Author in Residence: Illustrator Nathalie Dieterlé Visits the Lycée Français de San Francisco

FROM APRIL 27 to MAY 08 | ASHBURY AND SAUSALITO CAMPUSES

Author in Residence: Welcome, Nathalie Dieterlé!

Each year, the Lycée Français de San Francisco opens its classrooms to a celebrated French author or illustrator through its Author in Residence program — a beloved tradition made possible by the generous contributions of our community to the Lycée Annual Fund. These visits offer students something no textbook can: a living, breathing encounter with the creative process, the chance to ask questions, discover techniques, and understand that making books is a real and remarkable profession.

This spring, we are thrilled to welcome Nathalie Dieterlé.

Who Is Nathalie Dieterlé?

Born in Ghana and raised in Cameroon until the age of six — where her father worked as a rural doctor — Nathalie Dieterlé's African childhood deeply shaped both her visual style and the stories she tells.  She went on to study graphic arts at the École Penninghen in Paris before specializing in illustration at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Strasbourg. 

Over the course of her career, she has published close to a hundred books with major French publishing houses including Kaléidoscope, Hachette, Casterman, Nathan, Didier Jeunesse, and many others — and her work has been co-published internationally in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, Korea, Brazil, and beyond. 

She is best known for her beloved Zékéyé series — a rich collection of picture books set in Africa that have delighted generations of young readers with their warmth, humor, and vibrant illustrations. Beyond books, Nathalie also works in press illustration, toy design, postcard publishing, murals, and animation projects — and is passionate about art that engages with ecology and the natural world. 

A Visit Across Both Campuses

Nathalie will be working with our Primary School students during two extended residencies — first at Ashbury, then in Sausalito — with book signing sessions open to the whole community on both campuses.

• Ashbury Campus Monday, APRIL 27 – Tuesday, MAY 5 Book signing: Wednesday, April 29 — 3:30 to 5:30 PM
• Sausalito Campus Wednesday, MAY 6 – Friday, MAY 8 Book signing: Thursday, May 7 — 3:00 to 5:00 PM

We look forward to welcoming Nathalie and to the conversations, drawings, and discoveries her visit will spark. See you there!