Festival Ouvrez, ouvrez les livres aux bébés
Departmental festival of cultural awakening for toddlers in Puy-de-Dôme
About Ouvrez les livres aux bébés
Libraries become theaters of wonder
The festival "Ouvrez, ouvrez les livres aux bébés" is an initiative of the Departmental Council of Puy-de-Dôme that aims to awaken toddlers to books, music, and live performance. Free and accessible to all, this departmental festival transforms the libraries and media libraries of Puy-de-Dôme into true places of cultural discovery for babies and their families every autumn.
An operation rooted in the territory since 2005
The "Ouvrez, ouvrez les livres aux bébés" operation was born in 2005 as part of the national Premières Pages program. Since then, the Department of Puy-de-Dôme has offered an album to every child born or adopted in the department - more than 120,000 babies have been reached since the operation began. The festival, in its current form, was launched in 2024 with a first edition that recorded an 85% occupancy rate for shows.
A fun and inclusive program
The festival offers a rich and varied program: shows adapted for toddlers, signed readings, storytelling sessions (racontines), sensory workshops, album discoveries, and shared moments around books. Artists, storytellers, illustrators, librarians, and early childhood professionals collaborate to create activities suitable for the youngest.
A children's album competition
Each year, a national children's literature competition selects a new album that will be offered to all newborns and adopted children in the department. In 2025, the winning album was "Le secret de Pluie" by Valérie Deneufchâtel, a colorful story that conveys beautiful messages about self-esteem and environmental preservation.
Partner territories
The festival is deployed in several reading networks partnered with the departmental media library, notably reaching the territories of Ambert Livradois Forez, Mond'Arverne Communauté, and Riom Limagne et Volcans. This territorial presence helps to promote rural libraries as true gateways to culture and live performance.
Ouvrez les livres aux bébés — edition 2026
3rd edition of the free departmental festival « Ouvrez, ouvrez les livres aux bébés », from October 7 to 30, 2026, in the libraries and media libraries of Puy-de-Dôme. Shows, readings, and cultural awakening workshops for toddlers aged 0 to 6.
3rd edition: October 7 to 30, 2026
The festival « Ouvrez, ouvrez les livres aux bébés » returns from October 7 to 30, 2026, for its 3rd edition, organized by the Departmental Council of Puy-de-Dôme. True to its mission of cultural awakening for toddlers, it offers a free program of shows, readings, and sensory workshops in the department's libraries and media libraries, aimed at children aged 0 to 6 accompanied by their families or early childhood professionals.
A vote for the album offered to babies
During the festival, from September 22 to October 25, 2026, the public is invited to discover a selection of children's albums and vote in participating libraries for the album that will be offered to all children born or adopted in the department in 2026. In parallel, the 22nd edition of the national children's literature competition « Ouvrez, ouvrez les livres aux bébés » has been launched: authors and illustrators could submit their projects until May 22, 2026, to designate the album that will be offered to newborns and adopted children in 2027.
A festival deployed throughout the territory
Activities are held in numerous reading networks partnering with the departmental media library, throughout Puy-de-Dôme: media libraries of Issoire, Courpière (Paul Valaude), Mond'Arverne, Plaine Limagne, Chavanon Combrailles et Volcans networks, as well as many rural libraries. Some shows require prior registration with the organizing library.
Programme Ouvrez les livres aux bébés 2026
The festival is deployed in many libraries of Puy-de-Dôme throughout October 2026. Among the confirmed events:
- Wednesday, October 16 — Vollore-Ville Library (sessions at 10 am and 11 am)
- Wednesday, October 23 — Tauves Media Library (sessions at 10 am and 11 am)
- Thursday, October 24 — Aigueperse Media Library (sessions at 9:30 am and 10:30 am)
Shows, signed readings, story times, and sensory workshops are also offered in the media libraries of Issoire, Courpière, and in the Mond'Arverne, Plaine Limagne, and Chavanon Combrailles et Volcans networks. The full program and session details are published library by library on spectacles.puy-de-dome.fr and with each participating structure.
Highlights Ouvrez les livres aux bébés 2026
- 3rd edition of the festival, from October 7 to 30, 2026
- Free shows, readings, and workshops for 0-6 year olds
- Vote for the album offered to babies from September 22 to October 25, 2026
Prices Ouvrez les livres aux bébés 2026
Practical information — Ouvrez les livres aux bébés
Practical information
Dates
The festival takes place from the end of September to the end of October in various libraries and media libraries in Puy-de-Dôme.
Price
All activities are free.
Audience
Children aged 0 to 6 accompanied by their parents or early childhood professionals.
Registration
Some shows require prior registration with the organizing media library.
Contact
Departmental Media Library of Puy-de-Dôme
Contact: Anaïs GIMET
Phone: 04 73 25 80 00
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Ouvrez les livres aux bébés
Bibliothèques et médiathèques du Puy-de-Dôme