Children's books for a family trip to France

Children's books for a family trip to France, from a French elephant king to a balloon over Montmartre.

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A story set where you are headed can turn the journey into part of the trip. For France, that means children's books by authors and illustrators from France, starting with Babar the Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff. Below are three books worth packing, each available in English with links to find them at Bookshop.org or Amazon.

Best French classic
Babar the Elephant
Jean de Brunhoff · ages 3-7 · picture book

A French picture-book classic: an orphaned elephant comes to the city and returns to be king.

Best atmospheric Paris pick
The Red Balloon
Albert Lamorisse · ages 4-8 · picture book

A poetic Montmartre story about a boy and a balloon that follows him through the streets.

Best Paris picture book
Madeline
Ludwig Bemelmans · ages 3-7 · picture book

Not by a French author, but one of the most famous child-friendly Paris books: the smallest of twelve schoolgirls has her appendix out.

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