8 Books in French for a Smooth Start to Preschool
Discover 8 books in French to prepare for preschool: emotions, friendship, school, and self-confidence. Perfect for French-speaking and non-French-speaking children.
9/12/2025
The Color Monster Goes to School – Anna Llenas
A must-have classic! The Color Monster discovers school and experiences all kinds of emotions: fear, joy, anger, curiosity… Children recognize themselves immediately. We love this book because it allows talking about emotionswhile also learning simple vocabulary about school. Suitable for non-French-speaking children.
Crocolou Loves School – Ophélie Texier
Crocolou is a bit like a friend for young French-speaking children. In this album, he experiences his first day of schoolwith enthusiasm. Result: children feel reassured and discover that school is also a place to learn, play, and make friends.
At Kidioma, we highly recommend it for children learning French: short sentences, school and animals vocabulary… simple and effective!
The Animals’ First Day of School – Samir Senoussi & Henri Fellner
What if animals also went to school? This funny book puts children in slightly silly school situations… but ones they can relate to very well. Children laugh and, at the same time, discover vocabulary about animals and class life. Approved for teaching French!
Our Class is a Family – Shannon Olsen & Sandie Sonke
A lovely story that reminds us that the classroom is not just a place for learning, but also a small family where everyone has their place. It’s an album that promotes confidence, friendship, and diversity. With its colorful illustrations, it is also very accessible for non-French-speaking children.
I Don’t Want to Go to School – Stéphanie Blake
No introduction needed: Simon the grumpy little bunny! With lots of humor, he expresses what many children think: “I don’t want to!” A perfect book to make starting school less stressful.
At Kidioma, we can tell you children ask for it again and again! They laugh, repeat Simon’s phrases, and end up memorizing new vocabulary without even noticing!
Did You Know You Don’t Have to Know Everything? – Mylen Vigneault & Maud Roegiers
A gentle and poetic album that reminds an essential fact: it’s normal not to know everything at school. This reassuring message is good for children (and parents too!).
However, the vocabulary is a bit richer, so we recommend it mainly for French-speaking children.
Lili Macaroni, I Am Who I Am – Nicole Testa & Annie Boulanger
Lili is a little girl who accepts her differences and learns to be proud of herself. A beautiful story about self-acceptanceand confidence, ideal for showing that everyone is unique.
Like the previous book, it is better suited for children who already understand French well.
Pinpin’s First Day of School – He Zhihong
With delicate illustrations, this book tells the first day of school of Pinpin the penguin. A soft, repetitive, and reassuring story, perfect for the youngest whose separation from mom and/or dad might be difficult.
Very suitable for children learning French, as the repetitions help memorize vocabulary.
Conclusion
Reading together before (and even after) the start of school is much more than a ritual: it’s a moment of closeness that reassures and opens discussion.
These children’s books about the first day of school allow children to put words to their emotions, laugh at small fears, and learn useful vocabulary (school, animals, emotions…). And according to our experience at Kidioma, even non-French-speaking children enjoy them: they memorize more easily because they relate words to what they actually experience.
Starting preschool… a big moment for our children (and let’s admit it, sometimes a little stress for us parents too!). Between curiosity, excitement, and sometimes a bit of apprehension, this stage is full of emotions.
And what better than stories to support your child? Reading a book together means sharing a comforting moment, opening the discussion, and helping your child put words to what they feel. At Kidioma, we love using children’s picture books in our French classes: it allows children to learn vocabulary (about school, animals, emotions…) while talking about what they experience in their daily lives.
Here’s a selection of 8 books in French to prepare for the start of preschool.
Some are also perfect for children who are learning French as a foreign language.