The best book ever

French book about the Alps. Copyright LeFrancoPhoney blog.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but Copain des Alpes is my new favourite book. Although it’s a children’s book, it’s great for adults learning French. I discovered this one at a French friend’s place the other day, and it answered all three questions that another friend and I were pondering on the chairlift the very same day. The questions were:

  1. Why don’t rabbits get cold? Wouldn’t they be happier if they went down the valley where it’s warmer?
  2. How do snowflakes form?
  3. What is the turkey-like animal that the signs say not to run over on your snowboard in the forest areas of La Clusaz?

The answers (thanks to the book):

  1. In winter, animal fur thickens with extra hair called (in French) “jarre”, which is like a tiny tube, holding the air in to keep the bunnies warm. It’s apparently just like a mini-radiator around them. So no, they would not be happier in the valley.
  2. For snowflakes to make it to the ground, not only must the cloud where they form be cold, but so must the air between the cloud and the ground. Otherwise, they’re just clumps of snow falling from the sky. The tiny drops of water that freeze in the cold cloud form miniscule crystals of ice — or snowflakes as we know them!
  3. The turkey-like animal in La Clusaz is called a ‘Tétras-lyre’ i French. This explains the number of pistes called ‘Tétras’. The book also listed various other animals which I know as pistes, such as ‘Aigle’ (eagle), ‘Bouquetin’ (something with long horns that looks a bit like a brown, fat goat), and ‘Merle’ (blackbird).

Browsing through the 230-odd pages, I’ve found recipes for blueberry jam, a ‘spot that flower’ section, advice on staying at an overnight refuge, a walking map of La Grave, and an explanation of hydro-electric systems. There are least 25 of these “Copain” books available. I want the whole collection! My French friend told me that “Copain du bricolage” (DIY friend) is really good. She said: “It’s great! It shows you how to make chairs and picnic tables and snail houses”. Now, picnic tables make sense, but snail houses? “Yeah, they’re great! We had pink snails and yellow snails and black and white snails, and we built them a shelter,” my friend told me. Apparently, they did not eat them. In fact, the snail house was flawed: they kept escaping, leaving snail trails in all directions. No worries: they made a new on in a forest with some friends: they put it in the middle of a private track. Just a day after the snails were placed in their new house, the other friend’s dad drove a tractor over the road, squashing the snail house. “I was very sad,” my friend said, “but they had all the night to escape.” She told me this very, very seriously. Maybe I’ll skip the DIY book of the series.

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About

I'm a technical author, journalist and writer from Australia who has been living in Europe since 2000 and exploring the world from there. My passions are writing, snow sports and travel.

4 Comments on “The best book ever

  1. Do you have a “Marmottes” piste in LC? There seem to be loads of pistes called that in various places, but you never see the animals. As you pointed out a while back, now I think about it.

    And does the book have a guide to animal tracks, like the ones you see from chair lifts – little animals that obviously run around in circles and then disappear?

    Hmm, can it be that Marmottes are invisible?

  2. Happy to read this! I love my grandson’s books, because they are so informative.
    Happy snow and PLEASE keep it there. Living next to the Atlantic I can do without.
    A+,
    Deborah

  3. There must be a piste called ‘Marmot’ in La Clusaz, although I haven’t looked specifically for it (watch this space). Yes, the book does have animal tracks in it. You’re looking at a rabbit track! According to the book, marmots are no invisible, but I’m still not convinced.

    Deborah, I’m happy to have you reading. There may be a few more snow-related stories, but I promise not to throw a snow ball in your direction. The Atlantic coast is lovely isn’t it!

  4. Keep looking, keep looking, you’ll see marmots, you will. They are there and they do show themselves in all their adorable glory.
    Bless you for not throwing snowballs my way and YES, the Atlantic coast is lovely. Yesterday the ocean roared, today ‘il chante’.