Here’s the poem Fiez-vous-y ! by Charles d’Orléans, with a recording and an English translation: MP3 Recording of Fiez-vous-y ! Fiez-vous-y ! Fiez-vous-y ! À qui ? En quoi ? ...

Someone wrote on our Facebook Group, “Bonjour! May I know a poem that’s really funny for kids in French?” I asked Monique in France who used to teach 1st grade and she responded: It depends on the age of the kids and I’m not really sure that what French people find funny will sound funny to other...

In my last blog post, I mentioned how Columbus’ voyage is not always seen in a positive light. Earlier in the week, I had posted two poems that were positive towards Columbus (one called In 1492, Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue and the other, a Spanish poem called To Christopher Columbus). Here’s one...

Soon it’ll be Mothers’ Day in France. This year it’s on May 25th. Usually teachers have their students learn a poem. One they often select is by Pierre Gamarra and is called Je te souhaite – I Wish You… You can click on the link above to read the French version. Monique...

The other day I wrote about how French students learn poetry by heart. Monique, who was a first grade teacher in France for many years wrote: French students start learning poetry by heart in first grade – which is 6 years old and often earlier! Dame souris trotte (Mrs. Mouse Trots) is often taught...

Here is one last poem about Autumn before I focus on the topic of the upcoming December holiday season. I came upon this poem while looking for French podcasts to brush up on my French in anticipation of a trip to France in the Spring. There’s a whole podcast in French devoted to...

Previously, I talked about a poem called Crime Time, that I learned from my friend Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français. It’s great to recite to your kids or students for Halloween. I’ve been saying it to my kids over the past week. My 1st grade daughter learned it and started...

Monique from France taught me this one. She used to say it to her 1st grade students and they would ask her to say it again (even years later). It’s slightly scary, but has a funny ending. I translated it into English. It would work translated into other languages too. ...

Now that Spring is here – we can all smile – and start bad-mouthing Winter! Here’s a poem about banishing Winter, called Winter, You’re Just a Brute! Well, that’s my translation of it. It’s originally French. The title in French is Hiver, vous n’êtes qu’un vilain ! It was written...

I asked Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français, if she could recommend any well-known French songs or poems about the Spring. She wrote: Here is a poem we often teach the students, called Le Printemps by Théophile Gautier (1811 – 1872)… MP3 of Le Printemps Le Printemps par Théophile Gautier Regardez les branches Comme elles sont blanches, Il neige...

By Monique Palomares November 11th, the end of WW I: it’s a public holiday in France. In every town, there’s a civil ceremony. The mayor, and one or more of the deputy mayors, place flowers at the war memorial. Each town has its own ceremony, even VERY small ones. The mayor tells the names...