END OF SUMMER MAGIC

At summer's end and until the first freeze, dahlias are undeniably the stars of Claude Monet's garden at Giverny.

Vocabulary

le premier gel:  the first frost

Story time!
Promote early literacy and encourage your little ones to curl up and read. We'd like to suggest an imaginative and illustrated children's story, Le Lapin et le Roi Grenouille, to read in French, or its translation, The Rabbit and King Frog. Both are available worldwide on Amazon. For the young and old alike. Click on the titles to take a peek!

©2018 P. B. Lecron

SOCIAL CLOUDS

Des nuages sociaux

No, we're not talking about computer networking, but altocumulus clouds like these, above. Because they appear in groups, they are also known also as social clouds.

Fuel for a second language!

Reading an illustrated children's story in a foreign language is a great way to energize your acquisition of a second language. Get started now with a new and original conte published by Birdie Bergamot Books, Le Lapin et le Roi Grenouille, écrit par Marianne Lecron, illustré par P. B. Lecron. It and its English version, The Rabbit and King Frog, are both available worldwide on Amazon. Click on the titles to take a peek!

©2018 P. B. Lecron

HOMAGE

In French, the word is hommage, with two "m's". 

Monument to General Lafayette

The above photo is of French military jet contrails that formed a cross during the inauguration of monuments of both General Lafayette and General Pershing in Versailles this past year. The equestrian statues are mounted on twin pedestals and pay homage to the two generals and the armies they led respectively in the American War of Independence and in World War I.

Monument to General Pershing

Vocabulary

une traînée de condensation:  a contrail, a vapor trail

Recommended reading

A new and enchanting illustrated children's book available worldwide on Amazon in both French and English. With its colorful watercolor illustrations and enhanced vocabulary, the book appeals to both young and old alike. Check out  Le Lapin et le Roi Grenouille and its English version, The Rabbit and King Frog.

©2018 P. B. Lecron

PRUDENCE

Qui s'y frotte s'y pique

"You better watch out" expresses the idea of this very old French proverb, which grosso modo means he who rubs himself against, will get pricked. This is also along the order of "if you play with fire, you'll get burned." 

A big thanks to my good friend, Sylvia, who contributed the photo along with the expression!

Vocabulary

frotter:  to rub

se frotter:  to rub against; to cross swords with somebody; to come up against

piquer:  to sting, to bite, to prick

se piquer:  to prick oneself

Wake up your French! Reading an illustrated French children's book is an effective and easy way to jumpstart your fluency. No matter what your age, and whether you're learning French as a second language or looking for a new book for your child, we would like to recommend Le Lapin et le Roi Grenouille. It and its English version, The Rabbit and King Frog, are available worldwide on Amazon. Click on the titles to take a peek!

©2018 P. B. Lecron

NATURE WALK

On the Baie de Saint-Brieuc

What's wonderful in France are the foot paths along much of the nation's coastlines, like the one going off to the right in this photo taken in Bretagne. Known as des chemins or sentiers des douaniers, these were the paths that custom officials once walked to guard against maritime contraband. Maintained today as pedestrian nature paths, they are a walker's delight, and short of boating, are the best way to become acquainted with French coasts. 

Vocabulary

le littoral:  coast

un chemin: path

un sentier de randonnée pédestre:  hiking trail

un douanier:  a customs officer

Take a peek in our new children's book!  Le Lapin et le Roi Grenouille and its English version, The Rabbit and King Frog, are both available worldwide on Amazon.

©2018 P. B. Lecron

LIKE A PEACOCK

Legend has it that the glorious peacock emits a long, mournful cry at the sight of its ugly feet.

Fittingly, the French have an expression to describe a vain person who becomes vexed when his faults or defects are brought to his attention:  "Il est comme le paon qui crie en voyant ses pieds."  He is like the peacock who cries when he sees his feet.

Although Pompon, a French Sacré de Birmanie and this blog's mascot, has lovely white mittens, he has very accommodatingly struck a pose to illustrate today's post.

What's up?

My franco-american daughter has written another charming children's story in French and I have had the pleasure to illustrate and translate it to English. If you'd like to take a peek, the books are available worldwide on Amazon: Le Lapin et le Roi Grenouille, écrit par Marianne Lecron et illustré par P. B. Lecron, and its English version, The Rabbit and King Frog.

As in her first conte pour enfants, Le lapin et la lune, a story about the importance of helping one another, the protagonist is Papa Lapin. Its English translation is The Rabbit and the Moon.

©2018 P. B. Lecron

GOOD READING!

Bonne lecture !

We are pleased to announce colorful new additions to our bookcase, Le Lapin et le Roi Grenouille,

as well as its English version, The Rabbit and King Frog. This enchanting story was written by my daughter, and illustrated by yours truly. Both are available worldwide on Amazon. Click on the titles to take a peek. For young and old alike!

Vocabulary

bonne lecture:  good reading, happy reading

une bibliothèque:  a library; a bookcase

Our collection is growing! See also: Le lapin et la lune, écrit par Marianne Lecron et illustré par P. B. Lecron, and its English version, The Rabbit and the Moon.

©2018 P. B. Lecron