Today I am excited to share with you a number of amazing diverse picture books for French class. Having diverse picture books in the classroom extremely important in the 21st Century classroom.
It is no longer optional. Your classroom library must include diverse French picture books, especially if you teach Elementary French.
As a French teacher, you need to ensure that the diversity is well-represented in your classroom library. Our students need to see themselves represented in literature. This is also an important opportunity for white students to learn about their peers’ experiences as racialized and/or religious minorities.
Parfois je suis un renard
- Autrice : Danielle Daniel
- Origines : Anishnaabe
- Niveau de français : débutant (les verbes ER au présent)
Parfois je suis un renard is a chilren’s book written by Métis author Danielle Daniel. Daniel wrote and dedicated this beautiful picture book to Indigenous children who never got to learn their totem animal.
These children may have lost touch with their culture as a result of a variety of traumas inflicted on Indigenous communities and peoples.
If you are interested in reading more about Je suis un renard, click here to read my blogpost dedicated to the book. You will also find a link to a freebie in the article.
L’exploit de Nika
- Auteur : Michel Noël
- Illustrateur : Claude Thivierge
- Origines : Autochtones
- Niveau de français : débutant
L’exploit de Nika, by Algonquin author Michel Noël, is one of my favourites from my classroom library.
Nika is a young goose who is about to make the journey south for the upcoming winter.
She decides part way through the journey that she is not going to make the journey after all and turns back. Nika wants to stay exactly where she is, despite all of the imminent signs of danger.
However, luckily for her, her grandmother and her grandmother’s friends do not give up on her. As a matter of fact, they fly back to her and save her during a winter storm.
Consequently, L’exploit de Nika is a beautiful story about kindness, forgiveness and family. I especially recommend this one for all of you K-4 FRIMM teachers looking for a great book!
Le grain de sable — l’histoire d’Olivier le Jeune – le premier esclave au Canada.
This next one is a graphic novel debuting the story of Olivier, the first enslaved child in Canada.
To begin, Olivier is kidnapped as a small child from his loving mother from his home in Africa. Olivier is then put on a boat and witnesses and experiences what no child should ever have to experience.
The reader learns about Olivier’s feelings, anxieties and concerns at every stage of his life as a young enslaved child and then man. We also witness the injustices inflicted upon Olivier by his enslavers.
The story is beautifully written and the illustrations themselves are incredibly powerful.
Pineshish la pie bleue
- Auteur : Michel Noël
- Illustratrice : Camille Lavoie
- Origines :Autochtone
- Niveau de français : intermédiare – avancé
Pineshish la pie bleue is about a Magpie trying to make her way to safer lands to find the perfect spot to build a nest and raise her family.
Unfortunately, Pinéshish becomes caught in a violent wind storm before reaching her destination and consequently breaks her paw.
So, Pinéshish goes to a series of trees and asks for their hospital. All she needs is shelter from the storm. Sadly, almost all of the trees deny her shelter.
At the end of the story, one tree graciously takes her in and protects her from the storm. The theme of this beautiful story is compassion.
Ultimately, the moral of the story is that good things happen to good people who are compassionate and care for those around them.
Nos boucles au naturel
- Auteur : Matthew Cherry
- Niveau de français : débutant
Zuri wakes up one morning ready to tame her beautiful, natural hair. She discovers that her mother is not there that morning and so she attempts to do her own hair.
Her dad hears her getting ready and wants to help Zuri tame her beautiful hair.
This picture book is an empowering tale of a father who learns to do his daughter’s hair.
If you have Black students in your classroom, this picture book is an absolute representation-must.
Additionally, if teach non-Black students, this book is an important debut into discussions on eurocentric beauty standards and the discrimination and marginalization that Black people experience due to their natural hair.
It is our responsibility as teachers to ensure that these extremely relevant and important conversations are being had in our classrooms!
Le jour où on a mangé tous ensemble
As a young child, I was always embarrassed of my family’s religious and cultural dietary restrictions.
For example, we don’t eat pork or beef and we also do not meat on Sundays or Tuesdays. As a child, I yearned to be “normal”.
In Le jour où on a tous mangé ensemble, a teacher talks about the etymology of the word “pique-nique” and proposes the class go on a picnic together.
However, the classmates soon realize that the dietary restrictions of their fellow peers vary based on their culture and/religion.
Overall, the classmates learn about themes such as diversity, inclusivity and respecting one another’s beliefs and values through the action of sharing a meal together.
Le carnaval de Malaika
Le carnaval de Malaika is a picture book that will give you all the feels.
This is a story of a little girl who lives somewhere in the French Caribbean. Her mom marries a Québecois man and Malaika and her family must move to Canada.
Malaika is incredibly heartbroken about having to leave her beautiful home, her community, and especially her loving grandmother.
When Malaika reaches Quebec, she has a difficult time adjusting to her new home and she misses her grandmother dearly!
The books mentioned in this article are my picks for diverse French picture books. What diverse French books do you already use in your classroom? Please share with me in the comments below or connect with me on Instagram!
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