Being a Franco-American mom of 2 living in the USA, I found it very difficult to get French Books at regular stores like Barnes and Noble or even Amazon and Target.
I have seen my French fellows using some family members to ship them tons of books via mail but I am not lucky enough to get someone to do it for me (or should I say, I did not feel like annoying someone to do it for me), so I have learnt the best ways to get my children to read books in my Moliere language.
1- Secondhand via Facebook Groups
This is the cheapest way to get some good children’s books and there are plenty of French Families who are happy to give away or sell some of their books. So yes, the choice might be restricted but you can find some really nice classics in excellent condition.
Plus, there are two groups to buy and sell from that I really like named “French Clothes and Books in USA” or “Mon Boncoinméricain“.
2- Local French Stores
Believe it or not, the USA has some beautiful little French boutiques that also sell books and ship nationally.
I have two favorites:
It is a small bookstore inside the French Embassy located on the famous fifth avenue in NYC. The building is beyond gorgeous if you have a chance to go one day. You can order over the phone or via email and get the books shipped to you (with a shipping charge).
Small boutique based in Florida, they have an incredible customer service. They ship for free on all orders over $50.
Feel free to contact us if you know local addresses to add to our list.
3- Lireka
Liréka is an online store with a large choice of French books with FREE shipping.
The website is in French so it can be a little confusing unless you use an auto translator.
Be aware, shipping is free but it might take a couple weeks to receive your order.
4- Amazon.fr
Like it or not, Amazon is very convenient when it comes to international transactions, which is also why I chose it to self-publish my Bilingual ABC Book FR-EN.
All you need is to switch regions and enter Amazon.fr to get access to a lot of French Books.
The shipping cost is very expensive though. The more you add to your order, the more it gets pricey. But it is fast shipping (3-4 days max). And if you have an issue with your order, the customer service is as usual with Amazon, very efficient.
5- La FNAC
This store is probably my favorite way to buy new French books and I make a big order every semester.
La FNAC is the reference in France when it comes to buying books or media. It is the French Barnes and Noble if you need an American comparison.
Their prices on books and their shipping fees don’t fluctuate like they can on Amazon.
Also don’t be fooled, shipping costs are expensive, but not as much as Amazon.
To give you an idea, for 8 books purchased, I paid 25euros of shipping.
The really nice thing is you get your order within 2 business days. It is very fast!
The downside is if you have an issue with your order, their customer service is very lacking because they recommend to call or go to the store. But so far, knock on wood, I have never experienced any issue with them.
That’s it for my list, I hope it will help you to find some French books and of course, get in touch if you have any questions. I am happy to help!
– Cindy Cauley