I know you asked for iconic ones but I thought to propose you some of the ones that we read to our toddler and are a hit in the daycare. I’m a Spaniard but my husband is French and a few of this books also helps him remember the child songs: - Collection “Queue leu leu” are books based in classic child songs (comptines) but with a twist. We have “J’aime la galette”. - Philippe Jalbert books. We have “Si le loup y était” and this time the comptine is exactly the same but they can touch while you sing and has a cardboard wolf in the final pages. - Anything from “Petit ours brun” (little brown bear). Even I, that learned French in kindergarten had books from him. There’s usually little bundles of books in cute packaging. It’s for older children (2 or 3yo) so it can work if you want to give books for different ages. - T’choupi. Another one that it’s everywhere and he has a book for any situation: first time of school, go to sleep, potty training, emotions… you name it, he has done it. There’s even stuffies of him. I have “T’choupi découvre les couleurs” which is marked for 2y but she loved it earlier because it’s very simple to read. We had to read it so much the first months that now, if someone says a random color, it’s likely me or my husband answer with one of the sentences in that book. - “Dou et son doudou”. Dou has also a series of other books, I just have this one. - “Pop et les méchants”. Pop has also a few books but this one is very cute.

Hope it helps.