Some notable titles in the "Le Petit Nicolas" series include:
If you want to read the specific adventure of the dog Rex in complete English, follow this guide:
Step 1: Acquire "Nicholas on Vacation" (ISBN: 978-0714873189)
This hardcover or paperback collection includes 17 stories from Nicolas’s summer holiday. The story "Rex" is typically the 4th or 5th chapter, depending on the edition.
Step 2: Locate the Story in the Table of Contents
Look for the chapter titled:
Step 3: Read the Opening Lines (English Translation Excerpt)
To confirm you have the correct "full" translation, here is a sample of Anthea Bell’s rendering of the story’s opening, compared to a poor online translation:
Anthea Bell (Full, professional translation): “Papa said he’d always dreamt of having a dog, an Alsatian, a real one, and now his dream was coming true. ‘A fine, well-trained dog,’ Papa said, rubbing his hands. ‘A former police dog, no less.’ Mamma didn’t look too happy. ‘Oh dear,’ she said, ‘I do hope he doesn’t bite.’ Papa laughed. ‘Bite? My dear, a dog like that only bites criminals. He’s a guardian, a protector!’”
Notice the natural rhythm and the subtle irony. A "full" translation preserves the humor that the father is the real fool.
Bad/Incomplete Translation (Often found free online): “Father said he always wanted a dog. An Alsatian. A real one. He said it was a police dog. Mother was afraid of bites. Father laughed.” le petit nicolas rex english translation full
This stripped-down version loses all charm. The "full" translation is about fidelity to voice, not just word count.
Translated from Le Petit Nicolas by René Goscinny
Today was a very bad day. It began very early. I woke up late. My mother had already made my bed, and my cat, Félix, was sitting on my chest. He was a pretty mean cat. He always woke me up by hitting my face with his paw.
When I got dressed, I realized I had a big hole in my favorite socks. My mom said she would sew them, but I didn't want her to. I like wearing socks with holes; it's more fun.
At school, things got even worse. Mr. Blondel, our teacher, asked us to write a story about our vacation. I wrote about my trip to the seaside, but I accidentally wrote with my left hand because my right hand was still holding my pencil case. So, my writing looked terrible. When I showed it to Mr. Blondel, he frowned and said I must practice. Some notable titles in the "Le Petit Nicolas"
At recess, I played soccer with my friends. I kicked the ball, but it went into the next classroom through the window. Mr. Blondel got very angry. He said I was as clumsy as a monkey.
When I got home, I told my mom everything. She listened and then she smiled. She said tomorrow would be a better day. I hope she's right.
Below is an English translation of the short story "Rex" from Le Petit Nicolas by René Goscinny and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé. This is a faithful, conversational translation aimed at readers who want to enjoy the story in English. Note: the original text is copyrighted; this translation is provided here for personal reading only.
The "full English translation" experience of Le Petit Nicolas is famously difficult to capture, and "Rex" is a prime example of why.