Your Friday Five

Oh la la! Paris, the city of lights.  A creative hub for writers and artists alike.  After doing several French preschool story times, I’ve felt inspired to do a Friday Five list about this magical city.  Through the pages of these children’s books, you can take a quick tour of the sights without having to spend a dime.

	Everybody Bonjours by Leslie Kimmelman One of my story time favorites, this book follows a family’s trip to France through a little girl’s eyes.  This colorful book delights all the senses as she watches crepe batter being poured, hears street performers play their trumpets and samples pastries!  It’s a perfect book to read aloud to or with your child.
Adѐle & Simon by Barbara McClintock Adѐle picks her brother up from school to walk him back home in early 1900s Paris.  They make several stops along the way – including parks, museums, and bakeries.  The book even features a map from 1907 that details their route.  Keep an eye out for the famous Madeline and her fellow classmates walking through a park!
	Madeline says Merci: The Always Be Polite Book by John Bemelmans Marciano This list would not be complete without a Madeline book.  Not only is this one set in Paris, but it teaches good manners too.  Learning to be polite is always more fun when the lessons rhyme.   For example, “The proper way to greet someone you chance to meet, is to look them in the eye and say ‘hello’ or even ‘hi’”.
Paris in the Spring with Picasso by Joan Yolleck and Marjorie Priceman This brightly illustrated book introduces kids to some of the big names in Paris during the early 20th century.  Around the city and at a soiree, we meet Pablo Picasso, Gertrude Stein, Max Jacob and several others.  Even if just to flip through this color splashed depiction of Paris, this book is worth checking out!
	Bon Appétit!: The Delicious Life of Julia Child by Jessie Hartland This is the story of the lady who brought French cooking to America, the great Julia Child.  It is done very whimsically and looks like a book of doodles, which makes any biography interesting.  As one finds out in this book she does quite a bit of traveling in her life, but Paris is where her path to greatness begins.

~Christine, your friendly neighborhood Library Associate~