French Books for Kids Aged 3 and Up
If you’re looking for beautiful, engaging French books for children aged 3 and up, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re raising bilingual kids, recently moved to France, or simply learning French as a family, this selection of French picture books will enrich your language journey in the most joyful way.
As a French author and home educator, and a long-time book reviewer with over a decade of collaboration with French publishing houses, I’ve had the privilege of discovering hundreds of children’s books. The ones I recommend here are stories my own children have loved — books that are not only entertaining but also nourishing for the mind. I look for rich vocabulary, imaginative storytelling, and illustrations that are either beautiful, thought-provoking, or truly unique.
This handpicked list focuses on French books for children aged and up, sorted by publisher, including some of my all-time favourites. You’ll also find one of my own books, suitable for early readers around age 5 and up. But don’t feel confined by age recommendations — I never did with my children. The more complex and enriching the content, the stronger your child’s literary sense will become. Literature is made to elevate the mind, not to limit it. Children are curious and capable: their brains absorb information faster than we realise when they are immersed in meaningful language.
Reading is not only a vital part of your child’s development — it is essential in your French learning journey. Daily reading in French will expand your vocabulary, deepen your cultural understanding, and gradually lead you toward fluency. And if you’re raising children in a French-speaking environment or introducing the language at home, books will open the door to bilingualism — naturally and joyfully.
Stay tuned — I’ll soon share how my own children became bilingual without ever using workbooks or formal lesson plans.
Our Selection of French Books by Publisher
📚 This selection of French books will continue to grow over time, so feel free to check back now and then for new recommendations!
Père Castor, Flammarion
If I had to choose just one collection to pass down through generations, it would be Père Castor. Published by Flammarion Jeunesse, this legendary collection has stood the test of time — and with good reason. These books are true literary gems for children. They were read to me by my mother (who had loved them as a child herself), I devoured them growing up, and now I read them to my own children — who love them just as much. Few collections can claim to span three generations with such enduring affection and relevance.
What makes Père Castor so special? Quite simply: everything. The vocabulary is rich, the stories are well-crafted and poetic, and the writing never underestimates the intelligence of young readers. These are not simplified texts. They are full-bodied narratives — stories with rhythm, emotion, beauty, and substance. In a time when too many children’s books rely on stripped-down language, Père Castor stands apart as a rare and precious exception.
For a long time, these books were part of the French national curriculum — until educational choices shifted toward lighter, often less meaningful content. That only deepened my appreciation for this collection. If we want to raise thoughtful, curious, language-loving readers, this is, in my opinion, the very best place to begin.
Below, you’ll find some of the most beloved titles — the ones I adored as a child (with the exception of Le Grand Voyage de Mademoiselle Prudence, which my daughter absolutely adored), and that still resonate powerfully today. These are stories that stay with you — they become part of your inner landscape.
Voce Verso
Voce Verso is an independent children’s publishing house.
Founded in 2015, it publishes illustrated books for young readers. The house builds its editorial choices on the belief that children are individuals in their own right. It is committed to trusting their sharp intelligence, speaking to them openly at their level, acknowledging their emotions, and above all, giving them the space to express themselves.
Voce Verso pays particular attention to storytelling—whether through images alone, text, or the interplay between the two—because stories nourish a child’s inner world, helping them grow and better understand the world around them.
Rosalie is my first text to be published as a printed book, it is illustrated by the amazing Julien Martinière. Embraced by many readers, aged 5 and up, Rosalie was selected in the “3 owls” category of the 2024 Versele Prize and was listed among the 100 favourite books of 2022-2023 by La Revue des Livres pour Enfants, published by the National Centre for Children’s Literature, a specialised branch of the Literature and Arts department of the National Library of France.
Editions 2042
Éditions 2042 (formerly Éditions 2024) is a French independent publisher founded in Strasbourg in 2010 by Olivier Bron and Simon Liberman. Known for their beautifully crafted illustrated books and graphic novels, they support bold artistic voices and maintain strong ties with local booksellers and their city. In 2025, the house became Éditions 2042, and their youth collection is now published under the name 4048.
We absolutely love their work! These are what I call beautiful books—creative, carefully made, and visually striking. I believe it’s important to include such treasures in a family library and to teach children how to appreciate and handle them with care. I’m always happy to support independent publishers and artists who bring originality and artistic depth to children’s literature.
Some of their standout titles, like Jim Curious by Matthias Picard have received major awards such as the Bologna Ragazzi Prize, and continue to inspire young readers with their unique storytelling.
Casterman
When we talk about iconic publishers in French children’s literature, Casterman inevitably comes to mind. While I’m not particularly fond of their current catalogue, there’s no denying that Casterman has given us some of the most enduring characters of our childhoods like Émilie or Ernest et Célestine, these collections have marked generations — each in their own way.
Émilie
Émilie is my favourite. This red-capped little girl, created by Domitille de Pressensé in the 1970s, spoke directly to the child in me. The texts aren’t particularly rich in literary terms, but they don’t need to be — the emotional authenticity is what matters.
The format was designed to be easily readable, with words integrated into the drawings using a normographe. Émilie lives a recognisably real child’s life: she makes mistakes, sulks, sometimes disobeys, wets the bed, has cousins… Her simplicity and honesty made her deeply relatable.
Perfect for early readers, the series became a quiet success. More than a million copies have been sold across 60+ titles, along with animated adaptations and spin-off products. Émilie remains a cult favourite, especially for those of us who grew up with her — and still feel a little warmth when we see that red cover and familiar bonnet.
Ernest et Célestine
Ernest et Célestine: the tender-hearted bear and his mischievous mouse companion. Created in 1981, the series now includes 26 albums. Illustrated in gentle watercolours, their world is delicate and poetic. The stories explore themes like friendship, poverty, difference, and courage — all from a child’s eye view.
What I loved most, however, wasn’t the picture books but the novel by Daniel Pennac, which we read aloud to our children. It’s no longer published by Casterman (sadly), but you can still find it under Folio Junior by Gallimard Jeunesse— and I highly recommend it. It’s funny, heartfelt, and filled with wisdom. Our children were captivated by it, and so were we.
Le Rouergue Jeunesse
Le Rouergue Jeunesse was born in 1994 when graphic designer and illustrator Olivier Douzou created his first children’s book Jojo la Mache and was invited to launch the publisher’s youth department. Originally focused on art books, Éditions du Rouergue embraced a bold and innovative editorial line for children’s literature—full of visual creativity and literary surprises.
I especially love the whimsical and poetic duo Alex Cousseau and Charles Dutertre, whose work brings a unique sense of playfulness to storytelling.
Seuil Jeunesse
Founded in 1992, Seuil Jeunesse may be a relatively young publishing house, but it has made a lasting impression in French children’s literature. I first discovered their books while working as a French bookseller in Australia, and I was immediately drawn to the originality and diversity of their catalogue.
What makes Seuil Jeunesse stand out is its signature offbeat humour and the way it tackles themes that truly speak to children. The books by Gilles Bachelet, for example, are a brilliant showcase of this. His Mon chat le plus bête du monde, was awarded the Baobab Prize for Best Album in 2004 and remains a favourite among kids — and not just for its hilarity, but for its cleverness too.
But humour is only one side of what Seuil Jeunesse offers. They also bring a beautiful international perspective, publishing authors from across Europe and Asia. That’s how I came across Amis (Friends) by Satomi Ichikawa, one of my childhood favourites. The story is simple in text, but incredibly powerful emotionally. I adored it as a child, and it still moves me deeply today.
Another strength of Seuil Jeunesse is their outstanding non-fiction collection. As someone passionate about home education, I find documentaries to be essential tools in our daily learning journey. Their books are not only informative but also beautifully illustrated, engaging, and thoughtfully designed. To be honest, I’ve learned more from books like these than I ever did in school.
With over 1,800 titles and around 80 new releases each year, Seuil Jeunesse continues to grow as a vibrant and demanding house of creation — offering books that awaken both the eye and the mind.
Plume de Carotte
Plume de Carotte is a French publishing house known for its dedication to nature preservation. One standout series in their catalogue is Pettson et Picpus, the French edition of the beloved Swedish series Pettson och Findus by Sven Nordqvist.
The series centers around the endearing adventures of an elderly farmer named Pettson and his spirited cat, Picpus. Their stories are celebrated for rich illustrations filled with humorous and whimsical details that captivate both children and adults. The dynamic between Pettson and Picpus is heartwarming, portraying themes of friendship, creativity, and the simple joys of everyday life.
Originally published in Sweden in 1984, the series has enjoyed international acclaim, being translated into numerous languages and selling millions of copies worldwide. In France, the series was previously published by Autrement Jeunesse, a publishing house whose closure was a significant loss for readers. Fortunately, Plume de Carotte has taken up the mantle, publishing several titles from the series.
These books are gentle, beautifully written, and exquisitely illustrated, resonating with both children and adults. They offer a delightful reading experience, blending humor, warmth, and a touch of nostalgia. For families seeking meaningful and engaging stories, the Pettson et Picpus series is a treasure trove waiting to be explored.
Rue du Monde
Rue du Monde is a renowned French children’s publisher known for its bold, artistic, and thought-provoking books. Since 1996, it has been committed to sparking curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity in young readers aged 6 and up.
With over 600 beautifully illustrated titles—including picture books, poetry anthologies, and informative documentaries—Rue du Monde offers high-quality content that helps children explore the world with intelligence and heart. Their documentary-style books are especially valuable for young learners, making complex topics accessible and engaging.
Whether at home or in the classroom, Rue du Monde’s books are a wonderful way to nurture children’s love of reading, their awareness of global issues, and their appreciation of art and diversity. A must-have in any educational or family library.
La Martinière Jeunesse
La Martinière Jeunesse has been creating thoughtful and beautifully crafted books for young readers since 1995. With a focus on creativity and rigour, their mission is to help children understand the world around them, find answers to their questions, and grow into confident, curious, and responsible individuals.
A leading name in children’s nonfiction, La Martinière Jeunesse offers a rich and accessible collection of documentary-style books across a wide range of subjects—including history, ecology, medicine, entomology, and sport. These books are both demanding and approachable, designed to become reference points for young minds.
In their picture book collection, tenderness and playfulness take centre stage. Each title carries a subtle yet uplifting message, encouraging children to navigate everyday life and relationships with empathy and joy.
We’re delighted to share with you a selection of our favourite titles from this well known publisher.
Joie de Lire
La Joie de Lire is an independent publishing house born in Geneva, with a strong and distinctive focus on children’s and young adult literature. Over the years, it has introduced many new talents to the literary world and brought fresh life to timeless classics from across Europe.
What we especially appreciate in their work is their original and daring catalogue—books that surprise, delight, and inspire. Their titles are carefully selected and beautifully printed in Europe, reflecting a commitment to quality and creativity. La Joie de Lire has become a trusted name for readers who seek meaningful, well-crafted books that go beyond trends.
Les Grandes Personnes
Founded in 2009 by Brigitte Morel, Les Grandes Personnes is an independent French publisher known for its bold, creative approach to children’s books. Specialising in art books, pop-ups, flap books, leporellos, and unique formats, this publisher turns every title into a visual and tactile experience.
Publishing around 20 books per year, the house showcases standout illustrators like Henri Galleron and Bernadette Gervais, and mixes techniques from linocut to stencil and photography. Many titles are designed to spark curiosity in children while appealing to adults who appreciate design and visual storytelling.
Although they have an artistic and sophisticated appearance, these books are highly accessible and well loved by young readers, from toddlers to preteens. My kids especially enjoy their mini book set featuring three tales by Alphonse Allais, the famous French writer and humorist.
With a strong identity and a commitment to quality production, Les Grandes Personnes continues to push the boundaries of what a children’s book can be.
Ecole des Loisirs
L’École des loisirs is a major institution in French children’s publishing and a long-standing partner of the Éducation nationale. While I personally find their school-oriented selections less engaging, their catalogue includes some timeless gems.
They’ve published beloved classics like the imaginative works of Alsatian author Tomi Ungerer, the hilarious adventures of French children’s favourite witch Cornebidouille, and beautifully crafted stories by renowned Japanese author Mitsumasa Anno.
Here’s a selection of books from L’École des loisirs that my kids truly enjoyed.
Albin Michel Jeunesse
Albin Michel Jeunesse has been a leading name in French children’s publishing since the early 20th century. Relaunched in the 1980s with a bold editorial vision, the imprint quickly gained recognition for its beautifully illustrated books and innovative formats—especially its pop-ups and animated titles.
Their titles often blend humour, poetry, and wonder, making them memorable for both children and adults.
With a catalogue ranging from early childhood to young adult, Albin Michel Jeunesse remains a reference in French publishing, offering books that are as beautiful to look at as they are meaningful to read.
Gallimard Jeunesse
Gallimard Jeunesse is one of France’s most iconic children’s publishers. Since 1972, they’ve brought together top authors and illustrators to offer children the best in storytelling, knowledge, and artistic creativity. Their impressive catalogue includes classics and nearly 400 new titles each year—ranging from picture books and novels to documentaries, audiobooks, comics, and digital apps.
We particularly love their “Mes premières découvertes” documentary series, the “L’Heure des histoires” collection that supports early readers, the delightful garden creatures from Belgian author, illustrator, Antoon Krings, and of course, Daniel Pennac’s brilliant novel—perfect for reading aloud with children from age 5.
Memo
Éditions MeMo is a Nantes-based independent publisher founded in 1993 by Christine Morault and Yves Mestrallet. Their catalogue is a rich blend of art books, poetic picture books, reprints of forgotten gems, and contemporary creations for children. They also publish essays on geography and history, as well as exhibition catalogues—all with a deep respect for both visual and literary artistry.
MeMo publishes about ten children’s books a year, always with a clear vision: to offer young readers both masterpieces from the past and bold new works from today’s most inventive artists.
Saltimbanque
Saltimbanque Éditions is a French children’s publishing house founded in 2017 and part of the Média-Participations group. Known for its strong storytelling and high-quality illustrations, Saltimbanque creates books that captivate young readers and immerse them in powerful, imaginative worlds.
Their diverse catalogue includes board books for early childhood, beautifully illustrated picture books, non-fiction, activity books, and interactive titles with pop-ups and moving parts. Each publication is curated to spark curiosity, wonder, and joy.
We’ve selected some of their most appreciated titles to share with you.
Grasset Jeunesse
Grasset Jeunesse is a prestigious French children’s book publisher, known for its bold creative vision since 1973. Shaped early on by innovators like François Ruy-Vidal and Étienne Delessert, Grasset has built a catalogue of over 300 unique titles, including timeless works by Pierre Gripari, Peter Sís, and Raymond Briggs.
Remaining true to its roots, Grasset Jeunesse chooses quality over quantity, publishing only around ten titles a year. The focus is always on originality, emotion, and literary richness—books that surprise, move, and grow with their readers.
The current catalogue features talented authors and illustrators like Anne Cortey, Janik Coat, Christian Demilly, Bertrand Santini, Delphine Renon, and many others. Together, they shape a collection that is poetic, quirky, tender, and deeply artistic.
Personally, this publisher shaped my own childhood. I’ve lovingly kept many of their older books, and now my own children enjoy them too. I especially recommend discovering (or rediscovering) Pierre Gripari, a must-have for any family library. His writing is rich in language, humour, and intelligence—a true literary treasure for young readers.
Cambourakis
Éditions Cambourakis launched their children’s book division in 2012, bringing the same editorial diversity found in their general literature catalogue. Since 2013, they’ve been an associated publisher within the Actes Sud group.
Their children’s list includes beautifully crafted picture books from around the world: Korean stories by Han-Min Kim, Swedish works by Eva Lindström, Norwegian titles by Kenneth Steven, and Italian tales by Annamaria Gozzi. In 2017, Un Grand jardin by Gilles Clément and Vincent Gravé received the Bologna Ragazzi Award in the “Books & Seeds” category.
Since then, they have also begun reissuing and translating previously unpublished Moomin stories by the legendary Finnish author Tove Jansson, bringing one of the great treasures of 20th-century children’s literature to new readers.
We are pleased to share a few highlights from their colourful catalogue.
Editions Courtes et Longues
Éditions Courtes et Longues offers a refined catalogue of art and culture books for children and adults—free from fleeting trends or rigid traditions. Their titles invite readers on artistic journeys that capture attention, inspire focus, spark dreams, and encourage reflection. Beautifully made and thoughtfully curated, these books are both timeless and striking—perfect for families who value meaningful and visually rich storytelling.
Sarbacane
Sarbacane was founded in 2003 with the ambition to bring reading back to the heart of picture books—offering children’s albums that are both demanding and accessible. At the end of the blowpipe (sarbacane), there’s the desire to go far, to aim true, and spark curiosity. Their editorial vision was born from the belief that too many picture books, while visually appealing, lack depth in storytelling and language—often missing the mark with their true audience: children.
That said, I sometimes feel that the text still doesn’t get enough focus, and many of their albums could be more linguistically rich. My personal favourite from their catalogue is the illustrated classics collection—truly beautiful, though I wish it came in a larger format!
Didier Jeunesse
Didier Jeunesse launched its first children’s collection in 1988, thanks to a team of educators and researchers from the CREDIF who were focused on teaching French to non-native speakers. That first series, Les Petits Lascars—a set of six books of rhymes and stories with audio cassettes—quickly charmed early childhood professionals and families alike with its excellent selection and natural delivery. Its success has never faded.
Over the past 30+ years, Didier Jeunesse has made a name for itself with a poetic, musical approach to text. Many now well-known author-illustrators got their start here. The house tends to favour books where illustration and authorship go hand-in-hand, creating a rich and immersive storytelling experience.
They offer a vibrant musical collection—Bulle et Bob, Comptines du monde, Jazz lullabies, Monsieur Mozart—that brings joy to both ears and hearts. And in the world of picture books, Loup gris, the delightfully silly and clueless wolf created by Gilles Bizouerne and Ronan Badel, never fails to make both kids and grown-ups laugh out loud.
Versant Sud
Versant Sud Jeunesse is the children’s imprint of Belgian publisher Versant Sud, founded by Élisabeth Jongen in 2001. Inspired by drawings from students at the nearby La Cambre art school, she launched a line of beautifully illustrated children’s books.
The publisher features outstanding international illustrators and introduces children to the world of art through albums inspired by great painters. After all, what better way to discover art than through picture books from an early age?
Here’s a selection of four illustrated books we loved discovering.
L’Étagère du Bas
L’Étagère du bas, founded in 2016, focuses on publishing illustrated albums for children aged 3 to 11 from Swedish and other European authors and illustrators. Their beautifully crafted books, printed in Europe, are especially suited to young children, often emphasising illustrations more than text. We’ve selected a few titles that have been particularly appreciated by young readers.
Discover our selection of French books for little ones
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