The French language has fascinated me since my childhood. Even at breakfast, I would try to decipher French texts on milk cartons. Perhaps it was because French was my parents’ secret language – or because
it sounded like music to my ears.
Last autumn, a random conversation on the post bus to Chur reminded me of this special connection. From that bus encounter, a contact emerged that strengthened my long-held desire to make La Lueur Mystérieuse accessible in French as well.
With the enthusiastic support of Olivia and Marie, I submitted the manuscript to French-language publishers in March. Whether a door will open remains to be seen – but the first step has been taken. Sometimes, the most beautiful stories begin just like this. ✨
A particularly special moment awaited me in May: as part of the Wednesday afternoon school Les Petits Bouquetins, I had the opportunity to share the unpublished French version with a small group of six children aged 7 to 12. 💫
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From the very first picture in the story, the children eagerly guessed: In which country does this story take place? Using the Kamishibaï, they attentively examined the illustration and tried to find clues. The USA because of the skyscrapers? Japan or China because of the characters on the buildings? How can you tell the two apart? Once the riddle was solved, the story could begin.
The children listened to the reading with rapt attention, asked questions, and immersed themselves with impressive openness into the world of emotions. Together, we discussed what makes us sad, what brings us joy, and how differently emotions can be experienced. It was particularly heartwarming to see even the quieter children actively engage and share their thoughts.
For this lesson, I created the song “Devine les émotions”, a playful emotion-guessing game where we clapped, laughed, and sang along. We talked about where in the body different feelings are felt – whether as a tickle in the stomach, heaviness in the heart, or warmth in the face. For each emotion, the children also found a gesture to make the feeling visible. It was touching to witness how attentively and creatively they expressed their emotions.
After the break, the room briefly transformed into a mini game show: in a quiz styled like 1, 2, or 3, the children guessed phrases related to emotions and feelings.
The session concluded with a creative drawing round, where the children could choose one of three coloring pages from the story. This individual deepening allowed each child to express their impressions and feelings artistically. The outcome included not only colorful pictures but also many quiet, personal moments full of concentration and imagination.
I am very grateful for the trust of the AFFG – Association des Familles Francophones des Grisons, which made this special encounter possible. Such moments remind me why stories are important: They connect people, open conversations, and create little lights – sometimes exactly where we need them the most. ✨
