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Babar
The Adventures of Babar
'The Adventures of Babar' contains three of Jean de Brunhoff's original classic stories, illustrated in full colour 'The Story of Babar', 'Babar's Travels' and 'Babar the King'The three stories were first published in 1934, 1935 and 1936 respectively.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1959
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About the author
Jean de Brunhoff
287 books83 followersJean de Brunhoff was a French writer and illustrator known for co-creating Babar, which first appeared in 1931. The stories were originally told to their second son, Mathieu, when he was sick, by his wife Cecile de Brunhoff. After its first appearance, six more titles followed. He was the fourth and last child of Maurice de Brunhoff, a successful publisher, and his wife Marguerite. He attended Protestant schools, including the prestigious L'Ecole Alsacienne. Brunhoff joined the army and reached the front lines when World War I was almost over. Afterwards, he decided to be a professional artist and studied painting at Academie de la Grand Chamiere. He married Ceccile Sabourand, a talented pianist from a Catholic family, in 1924.
Brunhoff died of tuberculosis at the age of 37. After his death, Hachette bought the printing and publishing rights to the Babar series, and ten years later Jean's eldst son, Laurent, took on his late father's role of writing and illustrating the series. The first seven Babar albums were reprinted and millions of copies were sold all around the world, but they were all abridged; they had 30 pages instead of the original 48. The Babar books are thought to be a way for Brunhoff to share himself with his family. Many people did not notice the 10 year gap, as Laurent also showed exceptional talent in drawing elephants. De Brunhoff and his wife are buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
Brunhoff died of tuberculosis at the age of 37. After his death, Hachette bought the printing and publishing rights to the Babar series, and ten years later Jean's eldst son, Laurent, took on his late father's role of writing and illustrating the series. The first seven Babar albums were reprinted and millions of copies were sold all around the world, but they were all abridged; they had 30 pages instead of the original 48. The Babar books are thought to be a way for Brunhoff to share himself with his family. Many people did not notice the 10 year gap, as Laurent also showed exceptional talent in drawing elephants. De Brunhoff and his wife are buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 13, 2021
I have grown up with Babar, but this edition has taken away the cursive writing and replaced it with printed text. I would prefer to have the cursive writing. :)
June 22, 2016
It is absolutely amazing what an elephant can do - at least in the elephant world of Jean de Brunhoff. He wears custom made suits, rides in a posh limousine, dines at table in tea shops, rides in a hot air balloon, sails in a motor boat, wanders round large cities and meets a whole host of people. Fantastic stuff!
The Babar books actually began as bedtime stories that Cécile de Brunhoff (née Sabouraud), wife of Jean, invented for their children, Mathieu and Laurent, when they were four and five years old respectively. The boys liked the stories of the little elephant, who left the jungle for a city resembling Paris, so much that they went to their father, a painter, and asked him to turn them into book, which he could illustrate. Jean agreed and it was intended that the first book's title page would carry the names of Jean and Cécile de Brunhoff, as co-authors. However, at the last minute Cécile decided to have her name removed and leave the credit to just Jean. And that was how they were produced.
The first three books from 1934, 1935 and 1936 respectively are included in this omnibus volume. The first, 'The Story of Babar', introduces us to the little elephant who was born in a great forest. Sadly he lost his mother and, frightened, he ran away and eventually discovered a town; he had never seen so many houses.
He met a very rich old lady and she took him under her wing, as it were, and gave him money to spend on such as clothes, a car and food. After two years living the high life he met, walking down a boulevard, two little elephants who turned out to be his cousins Arthur and Celeste. And with them he returned to the great forest where he discovered that the King of the elephants had died. A new King was required and Cornelius, the oldest elephant, suggested Babar, thus he became King.
He married Celeste, so she became his Queen, and off they went on their honeymoon in a large yellow air balloon. And that leads to the second story, 'Babar's Travels' in which he and Celeste see the world and live through lots of un-elephant like experiences. They encounter cannibals, travel on a whale, join a circus, enjoy skiing, fight a war against the nasty rhinoceroses and, most importantly, meet up with their little old lady once more. And they persuade her to remain in the elephant kingdom to assist them to reign successfully and happily.
Thus we encounter 'Babar the King', who having signed a peace treaty with the rhinoceroses, lives a very happy life in the great forest with his Queen and their subjects, which included the old lady's pet monkey Zephir. Then a team of dromedaries arrives with hundreds of parcels, which contain the goods that Babar and Celeste had purchased for their elephants while on their honeymoon. In addition they had purchased material to build a new capital town, which Babar announces would be called Celesteville.
They duly built Celesteville and to celebrate its opening they had a Grand Fete at which Zephir marched at the head of elephant soldiers' band. However, things did not turn out as well as Babar wanted, for there were a couple of accidents that spoilt the day. But, after a terrible overnight dream, Babar awoke the following day to discover that the invalids from the accidents had almost fully recovered; he was overjoyed.
And from that moment on in the country of the elephants, they all lived in peace and happiness.
Jean de Brunhoff's stories and delightful illustrations ensure that Babar retains his appeal into the 21st century.
The Babar books actually began as bedtime stories that Cécile de Brunhoff (née Sabouraud), wife of Jean, invented for their children, Mathieu and Laurent, when they were four and five years old respectively. The boys liked the stories of the little elephant, who left the jungle for a city resembling Paris, so much that they went to their father, a painter, and asked him to turn them into book, which he could illustrate. Jean agreed and it was intended that the first book's title page would carry the names of Jean and Cécile de Brunhoff, as co-authors. However, at the last minute Cécile decided to have her name removed and leave the credit to just Jean. And that was how they were produced.
The first three books from 1934, 1935 and 1936 respectively are included in this omnibus volume. The first, 'The Story of Babar', introduces us to the little elephant who was born in a great forest. Sadly he lost his mother and, frightened, he ran away and eventually discovered a town; he had never seen so many houses.
He met a very rich old lady and she took him under her wing, as it were, and gave him money to spend on such as clothes, a car and food. After two years living the high life he met, walking down a boulevard, two little elephants who turned out to be his cousins Arthur and Celeste. And with them he returned to the great forest where he discovered that the King of the elephants had died. A new King was required and Cornelius, the oldest elephant, suggested Babar, thus he became King.
He married Celeste, so she became his Queen, and off they went on their honeymoon in a large yellow air balloon. And that leads to the second story, 'Babar's Travels' in which he and Celeste see the world and live through lots of un-elephant like experiences. They encounter cannibals, travel on a whale, join a circus, enjoy skiing, fight a war against the nasty rhinoceroses and, most importantly, meet up with their little old lady once more. And they persuade her to remain in the elephant kingdom to assist them to reign successfully and happily.
Thus we encounter 'Babar the King', who having signed a peace treaty with the rhinoceroses, lives a very happy life in the great forest with his Queen and their subjects, which included the old lady's pet monkey Zephir. Then a team of dromedaries arrives with hundreds of parcels, which contain the goods that Babar and Celeste had purchased for their elephants while on their honeymoon. In addition they had purchased material to build a new capital town, which Babar announces would be called Celesteville.
They duly built Celesteville and to celebrate its opening they had a Grand Fete at which Zephir marched at the head of elephant soldiers' band. However, things did not turn out as well as Babar wanted, for there were a couple of accidents that spoilt the day. But, after a terrible overnight dream, Babar awoke the following day to discover that the invalids from the accidents had almost fully recovered; he was overjoyed.
And from that moment on in the country of the elephants, they all lived in peace and happiness.
Jean de Brunhoff's stories and delightful illustrations ensure that Babar retains his appeal into the 21st century.
July 19, 2011
As someone who grew up watching the children's TV show, I found this book very charming. The stories are a little old-fashioned, but the illustrations are gorgeous.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews