Monday, January 10, 2022

LITTLE BALL OF FUR

The family's little darling

Petite Boule de Poils
An adorable Cavalier King Charles puppy swept us all off our feet!
Il nous a fait perdre la tête !

Expression
faire perdre sa tête: lose one's head, sweep one of one's feet

Vocabulary
un chiot: a puppy


Of interest. . . to young and old alike!
Another captivating and illustrated French children's story is available!  Written by my daughter, Marianne Lecron, Le Lapin à la Recherche du Printemps is the latest adventure of the intrepid and kind rabbit, Papa Lapin. It's chockfull of ups and downs and surprises to delight all ages. And don't forget: reading children's stories in French is a great way to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and grammar!

Sold worldwide on Amazon in French, or in English, The Rabbit in Search of Spring. Click here to have a closer look.






















©2022 P. B. Lecron

Sunday, January 9, 2022

LOVE IS IN THE HAIR


 L'amour est dans les cheveux.
Vintage signage for a hairdresser in the old royal village of Marly-le-Roi, 
about 25 kilometres west of Paris.

Vocabulary
un salon de coiffure: a hairdresser, a hairdressing salon
une coiffure: a hairstyle; hairdressing
un coiffeur, une coiffeuse:  a hairdresser
un peigne: a comb
un jeu de mots: a pun (here, the pun only works in English!)



©2022 P. B. Lecron

Saturday, January 8, 2022

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Tout est bien qui finit bien 

Another happy ending in one of a series of charming French children's stories, Le Lapin et le Roi Grenouille, written by yours truly's daughter, Marianne Lecron. A talented storyteller and writer, if I do say so myself, Marianne continues to expand the circle of animal friends of her main character, Papa Lapin, a polite and empathetic rabbit always ready to give a hand or intervene to save the day. 

Reading illustrated children's stories in a foreign language is a great way to jumpstart the acquisition of a second language, whether you be an adult or a child. Marianne's books are available worldwide on Amazon, in both French and English. Click here to take a peek!

Expression 

sauver la situation: save the day


©2022 P. B. Lecron

Friday, January 7, 2022

THE GOOD MOTHER

 La Vierge du Vœu de Rouen

If you look closely at this photo, you will find the charming originality of this sculpture--the baby Jesus is sucking his index finger! 
I've admired Notre-Dame du Voeu by Félix Lecomte (1737-1817) before, but on my latest visit to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame Rouen, I was struck at how a recent addition of blue drapery on the stone wall behind had enhanced the statue.

Vocabulary
une mise en valeur: an enhancement
sucer: to suck
un vœu: a wish

©2022 P. B. Lecron