The Adventures of Elodie – Joy in a friends success!
Over the past couple of week’s I’ve been sharing stories from my Journey to Joy with you – stories about things that I’m doing to raise my positivity including the four books that started the whole journey in the first place!
Well today’s a little bit different.
Yep, I’m still talking about JOY but joy in someone else’s success. Savouring someone else’s moment. Supporting and celebrating their achievement – because that’s what friends do for each other and that, in so many ways, is a most amazing way to share JOY.
Sophie and I – sharing some JOY!
Recently my friend Sophie Le Brozec, better known to many of you as the face behind the fab Franglais Mummy blog, launched the bilingual children’s book series, The Adventures of Elodie. The first in the series; Elodie and the Pirates / Elodie et les Pirates also happened to be her first book.
She conceived it and published it and it has already been taken up by schools to help teach French to their students. I’m SO proud of Sophie I could dance and I just had to share this fab book with you!
One of the best things about the Elodie Adventures is the messages behind the stories which resonate so much with me:
- Parents: let children go outdoors to play, like we did when we were kids
- Children: put down the electronic devices and play outdoors with your friends, using your imagination and your environment
- Girls: you can be/do the same as boys, whether it’s climbing trees or fighting pirates
Woo hoo! A big high five for that last one in particular, right?
All the Elodie books (there are currently three more in progress – about dinosaurs, WWII and Ancient Egypt) were written by Sophie and inspired by her eight year old daughter, whilst the illustrations are by her brother (going under a pen-name).
The books are aimed at non-bilingual 6-11 year olds to show them that learning languages can be fun and to get them used to the different sounds and style of French from a young age. In the UK all children over 7 now learn a second language, and in many schools it is French. If your child is going to learn French for the next few years, the best thing you can do is to get them interested in the language.
As Sophie rightly pointed out when we were chatting about the book;
The key problem to learning languages is boredom – let’s face it, reciting lists of irregular verbs isn’t going to get anyone excited. But a gripping story that they can read/listen to in English and French might just do the trick!
As a bilingual Mother of two quite frankly gorgeous daughters herself, Sophie designed the books for children just like hers so that they can learn how to read and write in their weaker language, and to understand that being bilingual is normal. And with a degree in French and Spanish and over 20 years language teaching experience she’s well placed to bring out a book to help children learn or improve French!
Each book is about Elodie, who is half English/half French and lives in London with her French Dad and English Mum. She loves climbing trees, making dens and playing outside with her two English friends, Harry and Lily. Every day after school the three of them go to their local park, to their favourite tree, and have adventures where they travel through time and space. They meet pirates, dinosaurs, soldiers, kings, queens and more, before the beep-beep-beep of the alarm on Elodie’s watch lets them know that it’s time to go home.
The first book, Elodie and the Pirates / Elodie et les Pirates, has all the elements that appeal to my young reader – drama, a splash of danger and strong child characters. When I read it to Curly Girl she LOVED it and literally “can’t wait, can’t wait!!” for the next book to come out! (I do recommend that you practise your pirate accent though as mine was less high seas and more Somerset…)
I have to admit that my French is pretty rusty (Spanish is language of choice – and I’m pretty bad at that come to think of it!) but thankfully Sophie has included a free audio book with each adventure, which enables you to listen to the story in English or French or both languages. (The audio book is downloadable from the Elodie website – the link is on page 3 of the book.)
There’s also a parents’ and teachers’ guide at the back of each book so you can help your child progress beyond the story by working through the different exercises, depending on their age and level of learning.
Sophie is living proof (along with the lovely Renee from Mummy Tries who recently launched her first book – you can read my review here) that if you dream a dream hard enough and put enough time and effort in you can make it come true:
For a while I’d been lamenting the fact that there were no bilingual books for my daughter and then one day, towards the end of 2013, I was walking around in London and letting my mind wander, and the whole Elodie character (based on her) and her adventures started to take form as I walked.
Did I mention how proud I am of Sophie? It’s such an achievement to make your dreams a reality and when your dream benefits so many children it’s quite astounding. If your child is bilingual or learning French at school you can buy Elodie and the Pirates / Elodie et les Pirates in paperback or for Kindle at the Elodie Publications website or at . (You can follow them on and too.)
Linking up with Share With Me at Let’s Talk Mommy, Brilliant Blog Posts at Honest Mummy, All About You at Mama and More
Note: this post contains affiliate links because I think this book is so fab!
wow wow wow! What a fantastic idea, and awesome achievement
Love that you’re standing right next to her, shouting it out!
Thanks for linking up with #AllAboutYou
Steph recently posted…White Chocolate Lemon Cream Filled Liquorice Buns
Thanks Steph
I am very lucky to have such a great friend in Michelle! x
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Dancing for a better life with Comic Relief
What a beautiful post! I love how you are celebrating the beautiful Sophie’s success and shouting about her book, this is exactly the kind of friendship we should all have much more of in our lives.
Well done Sophie on your incredible achievement and well done Michelle for being such a brilliant friend. You’re both SUPER!
x
P.S Love that pic of you too. GORGEOUS WOMEN! x
#sharethejoy
Katie / Pouting In Heels recently posted…CELEBRATING INSPIRING WOMEN (BECAUSE THEY DON’T GET CELEBRATED ENOUGH IN MY BOOK)
Thanks Katie. Michelle is just such a beautiful person and so generous with her time and praise
x
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Free language tips for children
WOW way to go Sophie that’s amazing. You are so sweet to share your friends success and that’s what a true friend would do is shout out how proud they are. Michelle you are too sweet. I love the photo of you both at the top almost look like sisters! If she ever starts spanish ones count me in! lol Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Jenny recently posted…Letters to him & her ~ #5
Awww thanks Jenny, we do look kinda alike don’t we – curly girls! I’m with you on the Spanish versions too – let’s pester her together!!
Thanks Jenny. And yes, Michelle is one in a million!! I love that pic of the two of us too
There will be a Spanish version at some point as that’s my second foreign language x
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Free language tips for children
I have seen this mentioned so much recently , I will be interested when J can read English let alone French haha
Alyssa @ Mum to a monster recently posted…Project 365 2015 Week 5
I’m so glad you’ve heard about it! I read it to my eldest in English and she loved it but I’ll be hanging on to it for when she’s able to read it in French – in the meantime it’s introduced the idea of another language to her which, in my book, is priceless.
Glad to see you’ve been hearing about it
Our poor 2 year old gets this read to her all the time- she’ll know it off by heart by the time she can actually read! x
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Free language tips for children
What a beautiful post, a brilliant review and an inspirational story. I can’t wait to read the book and share Sophie’s achievements in #Wonderfulwomen soon. Loved this so much and you two look stunning. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts
HonestMum recently posted…A Night at the Opera
Thanks darling, that’s wonderful that Sophie will be part of your #Wonderfulwomen series! I look forward to reading it x
Thanks for such a lovely comment
I can’t wait to join you in your #WonderfulWomen series soon either! xx
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Free language tips for children
What a gorgeous post Michelle! You’re so right that sharing a good friend’s joy is just as amazing as sharing our own. I’ve got Sophie’s awesome book and have been reading the English version – the girls love it, hopefully we’ll graduate to the French version soon xx
Reneé @ Mummy Tries recently posted…Lots of Reasons to Celebrate in February!
Thanks Renee, so glad you liked the book, it’s a wonderful series x
I’m so glad your girls are loving Elodie
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Free language tips for children
Such a fabulous blog post about a fabulous book! I received my copy yesterday in the post and can’t wait to try it out. I can only hope to instill my own love of languages in the children’s hearts by using materials such as these books. Looking forward to the next installments!!!
Leila Pistachio & Honey recently posted…Ghormeh Sabzi
I hope your children become as passionate about languages as you and me through Elodie’s adventures
I’d better get working hard on the next book now….!
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…How to find your own mummy friends
Such a lovely post about Sophie’s amazing achievement. Elodie is on my wish list – and I will be getting it soon to read to Monkey. Love that you’re sharing the joy! xx
Ting at My Travel Monkey recently posted…How To Claim Back Your Airport Tax
Thanks lovely Ting it is a fab book that I’m sure Monkey will LOVE! x
Thanks so much Ting – I hope Monkey enjoys it as much as Curly Girl does
x
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…How to find your own mummy friends
Wow! I don’t really know what to say to such an amazing blog post, except thank you so much Michelle and I’m so glad Curly Girl likes it so much – you can tell her that Elodie and the Dinosaurs / Elodie et les Dinosaures is well on its way, so watch this space…xx
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…How to find your own mummy friends
You are more than welcome Sophie – I really am so proud of all you’ve achieved, you’re an inspiration! x