Helping Children Fall in Love with Reading in French with “Raconte-moi une histoire…”

Nurturing a love of reading in children doesn’t always come easily.

“Raconte-moi une histoire…” is a monthly storytelling rendezvous designed for children aged 3 and above and their parents, offering families a unique way to experience the magic of books together.

Held on Sunday mornings, this event invites children not only to listen to stories, but to step inside them.

A unique concept created by a professional storyteller

This immersive format was created and is led by Grégory Henno, a professional French actor. His artistic approach transforms traditional storytime into a complete sensory experience.

Each session combines:

• The reading of carefully selected children’s picture books
• Live performance of the text by Grégory
• An immersive soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere of the story
• The projection of the book’s illustrations on a large screen

Through voice, sound, and image, children are fully immersed in the narrative. Stories are not only heard, they are seen, felt, and lived. This multi-sensory approach captures attention, stimulates imagination, and creates a strong emotional connection with literature.

More than entertainment

While “Raconte-moi une histoire…” is joyful and engaging, its purpose goes far beyond simply entertaining children.

This project aims to:

Encourage a love of reading from an early age
By presenting books in a dynamic and artistic way, children discover reading as a source of pleasure, curiosity, and exploration.

Promote oral expression and language confidence
Listening to expressive reading and theatrical interpretation helps children develop their own storytelling skills. Reading aloud, speaking clearly, and feeling comfortable using language are key abilities for academic success and future communication.

Stimulate imagination and emotional development
Stories allow children to explore emotions, relationships, and ideas in a creative and reassuring environment.

Strengthen parent-child connection
This shared cultural moment encourages interaction, discussion, and bonding through stories.

Encourage socialisation and cultural openness
The event welcomes both francophone and non-francophone families. Storytelling becomes a bridge between languages and cultures, fostering exchange and community.

An initiative aligned with the mission of the Alliance Française

At the Alliance Française, language and culture go hand in hand. “Raconte-moi une histoire…” is not simply an animation, it is part of our educational and cultural mission.

It naturally extends the learning experience of our French classes, offering children a cultural and expressive space where the language is lived, heard, and shared.

Through this project, we:

• Promote the French language in a lively, accessible, and meaningful way
• Highlight literature and the performing arts as tools for learning
• Support the development of lifelong reading habits
• Create opportunities for intercultural dialogue and shared experiences

By placing books, performance, and spoken language at the heart of the experience, we nurture a positive relationship with language that can accompany children throughout their lives.

A meaningful monthly appointment

“Raconte-moi une histoire…” offers families a moment of wonder, learning, and connection, a space where stories are shared, languages come alive, and imagination takes the lead.