Le Petit Nicolas (A2)
Finding good resources at the lower end of the proficiency scale is genuinely hard. Most options feel either patronising or just plain dull. So when something works at A2 level and still manages to be charming, funny, and culturally rich, it’s worth shouting about.
« Le Petit Nicolas » is exactly that. Written by René Goscinny, the brilliant mind also behind « Astérix », and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé, whose gentle, witty drawings graced the cover of « Le Nouvel Observateur » for decades, these short stories follow Nicolas, a young Parisian schoolboy, through the everyday chaos of childhood: classroom rivalries, Sunday family lunches, and the general mystery of why adults behave the way they do. The stories were first published in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and they capture that particular era of French life with great affection. Dated in the best possible way.
The French is simple enough to feel comfortable at A2 level, but René Goscinny was a wonderful writer, and you really feel it while reading. Nicolas tells every story with complete honesty, without ever realising how funny he is.
The chapters are short and independent, which makes the series very easy to read little by little. One chapter with a coffee is honestly enough. There’s also the 2009 live-action film « Le Petit Nicolas », which is well worth watching once you’ve read a few stories. There’s an animated series too, though personally I find it a little less charming than the original books and illustrations, and more aimed at younger children. Still, it can be a fun and accessible way to get used to the characters and the world of Nicolas. I’ve linked a few episodes below.