Babar and His Children (Babar Books (Random House)) [Hardcover]

Jean De Brunhoff (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Babar Books (Random House)

Such joy in Celesteville! Babar and Celeste have had triplets. The smallest, Alexander, has a knack for getting into predicaments. Between getting stuck in the treetops and being chased by a crocodile, he certainly keeps Babar on his toes, but the king readily admits, “Truly it is not easy to bring up a family, but how nice the babies are!” The fifth Babar story is a wonderful and heartwarming salute to parenthood which every Mom and Dad will appreciate.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One of Jean de Brunhoff's five original Babar stories, Babar and His Children tells how the royal elephant and Queen Celeste await the birth of their first child... and discover to their surprise that they have three! The loyal townsfolk bring gifts, and the babies are named before being weighed by wise Dr. Capoulosse (he of the stern expression and pince-nez). Then it's time for young Flora, Pom, and Alexander to get into a series of scrapes and be saved by the bravery and good sense of either their parents or other animals. Brunhoff's charming, faintly Edwardian illustrations never cease to capture the imagination, and this particular story has something in it for every member of a young family--even if some members of your family are merely human. (Ages 2 to 6) --Richard Farr

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; 1st jacketed hardcover ed edition (February 12, 1954)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394805771
• ISBN-13: 978-0394805771
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Elephants

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Siblings of twins love this story!, July 10, 2008

By 

C. Saylor (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Babar and His Children (Babar Books (Random House)) (Hardcover)

My two older sons (ages 5 & 2 1/2) have really enjoyed reading this story since the birth of their twin siblings last year. The adventures of the triplets, especially trouble-making Alexander, keep them glued to the book! They love Alexander's exciting brushes with disaster and are so happy when everything turns out well at the end. The last lines of Babar always makes me tear up: "Truly it is not easy to bring up a family, but how nice the babies are! I can't imagine how I'd get along without them now."

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Everyone's favorite colonialist elephant has children, February 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Babar and His Children (Babar Books (Random House)) (Hardcover)

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.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic revisited., February 16, 2008

By 

GC - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babar and His Children (Babar Books (Random House)) (Hardcover)

our kids love this book! gentle, loving, and anxious parents - take heart from babar and celeste! this have served as read-to stuff - and has passed into family lexicon. whenever we tell of some mishap, it always ends in "when suddenly ... the accident!" it's exciting, and funny, and reassuring. Kids love naughtiness, they have their surrogates in alexander and his elder, arthur. and they love everything turning out right in the end! i recommend this book.