations but you are seriously lacking inspiration? You are in the right place.
Getting your hands on the right story, at the right time, can turn into a real ordeal for parents and loved ones of a child, as there are so many books piling up in the children's sections of bookstores.
In order to give you a little help in finding that rare gem, Claire Wyniecki, founder of the children's bookstore Le Bon Ton, in Paris, has selected for 20 Minutes some ideas for books to give to little ones, from birth to primary school.
What books should you give for a baby under one year old?
It is the age of the discovery of sensoriality and the first words.
“A large stag”, by Martine Bourre (“Pirouette” collection published by Didier Jeunesse)
The famous nursery rhyme In his house a great deer, image with real elements of the forest. “It’s a sensory explosion for the child. Several senses are invoked: touch, listening, sight and potentially even smell with this capacity for sensory projection that babies have,” explains the bookseller. She strongly recommends all the books in this “Pirouette” collection which can follow children up to the nursery years.
“When the night comes”, by Laura Ancona (Albin Michel Jeunesse)
What happens when night comes? The little elves prepare the world of dreams under the amazed gaze of a cuddly toy. “The visual quality is extraordinary, we have texture, a truly beautiful text. It’s magnificent,” emphasizes Claire Wyniecki.
Additional advice: The entire collection of “Baby Cat”, “Baby Pig” and “Baby Bear”, by Nadja and Grégoire Solotareff (L'école des Loisirs), little books to chew on and take anywhere, with a real story.
What books to give from 18 months?
It's time for the first great books for children.
“Nino”, by Anne Brouillard (editions of the elephants)
The adventures (and encounters) of a cuddly toy lost in the forest… “It's super sharp in terms of illustration, with lots of play of light. Anne Brouillard also plays a lot with nature, about being one with it, with animals… This cuddly toy is doing some great things! At the end, obviously, he finds his family and there is a wonderful final page on which to meditate,” specifies the bookseller.
“Good evening Moon”, by Margaret Wise Brown (The School of Leisure)
A must-have to accompany bedtime, real best-seller since its first publication in 1947. In Good evening Moona little rabbit says goodnight to all the objects in his room – and to a little mouse – before falling asleep. “It’s like a lullaby, a purr,” explains Claire Wyniecki. It can be read to very young children but also around 2 years old when they photograph everything they see because there is a “seek and find” spirit. It is also an extremely enveloping and reassuring book. »
– “The Mouse Postman Tour”, by Marianne Dubuc (Casterman)
The colorful tour of a very small postman among his animal neighbors. “There are lots of little details here. The main plot is broken down into lots of little skits with lots of things to photograph. And we go through a lot of emotions because not all animals are as nice to each other,” laughs the bookseller.
“Sometimes I feel…” and “What I like to do”, by Anthony Browne (L’école des Loisirs)
A book duo to help children express their emotions. “ Sometimes I feel…for me, it is the best book on emotions, believes Claire Wyniecki. It has this very reassuring side of the lullaby and it is extremely well illustrated, the children identify enormously. Without forgetting the use of precise vocabulary. At the end, there is a kaleidoscope of emotions, the child who does not yet verbalize everything can show what he feels. »
What books to give to a child in kindergarten?
Time for the introduction of humor and musical awakening.
“The three little pigs”, by Coline Promeyrat and Joëlle Jolivet (Didier Jeunesse)
The famous tale of Three little pigsrevisited. “There is a lot of work around the delights of the French language and cool words. The book is also very structured and that is good for children because structuring stories, learning to put things in order, is precisely what they learn at this age at school,” explains the bookseller.
“What is this instrument?” », by Ole and Hans Könnecke (The Leisure School)
A book that allows you to discover the melodies of a guitar, a saxophone but also a didgeridoo or a jaw harp. “It’s super cool!” There are QR codes with very qualitative sound clips. This book is great for introducing children to the notion of instrumental timbre, especially since there are more than just classical instruments,” notes Claire Wyniecki.
“The magic swimming pool”, by Carl Norac and Clothilde Delacroix (Didier Jeunesse)
When Lion King decides to open his magical pool to his subjects, all the animals in the forest delight in it. With the exception perhaps of the disdainful Queen Lioness… “There is humor, the idea of a fall but also a whole interesting vocabulary, in particular that of King Lion and Queen Lioness”, underlines the bookseller .
Additional advice: Once upon a time there was a mouse… by Philippe Jalbert (Seuil). A humorous version of the nursery rhyme that makes children die of laughter.
What books to offer from the start of primary school?
Place for first novels and second degree.
“Warrior Shepherdesses – Les Novices”, by Jonathan Garnier and Amélie Fléchais (Glénat Jeunesse)
After the success of the 4-volume comic strip, the author duo has written a new story, but in album format. “It’s a series with strong and interesting heroines, women who must defend their village and their herds after the men go to war. It’s a book that can still be read aloud and at the same time there is a handover so that the child can read it on their own,” explains Claire Wyniecki.
The “Oscar and Carosse” series, by Ludovic Lecomte and Irène Bonacina (the school of leisure)
The friendship between a little dog and a skeleton. “It’s great but it’s also proof that there is a real offering of first readings for little ones. From the 3rd section of kindergarten, there are real little novels written by real authors. And like Oscar and Carriage is a series, it encourages the child to read,” adds the bookseller.
“Peanut’s Revenge”, by Sophie Lamoureux and Caroline Hüe (Rageot)
The story of a proud little hamster, in a school, who will (kindly) ruin the life of his class. “It’s schoolboy humor, of the second degree… It’s very funny and we’re no longer dealing with stupid things,” rejoices the bookseller.
Additional advice: record books like Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur, by Jean-Michel Coblence, Donatien Mary and Laurent Natrella (Didier Jeunesse) or Moby Dick, by Stéphane Michaka and Juliaon Roels (Gallimard Jeunesse). Stories that delve into very cinematic universes with a very qualitative soundtrack.
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