La famille Martel - 10 French reading books

A set of 10 Reading books aimed specifically at children learning from the Les Avventures de Minou et Trottine or Salut Céline et Antoine parts of the La Jolie Ronde Structured course, but suitable for primary school children of any age being introduced to the French language.

This series of little books has been written by Joan Boothroyd, with lovely illustrations by French artist Maryvonne Espinasse. Joan is familiar with the La Jolie Ronde course as she has been teaching it for many years in a Preparatory school. She has based most of the vocabulary on the course, so it is ideal for teachers who want to take the programmes a bit further. The texts are simple and clear. The books are ideal for children to read themselves. We would recommend that they are read one at a time in the order provided

Livret 1: La famille Martel et l'autobus rouge

The whole family takes turn to go on the bus, each carrying different items. They go to visit grandma for her birthday. Grandma is delighted and they all return home on the bus. Vocabulary for going in/up and off/down the bus, greetings, ‘here is' and the different presents.

Livret 2: Monsieur Martel va à la plage

Monsieur Martel goes to the beach. He meets different people and animals. He eats his picnic and then goes fishing. Later on he returns home and everyone enjoys the fish he caught, even the cat! Revision of vocabulary for going in and out of the car, people and animals, food and counting.

Livret 3: Madame Martel dans le jardin

Madame Martel has fallen asleep in the garden. She keeps being woken up by a buzzing sound. Each time she asks if it is a certain animal, and each time she realises that it is not, until the real thing stopped on her nose! This book is ideal for repetition and introduces the negative form. The vocabulary includes animals and sizes.

Livret 4: Philippe Martel et le petit avion bleu

For his birthday, Philippe goes on a plane with his father. During the flight they see all sorts of things below. They also see their own house and the rest of the family. This book introduces more vocabulary, animals, people and what they are doing on the ground.

Livret 5:Marianne Martel et les cinq crayons

Every day of the week Marianne is using her coloured crayons for drawing a picture. Lots of counting and repetition of vocabulary as each drawing is described by Marianne. On Sunday there is a recap of all the items she has drawn. Longer text here, simple and easy to read and understand.

Livret 6: Monsieur Pépin et le oulin

A windmill is not turning so Monsieur Pepin tries all he can to make it work. He asks for different animals to help him to no avail ....until the wind starts blowing! A return to the negative form here plus farm animals. Again, good repetition of phrases.

Livret 7: Pierre et le chat Victor

Here is the story of a little boy, Pierre and his black and white cat Victor. They live in a house in a beautiful garden. Victor is in the garden trying to catch all things that fly. At the end, Pierre calls him as his mum has food for him. Descriptions of house and garden. Repetition when the cat is catching different animals.

Livret 8: Où est Monique?

All the family is searching everywhere in the house for the little baby girl Monique. She is finally found in the garden. Vocabulary for parts of the face and body, colours, and the negative form revisited.

Livret 9: Le beau papillon

This is a beautiful story about a butterfly who asks all sorts of animals where they live. When asked where he lives, he replies that he does not know. At the end he realises that he can live everywhere. Lots of repetitions of: ‘I live here. Where do you live? I don't know'. Revision of colours, places, descriptions of different animals and where they live. Super!

Livret 10: Le petit lapin

Another delightful little story this time about a rabbit who wants to play in different places. His mother keeps asking him to listen, hear, smell and makes him realise that these places can be dangerous: ‘Je peux jouer dans le parc? Non mon petit, j'ai une leçon pour toi: avec le nez tu sens, qu'est-ce que tu sens? Je sens un chien. Très bien, dans le parc , c'est très dangereux!' etc... This story links very well with the riddle in Bonjour La France: Avec les yeux: je vois, avec le nez : je sens, avec les oreilles: j'entends!' . Lots of repetition, different animals, places, negative form. The children and you will enjoy reading this particular story.

Click here to see 4 example pages from the books