“My book bag”: sharing the joy of reading and welcoming others

As the school holidays approach, LWB has once again this year distributed backpacks filled with books to 3,000 newly arrived non-French-speaking students enrolled in schools within the academies of Amiens, Aix-Marseille, Créteil, and Paris, as well as in Strasbourg, which was designated the 2024 UNESCO World Book Capital.

Inside each of these bags: books specially chosen for them by peers of their own age. A way to share a love of reading, improve their French, discover other languages and cultures, and also experience solidarity.

This program, led by LWB for the sixth consecutive year, is a large-scale educational project aimed at students enrolled in UPE2A (Pedagogical Unit for Newly Arrived Non-French-Speaking Students). This national education initiative allows newly arrived children in France to be placed in a “mainstream” classroom while receiving tailored support to learn French. Fully integrated into the school system, these students can thus build new friendships and regain confidence in themselves.

Throughout June, 3,000 students from first grade to ninth grade received a bag containing five books chosen specifically for them—based on their age, level of French, and interests—thanks to a collaborative educational effort with their teachers and classmates, using a bibliography and activity sheets developed by LWB. These books come from LWB’s catalog, which includes donations from individuals as well as publishing houses such as Amaterra, Voce Verso, Maison Eliza, D’eux Editions, Editions MeMo, Talents Hauts, and Kilowatt.

“This program embodies a love of language, reading, and writing. It is a wonderful and valuable initiative that offers a fun introduction to reading and the world of writing. Through ‘My Book Bag,’ I wanted to share with my students a message of openness and welcome to our country.” — Adeline Delaveau, teacher at Dulcie September School in Ivry-sur-Seine and participant in the “My Book Bag” program.

At the heart of My Book Bag is peer-to-peer sharing. Throughout the year, participating teachers carried out activities focused on reading and writing, drawing on multilingual activity sheets created by our partner, AFaLaC.

These workshops encouraged students in traditional classes to explore the relationship between books and their readers and to reflect on the role of reading in their own journeys. Meanwhile, UPE2A students created poems, texts, and drawings to introduce their classmates to their native languages and cultures.

“Throughout the year, many projects were carried out around language, poetry, and reading. To get to know each other better, for example, the children created ‘Chinese portraits’ using the methodologies provided in the educational kit supplied by LWB. Together, we also did a lot of writing—students realized that writing a short text, a sentence, was entirely possible. Making reading accessible to them helps build their confidence and shows them that they, too, could one day become writers.” — Adeline Delaveau.

Meetings with authors, publishers, and illustrators were also organized in several classrooms, allowing students to discover the inner workings of the book world.

“This program is the joyful culmination of our year-long work on books. The distribution of book bags at the end of the year moved them deeply. Being able to open a book, exchange it, lend it—it is extremely valuable to them. Taking it home, showing it to their parents, siblings, and even passing it down to their children one day. For some, this is their very first personal library, and these books will stay with them for a long time.” — Adeline Delaveau.

For the first time in 2024, and with the support of the Interministerial Delegation for the Reception and Integration of Refugees (DIAIR), 250 young civic service volunteers from the VOLONT’R program—French youth and newly arrived foreign youth aged 16 to 25—were guided in assembling book bags in pairs and organizing activities centered on intercultural exchange and citizenship.

Written by: Mathilde Lis

In total, 136 elementary schools, 60 middle schools, and 15 VOLONT’R cohorts benefited from My Book Bag this year. Given the enthusiasm the program has generated, LWB hopes to expand it further to reinforce the role of books and culture in welcoming and integrating newcomers in France.

A huge thank you to our partners for their commitment and trust: the Centre National du Livre, the DIAIR, the Crédit Mutuel Foundation for Reading, the City of Strasbourg, the Valentin Ribet Foundation, and the UEFA Foundation for Children.