The February vacation reading selection!
At 314 International School, classes are organized by skill level and grade. This selection offers two books in French and two books in English for each class, chosen for their literary richness, accessibility, and consistency with an ambitious bilingual teaching approach. The idea is not to accumulate titles, but to offer a few powerful reads that are age-appropriate and conducive to the joy of reading.
The Curious
(2–4 years old)
🇫🇷 English
Look! — Corinne Dreyfuss
A minimalist album that develops visual attention and oral language. Ideal for quiet reading moments.
Off to bed, Little Monster! — Mario Ramos
A tender and funny story about bedtime rituals, perfect for working on emotions.
🇬🇧 English Books
Dear Zoo — Rod Campbell
A lift-the-flap story introducing animals through repetition, helping young learners build early English vocabulary.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? — Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle
A rhythmic and predictable book that supports phonological awareness and active participation.
The Explorers
(4–7 years old)
🇫🇷 English
The Great Word Factory — Agnès de Lestrade
A poetic album that teaches children about the power of words and expressing emotions.
Cornebidouille — Pierre Bertrand & Magali Bonniol
A funny and theatrical text that encourages expressive reading.
🇬🇧 English Books
The Gruffalo — Julia Donaldson
A clever mouse uses storytelling to outsmart predators. The rhyme scheme supports early literacy.
Giraffes Can’t Dance — Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
A gentle story about confidence and individuality told through rhythmic language.
The Inventors
(ages 6–9)
🇫🇷 English
The Ink Drinker — Éric Sanvoisin
A short mystery novel that leaves you wanting to read more.
Green — Marie Desplechin
A young witch questions her identity with humor and intelligence.
🇬🇧 English Books
Fantastic Mr Fox — Roald Dahl
A witty adventure about a clever fox outsmarting three farmers.
The Snail and the Whale — Julia Donaldson
A tiny snail travels the world with a whale, encouraging curiosity and resilience.
The Visionaries — 4th and 5th grades
(8-12 years old)
🇫🇷 English
Tobie Lolness — Timothée de Fombelle
A rich and immersive adventure novel that develops reading endurance.
The Ocean Child — Jean-Claude Mourlevat
A captivating ensemble narrative that invites readers to analyze different points of view.
🇬🇧 English Books
Matilda — Roald Dahl
A brilliant girl finds strength through books and intelligence in a humorous story.
Wonder — R.J. Palacio
A powerful novel about kindness and perspective told through multiple narrators.
A selection faithful to the spirit of 314
These books have been chosen to fuel the imagination, reinforce bilingualism, and encourage a positive relationship with books. Because a child who reads during the holidays isn't really "working"... they are exploring, dreaming, and growing a little without even realizing it.
We wish you a wonderful vacation and look forward to seeing you again!
314 International School
27 Rue Jean Rostand
91400 Orsay