French Books

Easy French Reader

R. de Roussy de Sales

Amazon Price: $8.76 List Price: $10.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $4.71

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Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> Foreign Language -> French
Subjects -> Reference -> Foreign Languages -> French -> General AAS
Subjects -> Reference -> Foreign Languages -> Instruction -> French

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A fun and easy new way to quickly acquire or enhance basic reading skills

These unique guides are based on the premise that the best way to learn a language is to start reading it, immediately. Suitable for raw beginners to intermediate-level language learners, the new editions of these popular titles feature engaging readings of progressive difficulty that allow learners to rapidly build comprehension.

Easy French Reader begins with the adventures of two friends, an American and a Parisian, as they learn about their respective cultures. This is followed by readings on the history of France, from ancient Gaul to the present. The final section features four abridged short stories by famous French authors.

Similarly, Easy Spanish Reader begins with the story of two high school seniors involved with their Spanish Club, followed by a history of Mexico, from the Conquistadors to the present, and an abridged version of the classic story of "Lazarillo de Tormes."

• Progressive format makes it easy to quickly build comprehension
• Marginal word glossaries conveniently present new words and phrases
• Exercises challenge comprehension and build reading skills

Attractive new editions, fully updated and featuring appealing new artwork and expanded exercises

501 French Verbs: with CD-ROM (Barron's Foreign Language Guides)

Christopher Kendris Ph.D., Theodore Kendris Ph.D.

Amazon Price: $11.55 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Barron's Educational Series Amazon Marketplace: 78 new & used starting at $5.51

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Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> Foreign Language -> French
Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> General
Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Barron’s is today and always has been the Number-One reference source for verb usage in virtually every major language. Leading all competition, the best selling 501 French Verbs beats all less well-established rivals with its brand-new 6th edition. It’s printed in two colors, it features tinted page edges for ease of reference, and it comes with extra help for French language students in the form of a CD-ROM. The book presents the most important and most commonly used French verbs arranged alphabetically with English translations in chart form, one verb per page, and conjugated in all persons and tenses, both active and passive. The accompanying CD-ROM gives students practice exercises in verb conjugation plus a concise grammar review. This combined book and software package is a comprehensive guide to French verb usage with a wealth of reference material and language tips, including a bilingual list of more than 1,250 additional French verbs, helpful expressions and idioms for travelers, and verb drills and short tests with all questions answered and explained.

Play and Learn French (Book + Audio CD) (Play and Learn Language)

Ana Lomba, Marcela Summerville

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $7.31

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> People & Places -> Multilingual -> French
Subjects -> Children's Books -> People & Places -> Multilingual -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> People & Places -> Multilingual -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great as an addition to any curriculum 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I am bilingual (Spanish and English) and wanted to add in French with my own children. Since I just partnered in working on Flip Flop French: Ages 3-5: Level 1, I've been using that of course, and I so enjoyed using Ana Lomba's Play and Learn Spanish for my own students and classes, I got it in French.

I haven't been disappointed! After the children (three of them, ages 5 down to 2 years) completed lesson three, they were able to pick up quite a bit of this book and the interesting conversations that go along with the pictures in the book (it's full color!) My children really enjoy coloring and drawing, so after we do the Flip Flop French activity for the day, this is a great supplement and change for them. It's a little advanced for them without the other more simple lessons, but I think they'll continue to grow into it!

All in all, I love it!

Editorial Review:

Over 50 fun songs, games and everyday activities to get started in French!

From taking a bath to going shopping, books in the Play and Learn Language series turn everyday routines into fun language-learning activities for parents and children.

Packed with lively four-colour illustrations, each package features fun songs, games, and activities, key word illustrations, engaging comic strips, sidebars with fun cultural information and English translations for all activities.

The Ultimate French Verb Review and Practice (The Ultimate Verb Review and Practice Series)

David M Stillman, Ronni L Gordon

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $6.24

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Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> Foreign Language -> French
Subjects -> Reference -> Foreign Languages -> French -> General AAS
Subjects -> Reference -> Foreign Languages -> Instruction -> French

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

They've done it again! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Yes, David Stillman and Ronni Gordon have done it again. Years ago, when I bought The Ultimate French Review and Practice, I was certain that it was the most thorough French grammar book I had ever encountered. However, the newer Ultimate French Verbs Review and Practice carries coverage of the French language a step further. Don't be fooled by the title. To be sure, this is a book on French verbs, one which provides just about everything one might wish to know on the subject. But, it is also packed with up-to-date vocabulary such as computer and internet terms and a wealth of extra tidbits covering other aspects of usage and French language history and development. I took my first French class in 1961 in a high school language laboratory and have been captivated by the language ever since. I went on to study French in college for four years. Since that time, I have continued to read French and to use the French soundtrack on DVD movies as a means of experiencing the language on a regular basis. Living in West Virginia, I rarely get a chance to speak French. It's so nice to have the two Ultimate books to recall things I already know and to learn new things. One little gem I had never encountered before is the use of "vous autres" to emphasize the plural use of "vous." It is simply the French equivalent of "you all" or "you guys." I had always wondered if the French had a way of saying that. Now, I know. The French, however, go a step farther. They also have "nous autres" or "we all" to emphasize the inclusion of particular groups in the use of "we" as opposed to the generic "on" which is an all-inclusive non-particular "we" and is also rendered as "one, people, you, they, etc." I had come across "nous autres" in high school, but never "vous autres." I haven't nearly exhausted the comprehensiveness of this book. I am sixty years old. I will probably never need another French book in my lifetime. These two should do it quite well.

Editorial Review:

Learn verb skills and communicate confidently in a new language

Building on the authors’ bestselling The Ultimate Review and Practice series, this book is your best bet to mastering the often tricky verb forms and key sentence structures of the French language. The Ultimate French Verb Review and Practice offers a step-by-step program for experienced beginners through advanced learners to understand how different verb forms work and use that knowledge to build increasingly sophisticated sentences in French. No other book on the market combines guidance and practice in verb formation and usage with tips on the 18 most commonly used sentence models.

SmartFrench Audio CDs Beginner Level

Christian Aubert

Amazon Price: $23.07 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: SmartFrench Amazon Marketplace: 83 new & used starting at $17.99

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Features:

• Unique method. Authentic interviews, "...a Must!" W. Martin, ex-political editor, Oakland Tribune
• 3 CDs w/booklet to learn french from real french people
• It uses colors to show what is and what is not pronounced in spoken French
• Conversations written down exactly as spoken to speak french like natives
• French lessons with rules of the french language explained in a simple way

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Automotive -> Accessories
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Automotive -> Foreign
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 92 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This one is a "must" for learning how the French REALLY talk! William Martin, retired political editor, The Oakland Tribune I've tried them all and this one is it! Joe Hogan, CBS With these Audio CDs you will work on natural conversations with our unique Active Sensory ComprehensionTM method. You will learn your new language both effectively and efficiently. You will develop your listening skills. For reference, we give you a booklet with the transcripts and the translations. Our color-coding system will help you pronounce the words and sentences the way you will hear them pronounced in real life conversations. This step by step approach to the language will help you understand French, like no other method, early in your studies. With these CDs you will start to understand and speak the language as spoken in the real world. If you are a true beginner, you might want to work with our SmartFrench Introduction to French, Vol.1 and SmartFrench Introduction to French, Vol.2 in order to work on the basic vocabulary, conjugation and grammar. Learning French requests that you learn to speak French and that you learn to understand it. Vol.1 and Vol.2 will teach you the basics in order to speak the language and these CDs will teach you to understand and be understood as you will develop strong listening skills. The best is to practice both exercises simultaneously. No matter what other sources you use in your language learning, the Smart thing to do is give yourself this key to confidence. Ian Jackson, CEO, Breathplay, Dallas

Larousse Concise Dictionary: French-English/English-French (BookEdition 001)

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Larousse Amazon Marketplace: 63 new & used starting at $1.65

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Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> Foreign Language -> French
Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> General
Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

You can't beat LAROUSSE 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Now I have papa bear, momma bear, and baby bear. The three sizes of Larousse dictionaries. They are all superb. You can't lug the large Larousse around with you everywhere and the baby larousse won't cut it at times on a difficult translation. So, this is right in the middle of that range. There aren't many times when this won't cut it. Recommended.

good dictionary for French Learner 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I like using the dictionary because it's completed by words classifications and pronunciations. Also it provides conjugations which are very important in learning French. It also gives information about measurement that is used in economics and maths. So, if you are new learner of French, I suggest to use this dictionary.

Editorial Review:

The Larousse Concise Dictionary: French-English / English-French is the
ideal companion for anyone who wishes to learn or become more fluent
in contemporary French. This latest edition includes
• 100,000 entries and 130,000 translations
• revised cultural notes providing essential background information for
the American reader
• an improved page design that makes using the dictionary even easier
• French verb-conjugation tables
A user-friendly format and a rich array of features make this an essential
tool for reading and writing, translation and schoolwork.

French Stories / Contes Français (A Dual-Language Book)

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dover Publications Amazon Marketplace: 71 new & used starting at $4.15

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Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Short Stories -> British
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Short Stories -> General
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Short Stories -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The very good and the pretty bad--still would buy again 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

First the good. These stories are worth reading anyway, even if not trying to improve your French. Can't believe I never read Micromegas before! Can't believe it was written mid 1700s! So the selection of stories is an excellent one and the practice and vocabulary building comes quickly. For that reason, I'd unquestionably buy this again.

The bad. I know enough French to know that the translations are atrocious. Though I am not fluent in French, I believe I could have done a better, truer translation (with help of a French dictionary). Beautiful phrases are translated into mundane English cliches and some unknown French words are, on some occasions, "translated" into the identical (and equally unknown) word on the English side. Did the translater not have access to an English dictionary or did he not know what the French word really meant?

So -- definitely a useful buy for learning and practicing French and (particularly if you can read most of it in French) interesting stories as well. Just try not to refer to the English counterpart more than you must, such as for the periodic word translation.

Editorial Review:

Ten unusual stories by French literary masters from Voltaire to Camus: "Micromégas," by Voltaire; "The Atheist’s Mass" by Balzac; "The Legend of St. Julian the Hospitaler" by Flaubert; "Spleen of Paris" by Baudelaire; "Minuet" by de Maupassant; "The Guest" by Camus, and four more. Accurate English translations appear on pages facing the original French. Also included are a French-English vocabulary list, oral and writing exercises. Critical introductions.

Learn in Your Car French Complete (Learn in Your Car)

Henry N. Raymond

Amazon Price: $32.97 List Price: $49.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Penton Overseas Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $29.75

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Subjects -> Reference -> Foreign Languages -> Instruction -> French
Subjects -> Reference -> Foreign Languages -> Instruction -> General
Subjects -> Reference -> Foreign Languages -> Instruction -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 51 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Vastly Overrated! Decent But Better Options Exist 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Learn in Your Car French is a standard listen and repeat style language program with absolutely zero innovations to make it more effective than 100 other similar programs on the market. Most notably, Learn in Your Car offers you the ability to parrot stock phrases ad nauseum, while avoiding the far more difficult and creative task of teaching you how to speak on your own. The only French program on the market that I would highly recommend that does teach you how to communicate in an original fashion is Behind the Wheel - French 1 (Behind the Wheel)
In my opinion, Learn in Your Car which is clearly Stone Age language technology when compared to the Space Age Behind the Wheel French.
I drive all the time and listen to both so I should know. Learn in Your Car put me to sleep and Behind the Wheel taught me to speak real French.

Editorial Review:

This exciting new edition includes a 60-minute Travelogue DVD of the relevant destination countries for each language. This added feature will enrich the learning experience and add that extra stimulus to motivate users with their studies. New material in this second edition includes a variety of internet and digital media/technology terms. It features: nine 60-minute CDs; full text listening guide; and zippered CD carrying case. It includes: Level 1 - introduction to key words, numbers, phrases, sentence structure, and basic grammar; Level 2 - more challenging vocabulary, more grammar, more complex sentences generate confidence in your ability to comprehend and converse; and Level 3 - expanded vocabulary, advanced grammar and complex sentences to expand your conversational skills.

Rick Steves' French Phrase Book and Dictionary

Rick Steves

Amazon Price: $7.95 List Price: $7.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Avalon Travel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $0.02

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Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> English (British)
Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> Foreign Language -> French
Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Little Book That Helped A Lot!! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great book! Highly recommended. Easy to use, easy to find the topics you need when you need them. The phonetic words are easy to understand, and are spot on with the real corresponding word (with some other phrase books I have tried, the phonetics were not quite right). There are phrases for real situations, even some funny situations, covering everything from being pulled over by police in your rental car to dealing with pushy street venders (which are abundant in Paris! - which came in handy for us when at the Louvre!). There is a menu and food decoder which we referred to quite a bit so as to know what we were ordering to eat. With this book, we were able to communicate easily everywhere we went: the metro, the train station, eateries, museums, grocery store, and even in the countryside where hardly anyone speaks English.

My Spouse and I were in France last month and I had purchased this book weeks ahead of time and began reviewing the phrases inside. By the time we got to France, we both had learned enough to communicate nicely with the people. In Paris, there are a great many people that speak English, or at least understand it a bit, but it's still nice to be able to say something to them in French even if it's just a greeting. But we stayed in the countryside where English is rare, but we got on just fine at the grocery store, the villages, and the cafes with this little book in hand. The easy to use words and phrases are great in a pinch, but as a helpful tip: Don't just buy the book and wait to use it until your there standing at a ticket booth trying to figure what to say - familiarize yourself with the key phrases that are important to you, and where they are located in the book before you even get on the plane.

Editorial Review:

Bonjour! From ordering a cafe au lait in Paris to making new friends in the Loire Valley, it helps to speak some of the native tongue. Rick Steves, bestselling author of travel guides to Europe, offers well-tested phrases and key words to cover every situation a traveler is likely to encounter. This handy guide provides key phrases for use in everyday circumstances, complete with phonetic spelling; an English-French and French-English dictionary; the latest information on European currency and rail transportation, and even a tear-out cheat sheet for continued language practice as you wait in line at the Louvre. Informative, concise, and practical, Rick Steves' French Phrase Book and Dictionary is an essential item for any traveler's sac a dos.

Practice Makes Perfect: Complete French Grammar (Practice Makes Perfect)

Annie Heminway

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 51 new & used starting at $6.21

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Home Design -> Buildings & Construction
Subjects -> Parenting & Families -> Special Needs -> Disabilities
Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Civil -> Construction -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Polish your French grammar skills and communicate with more savoir-faire

The only way to build your confidence in a second language is to practice, practice, practice. From present tense of regular verbs to direct object pronouns, this comprehensive guide and workbook covers all aspects of French grammar that you need to master.

Focusing on the practical aspects of French as it's really spoken, each unit of Practice Makes Perfect: Complete French Grammar features clear explanations, numerous realistic examples, and dozens of engaging exercises.

Practice Makes Perfect: Complete French Grammar makes mastering grammar easy with:

• Clear, down-to-earth, easy-to-follow explanations that make even the most complex principles easy to understand
• Example sentences that illustrate and clarify each grammatical point
• Dozens of exercises in formats suited to every learning style
• Practical and high-frequency vocabulary used throughout
• A detailed answer key for quick, easy progress checks

With help from this book, you can effortlessly use:
* Verbs ending in -oir * Infinitives * Relative pronouns * Gerunds * Pronominal verbs * Passé Composé * Expressions of time * Passive voice