Babar's USA (Babar (Harry N. Abrams)) [Hardcover]

Laurent de Brunhoff (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: K and up | Series: Babar (Harry N. Abrams)

Celebrate Babar as he celebrates America!

 

An all-new Babar book featuring photos of the USA collaged with original Babar illustrations for an exciting tour of modern America

 

In a new picture book featuring the internationally beloved and bestselling Babar, the lovable elephant and his family travel across the United States. Using collage—watercolor illustrations were pasted onto digital photographs—to put the characters directly into real-life scenes, Laurent de Brunhoff takes Babar and his family around the country to see the sights, from New York, where they see such icons as the Brooklyn Bridge and FAO Schwarz; to Memphis, Tennessee, where they see Graceland; to Key West, Florida, where they enjoy the beach; to Wyoming, where they see Yellowstone National Park; and to California, where they see the La Brea Tar Pits, the Golden Gate Bridge, and more; and to everywhere in between.

 

The innovative format and clever design are perfect complements to the reissue of Babar Comes to America. Readers new and familiar will revisit this volume to see the sights and will be inspired to pack their trunks and head out across the country.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2— De Brunhoff's cast of characters tours the USA, photographically documented by Zephir, the monkey. Babar's family spends a lot of time with their friends in New York City, visiting familiar places like Times Square, FAO Schwarz, and Central Park. Cornelius is impressed by the city's diversity, which, young Pom explains, means that here, "We don't look weird." Heading west, they are amazed by the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, and enjoy other stops including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hawaii, Chicago, and Washington, DC. Along the way, they make wry observations about how Americans talk ("No problem," "Have a good day") and behave (optimistically, high-spirited), concluding that "Anything you say about the USA may be true, and the opposite may be true, too, because it is such a big country…." The illustrations were done using watercolor cutouts placed on digital photographs, creating an unusual but appealing effect. While the prose is clear and simple, the itinerary is at times confusing, as the entourage jumps from coast to coast. An appendix identifies the sites by page number, although the pages of the book itself are not numbered. No matter, Babar fans will welcome the family's latest outing.—Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Laurent de Brunhoff has kept the spirit of Babar and his family alive for more than 50 years. Originally created by Laurent’s mother as a bedtime story, Babar the elephant first came to life through the art of Laurent’s father, Jean de Brunhoff, who produced seven books about the character before his untimely death. Building on his father’s original framework, Laurent has gone on to provide many new adventures for the elephant family while giving them new spirit through his use of line and color. Laurent de Brunhoff lives in Connecticut with his wife, writer Phyllis Rose.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers; Library Binding edition (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810970961
• ISBN-13: 978-0810970960
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 11.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Children's Book, October 3, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Babar's USA (Babar (Harry N. Abrams)) (Hardcover)

I grew up with Babar and I bought this book for my two-year old to introduce him to Babar. It's a neat book because pictures of Babar and his family are overlaid on actual photographs of various tourist destinations around the country. The only not so great thing about this book is the odd philosophical monologues from Cornelius about the American people. Way over my son's head and I imagine any child under the age of 12.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story - about America too!, October 14, 2011

By 

Pi Face "good book hunter" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Babar's USA (Babar (Harry N. Abrams)) (Hardcover)

I bought this book to give to my girlfriend's children who live overseas. I was pleasantly surprised with the comments on the positive characteristics mentioned towards American people. Living outside the USA myself, for over 20 years, mainly negative comments are made about Americans. I think it is important for children with American parents to be taught what makes America great. Thus, this book is an excellent gift for any child of American expats. And, the snapshots reminded me of my history tours of the USA with my parents. A very well put together book - and a bonus that it is told by Babar!

5.0 out of 5 stars Barbar Revisited, August 15, 2011

By 

Solveig A. Engh - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babar's USA (Babar (Harry N. Abrams)) (Hardcover)

I'd not seen Babar books for years, and this new submission surprised me. The creator has taken to using photographs.

When Barbar along with family and friends tour the United States, they take pictures of the places they see and experience. Keeping with tradition, however, drawings of personified elephants--along with a special monkey--are superimposed onto real photographs. And it works. Charming, in fact.

They start with the sights of New York City. Then it's on to the West, followed by time in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Other locations are mentioned briefly: the Cascades, Florida, Poconos, Graceland, Nashville, The South. Aspects of American life include eating in diners, visiting tae kwon do classes for children, riding a bus, playing horseshoes, and best of all, watching American people.

My first reaction is that they had a ridiculously long trip--they were away from home for a very long time. But that's an adult reaction. The trip serves as a vehicle--an excuse to present a tour of the United States.

All the while, we learn how an ideal family interacts. Everyone is incredibly polite--models for all.

Some extraneous material is beyond young children. Not to worry--it will roll right over them and provide interest for the adult reading the story.