Fodor’s Around Paris with Kids & Paris-inspired books

I’m counting down the days until our Paris trip now (and realising I have more than a bit of organising and packing to do before then) – not least sorting out guidebooks for Paris, and some great Paris-inspired books for kids.

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So just in time, my copy of Fodor’s Around Paris with Kids guide turned up in the post. The pocket-sized guidebook (well, nearly pocket-sized, depending on your coat preferences) has a list of 68 things to do with children in and around the French capital.

And while I’d come across some before during my own research, the Fodors Paris suggestions included a few I’d not seen – some suitable for a holiday with a toddler plus ideas for any return visits when she’s older.

Le Double Fond, a cafe/theatre with magic tricks is recommended from ages five and up for the matinees, and sounds perfect if your kids love magic (or you fancy something entertaining and unusual).

Or Oya Cafe lets you turn up and play one of the extensive collection of board games for a nominal sum – great for rainy days.

There’s plenty of suggestions for museums but I’d never come across Musee En Herbe which is aimed squarely at kids, including workshops from ages 2 1/2 up, and exhibits you can touch.

The book also includes tips on gardens to visit, where the best puppet shows are, and theme and water parks.

Along with practical information including opening hours and prices (although it’s always worth doublechecking, especially if you have one of the older editions), there’s a symbol suggesting the age group it’s appropriate for.

For most places, it seems this is more of a useful guideline than an enforced restriction on entry. If you think your three-year-old is going to love a particular museum, it’s probably going to be fine, although where workshops etc are for particular ages, this is spelled out.

Best of all are the additional tips on making the most of your time, with suggestions of what else is in the area to see, added bonuses at the destination, as well as what else to keep in mind (from the need to rent bikes to properly explore some parks to a suggestion of which way to walk the Champs Elysees with young kids to avoid the hills).

There’s also a box on Fodors Paris ‘Eats for kids’ tips, from nearby markets to child-friendly restaurants, cafes and snack stalls.

The index also breaks all the attractions down by some of the key areas, types (eg science, historical, art, rainy days) as well as grouping free options, and those suitable for younger children.

The one thing it’s missing? There are no maps so you’ll need to have a plan of the city to rely on (or be certain of getting data on your phone).

Paris books for children

When I travel, I love to try to match the books I take to the destination. There’s something about immersing yourself in the history and culture through someone else’s story as you explore yourself.

So when I was in Japan, I seized the chance to re-read Shogun. If I finally make it to the Spanish capital, I’ll be packing Winter in Madrid. And no trip to Istanbul is complete without The Janissary Tree.

But it hadn’t occurred to me to try the same approach for Minnie. Obviously she’s on board books with bright pictures rather than the great works of literature, but Paris is one city which lends itself to children’s stories.

I can’t take the credit – after someone mentioned they’d read Madeline with her daughters before they visited France, so the girls recognised the landmarks from the pictures when they arrived. There’s even an abridged version available as a board book for toddlers, as well as an activity and sticker book.

Then, of course, there’s the Babar series, with Babar’s Lost and Found set in Paris (and available as a board book).

And I love the sound of Come Fly With Me about a stuffed dog and an aeroplane which escape the toybox to swoop over the roofs of Paris, or Everybody Bonjours for a mini tour of the city.

Then there’s Dodsworth in Paris – not a series I know personally, but anything with a mischievous duck gets my vote, and there’s stories set in New York, London and Rome as well if they’re a hit.

Or This Is Paris, the reissued Miroslav Sasek book. We have the companion London verison at home, which is a bit beyond Minnie yet, but a lovely one for slightly older kids.

Lastly Oops (one of her favourite words) follows a rather chaotic family journey through Paris to the airport – without having read it, it looked like another one for older children, although the reviews on Amazon suggest it’s just as good for two-year-olds.