L’Alliance Recommends: Family-Friendly French Books and Films for Spring

Now’s the moment to lean into family time, before the weather gets warmer and the littles are off to summer camp—and what better way to bond than over a shared read or movie night? To get you started, we’re featuring two of our favorite recently-released French children’s books and currently-streaming French films that are sure to delight the whole crew. 

Books

• The Remarkables by Clotilde Perrin

This picture book, translated from French into English in 2024, tells the stories of 38 fascinating fictional children who exhibit otherworldly attributes—from the ability to fly to having elastic limbs to being made entirely of cake. It combines fantasy and humor and even includes a quiz so children can identify their own unique superpowers. If this becomes a new favorite read, L’Alliance’s library carries two of Perrin’s other books, in French!

• A Better Best Friend by Olivier Tallec

Also published in English in 2024 after being translated from the original French, this picture book follows a squirrel and a mushroom as they explore the forest—and the highs and lows of their own relationship—throughout the seasons. It’s a heartwarming lesson in how to nurture your most beloved relationships—if they love this, 15 of Tallec’s other books are available in L’Alliance’s library. 

Films 

• Flow

Currently streaming on Max, this French/Belgian/Latvian film is the 2025 Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature, and it also screened at L’Alliance’s Animation First 2025, proof positive that our curators have their fingers on the pulse. The enchanting, dialogue-free story follows a courageous cat navigating a water-filled post-apocalyptic world alongside an array of other creatures, including a dog, a lemur, a capybara, and a bird. It’s a gorgeously-animated ride, with a prescient message about community and adaptability. 

• Astérix & Obélix: The Middle Kingdom

Currently streaming on Netflix, this French comedy film is the fifth installment of the live-action movie series, based on the wildly popular and beloved French comic book series of the same name. It’s set in the year 50 BC, where heroes Astérix and Obélix (imbued with superhuman strength thanks to a magic potion) travel to Han dynasty-era China to save the country’s Empress after she’s imprisoned by a traitorous prince. Adventure, hijinks, and appearances by a cast of colorful characters ensue. 

To explore more family-approved French-language books and films, visit L’Alliance’s library, enjoy one of our many seasonal arts and culture events, or attend one of our Family Saturdays Screenings.