De Brunhoff, Jean Books

Bonjour, Babar!: The Six Unabridged Classics by the Creator of Babar

Jean De Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

"Do you see in this life how one must never be discouraged?" 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This one volume contains all six Babar stories written and illustrated by Jean de Brunhoff between 1931 and 1937, when the author died prematurely of tuberculosis. After seven decades, Babar the elephant is still beloved by young and old alike. Included are: "The Story of Babar"; "The Travels of Babar"; "Babar the King"; "Babar and Zephir"; "Babar and His Children"; and "Babar and Father Christmas".

From his earliest days, when his mother is shot by a hunter and he is left to fend for himself in the world, Babar is a curious and independent spirit. He makes his way to the city, where a kindly old lady gives him her purse; he purchases "a shirt with a collar and tie, a suit of a becoming shade of green, then a handsome derby hat and also shoes with spats". All decked out in new clothes, Babar is ready for whatever awaits, as he mixes with society, entertaining all with tales of his life in the forest. Later, when two of Babar's cousins arrive in the city, Babar outfits them both in new clothes. Returning with his cousins to the forest in the old lady's elegant roadster, Babar is so impressive that he is crowned King, his new fiancé, Celeste, the new Queen.

On their honeymoon, Babar and Celeste enjoy many adventures and misadventures all over the globe, returning to discover that the herd has gone to war with the rhinoceroses, a situation requiring careful strategy for success. Finally victorious, Babar promises to rule the kingdom wisely, and so he does in the following stories. In "Babar the King", the herd builds a city where all the animals peacefully coexist. There are schools, parks, automobiles; everything is perfect, save those few strokes of bad luck to remind Babar that we must never be discouraged in the face of adversity.

Each story is filled with realism, encouragement and hope in the face of difficulties, magical adventures touched with the give and take of life and the need to overcome challenges with a good heart. With a gallery of friends, Babar's life is defined by enthusiasm, a willingness to care for others and joy in simple things, family and community. Born in 1899, the author created an alternative universe in a country soon to face the First World War, his artistic vision come to fruition in Babar, a character beloved by generation after generation. Luan Gaines/2006.

Editorial Review:

In 1931 Jean de Brunhoff created Babar, a little elephant who walked out of the jungle and into the hearts of civilized readers the world over. Widely recognized as the father of the picture book, Jean de Brunhoff wrote and illustrated six Babar stories before his early death in 1937. Every word and every picture of these classics is included in this big, inviting gift edition.

Story of Babar

Jean De Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Classic to cherish 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I had this Babar book as a child and could not resist buying it for my daughter, and I am so happy that I did. This book is so incredible, the pictures and colors so vibrant and the text so incredibly addictive, that your child wil carry it with her forever. I know I have. I was stunned by how much of the dialogue and how many of the pictures I remembered. This book is a reasure that you and your children will share for years to come. Some people my comment about some of the themes, but as a child they went over my head, and as an adult, I recognized how tastefully done they are. Highest possible recommendation

mommy gets killed, kiddo gets fancy new duds, and one elephant eats mushroom and dies 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 12 people found this review helpful.

Uh, classic or not, I don't care for this book. It's yet another kill the mom book -just lioke all the disney stuff starts out. I don't think this is a good choice for today's wee ones. This is NOT what I'd choose to read at bedtime with my kids at all.

Editorial Review:

One of the stories featuring Babar the Elephant, who was created in the 1930s by Jean de Brunhoff and given new life by his son Laurent after World War II.

Babar and Father Christmas

Jean de Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Father Christmas 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 16 people found this review helpful.

This book was originally published in 1940 and the end notes tell us that it was the last one written by Jean de Brunhoff before his untimely death at age 37. The story and line drawings were finished but the illustrations still needed to be colored. Jean's brother took care of that with the help of Jean's son who was only 12 years old when his father died. I like the fact that Jean's son had a hand in the coloring of this wonderful story of a father's love and special efforts on behalf of his children at Christmastime.
This book has all the lively and humorous characteristics of the other Babar the Elephant stories, the brightly colored, warm and friendly drawings of our beloved elephant royalty, the antics and adventures of the elephants themselves and of course, our hero, King Babar once again, saving the day, in this book, a most important day, Christmas!
Arthur, Pom, Flora and Alexander, the royal elephant children , together with their monkey pal, Zephir, write Father Christmas a wish list letter and are disappointed when they don't get a reply. This ultimately leads to Babar's realization that the Elephants' Country needs to be included in Santa's regular route, so he goes to heroic lengths to make his childrens' wishes come true. Babar and Father Christmas become fast friends and Father Christmas even gets to take a much needed rest in the tropical climate of Babar's country. The way de Brunhoff has drawn Father Christmas is quirky and jolly and rather different from the image we have of him today but entirely captures the essence of this wonderful holiday icon. If you have loved other Babar stories or if this is your first, you are sure to love it and make it a part of your Christmas tradition.

Editorial Review:

Babar returns in this unusual and heartwarming Christmas story by Jean de Brunhoff. Babar’s children have caught wind of a fellow in Man’s country named Father Christmas who brings joy and toys to little children. “If only we could bring him here,” they wish. So they write the Christmas saint a letter inviting him to visit them. When they get no reply, Babar, ever the good father, rushes out to find the red-suited one. After much searching, and with the help of a dog named Duck, Babar reaches Father Christmas’s workshop in the snow. Can Babar find a way to bring him to Elephants’ country?

Babar and His Children

Jean de Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Everyone's favorite colonialist elephant has children 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Babar is a big favorite with my kids, but the book contains some comically outdated ideas about childrearing. Celeste sends Babar out on a bike ride so he'll miss the birth of his children. Later, when Celeste has to give up breastfeeding because of insufficient milk supply, the doctor recommends cow's milk (for elephants?) with honey (guess they hadn't heard of the botulism risk). Once they're slightly older, the children have a series of brushes with death. Flor chokes on her rattle, prompting Celeste to hold her upside down and shake her. (Celeste need a first aid course.) Alexandre gets catapulted out of a runaway stroller, goes over a cliff, and is saved only when he lands in a tree. Pom is saved from crocodile attack and near-drowning by his father, who fends off the crocodile "even though he has no gun." Once out of the water, he is given hot drinks and put to bed under heavy blankets. Presumably one can't be too careful about hypothermia, even in Africa. All in all, an uplifting tale.

Editorial Review:

With the birth of triplets, King Babar and Queen Celeste experience the pleasures and pains of parenthood.

Histoire De Babar Le Petit Elephant

Jean de Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A wonderful classic for any age 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 18 people found this review helpful.

In this book, the first in the Babar series, we hear the tale of the experiences that shaped the the young and adventurous Babar during his formative years, culminating with his being crowned King of the Elephants.

The Babar books contain some of the most charming and entertaining drawings and storylines of any children's books ever written. Proof is that as one grows older, their appeal seems to grow rather than diminish. Although great in any language, Babar is best of all in its original French. The text is simple enough that even those with only a modest French reading level should be able to enjoy this book.

New Cover, Same Histoire Parfait 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful.

Hachette has republished l'Histoire de Babar in hardback. This has a new cover (not the red with Babar holding the sign with the title on it). The new cover features Babar driving his car. The illustrations and original Brunhoff French text in cursive script are still there. I will take this wonderful tale in any cover I can find, thank you very much.

Bon Histoire! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

C'est la première histoire de Babar. La maman de Babar est tuée par un vilain chasseur, et Babar se sauve. Mon enfant pleure quand il vois Babar pleure a la fenêtre de la vielle dame, mais c'est la vie; notre chien vient de mourir, et je lui dit, "Oui, sa mere est morte comme Diggy est morte."

Babar's Travels

Jean de Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 1.0 of 5

Help Yourself if You Like... 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I haven't seen this edition, but I wonder if they changed the illustrations (or took them out altogether)? I recently saw an old copy from the local library, and one of the illustrations was unbelievably racist. it portrayed the "natives" as "savage cannibals" with the old "jungle-man" stereotype of the African.

Editorial Review:

A collection of the adventures of Babar and Celeste on their honeymoon travels, from desert islands and ski slopes to ships and the circus.

Babar and Zephir (The Babar Books)

Jean De Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Elephants are not the only Fantastic Creatures! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Page aften page of strange and curious imaginary creatures, mermaids and monkeys! A delightful book.

Zephir embarks from the elephant school, off on his summer vacation. He arrives home at Monkeyville, which is filled with wonderful little houses and shops that hang from the gigantic trees, and off he and his family go to their holiday house, where the first thing that his mother does is prepare a "good soup of bananas and chocolate" (!).

The next day a tremendous package arrives at the post office from Babar. It is a rowboat for Zephir! On a daredevil fishing trip (for monkeys generally do not like the water), Zephir accidentally catches Eleonore, a lovely little mermaid, instead of fish! Sadly he releases her, but she has promised to come to his aid if he ever needs her. Upon his arrival back on shore he is greeted with the horrible news that little Princess Isabelle has been kidnapped in a green cloud smelling of rotten apples! Zephir calls on Eleonore, and she takes him in her fish carriage to her Aunt Crustadele.

Aunt Crustadele believes the culprit can only be Polomoche, who lives on an island with his gang of Gogottes (a very strange assortment of creatures!). "They... are not savage. But they are bored," she says. She sends Zephir off on his quest, telling him he will recognize Polomoche by his pointed horns and yellow skin.

What an adventure! One thing is for sure... any child reading this book will not have a chance to be bored!

Editorial Review:

In the most fantastical of the classic Babar stories, we follow Zephir, Babar’s monkey friend, home on school holiday. The monkey princess, Isabelle, has been kidnapped by the horned monster Polomoche, and everyone is very worried. But Zephir, with the help of a tiny mermaid named Eleanore, is certain that he can save the princess himself.

Babar En Famille (French Edition)

Jean de Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Abridged edition 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This appears to be an abridged edition. Also, the text is in cursive (possibly Brunhoff's original hand lettering) which makes it a little hard for younger readers.

Babar the King

Jean de Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Wonderful Children's Book 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 12 people found this review helpful.

I had this book as I was growing up only 14 short years ago and still remember it as a wonderful book and an enjoyable companion to all of the other Babar books. An excellent addition to any child's collection and one they will be sure to treasure and remember for years to come.

Reading Babar in America 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Babar is funny. I was reminded of this when I read Babar the King to a seven- and a five-year old. They laughed at the elephants dressed up in clothes and they laughed at the elephants at the theatre. When it came to the part about the elephants at war, they stopped laughing. "That's dumb"the older one said.
I had to agree.

Editorial Review:

This third title about Babar and his family follows the elephants as they build a magnificent city: Celesteville. Life is peaceful and contented, everyone has a job to do, and celebrations are frequent. But one fateful day a snake bites the Old Lady and Babar fears that he may lose his oldest friend. Illus. in full color by the author.

Travels of Babar

Jean De Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Another wonderful Babar adventure! 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Babar is one of the most endearing characters in children's literature. This volume is a classic that belongs on any child's bookshelf. The story of Babar and Celeste's hot air balloon ride and subsequent adventures in interesting locales fascinates kids, while broadening their cultural horizons. Some mature themes that may disturb kids (war, cruel treatment by a circus ringmaster), but provide a change from the pastel bunny and kitty story genre. Thought provoking for kids mature enough to handle it.

Contains incredibly offensive pictures 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I loved the Babar books when I was little and my son is coming to love them, too. They have fun stories and a great use of vocabulary. I was excited when I found this book for a quarter in the discard sales rack of our local library. However, my happiness at purchasing it turned to dismayed shock when I read about Babar & his new wife encountering "savages" on their trip. The savages portrayed are offensively stereotyped Africans - big lips, sub-human, stupid leers on their faces, mindlessly violent... it's been a long time since I saw such blantant bigotry in a child's book. I trashed the book immediately. It's offensive enough that I can't believe it's still in print.

Enjoy the other Babar books, but stay far away from this one if you don't want your child absorbing hurtful racial sterotypes.

Editorial Review:

In the second Babar story, Babar and Celeste set off in a balloon, beginning an exciting series of adventures. Escaping from savage cannibals, only to be trapped by a circus owner, Babar knows nothing of his home country’s escalating war against the rhinos. But with some help from the Old Lady, Babar returns in time to save the day.
This is vintage de Brunhoff--a must for Babar fans and a story sure to charm and engage young readers.