Babar's World Tour [Hardcover]

Laurent de Brunhoff (Author)

Book Description

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

Following the phenomenal success of Babar's Yoga for Elephants and Babar's Museum, Larent de Brunhoff's latest, all-new Babar adventure will take children on a world tour they'll never forget!

As Babar said to his children, "We are taking you around the world." And so he does in Babar's World Tour, the latest from the venerable storyteller and artist Laurent de Brunhoff. Our favorite elephant family visits a number of countries around the globe. First stop is Italy where they learn to say, "Buon Giorno! Hello!" After that, its' off to Germany, Spain (where they learn to flamenco dance!), Russia, India, Japan and Thailand (for snorkeling). Then Mexico, the Southwest United States, Egypt, Antarctica, and of course, France (just in time for a fashion show!).

In this adventurous addition to the Babar series, children are introduced to an international array of cities, customs and languages as they learn to say "hello" in each new country. Babar's World Tour is enjoyable and entertaining for armchair travelers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Babar and Queen Celeste decide to embark on a world tour with the children. They head to the airport and board Elephant One, equipped with a library and language CDs. The first stop is Italy, followed by Germany, Spain, and Russia, where they learn to say hello and a simple phrase in the host language. They move on to India, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, and across the Pacific to the Anasazi caves of the American Southwest, Machu Picchu in Peru, then across the Atlantic to Egypt. Here the story begins to feel like one of those 14 countries in 14 days package deals and readers, along with Babar's children, will get jet lagged. But they cannot forego Paris or Antarctica so they make two more stops before flying home. In contrast to the wild and unpredictable adventures in Jean de Brunhoff's The Travels of Babar (Random, 2002), this is a tame journey, with the elephants traveling in style and with a well-organized itinerary. Unfortunately, the adventure is lacking, and readers are dizzied by the pace of travel and will forget the foreign phrases. The illustrations are charming, classic Babar. Devoted fans might enjoy the continuation of the king's story. Stick with the originals.–Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. In this large-format picture book, Babar and Celeste take their children to see the world. Boarding their plane, Elephant One, they embark on a whirlwind tour, visiting Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, India, Japan, and Thailand, then seeing ancient sites such as Angkor in Cambodia, an Aztec pyramid in Mexico, Anasazi cliff houses in the U.S., Machu Picchu in Peru, and Abu Simbel in Egypt. As the journey extends to place after amazing place, the little elephants begin to long for home. Among the best of Brunhoff's many enjoyable illustrations are the remarkably svelte elephants walking the runway at a Paris fashion show and Babar's family seated at a low Japanese table, eating noodles with chopsticks. Though children listening to the story will get only a glimpse or two of each country before moving on to the next, this colorful picture book provides an inkling of the diversity of places and cultures in the world. A pleasant excursion, recommended especially for those who already know and love Babar and his family. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; Rei/Pstr edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810957809
• ISBN-13: 978-0810957800
• Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,111,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars letdown, November 24, 2008

By 

juleptrader "juleptrader" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babar's World Tour (Hardcover)

this isn't even a story.

looks like it was slapped together in an afternoon.

3rd rate. not a real Babar book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another delightful edition, October 9, 2005

By 

Avi Ewer "Curmudgeon" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Babar's World Tour (Hardcover)

Better than the Energizer rabbit, Babar just keeps going. This title is as beautifully drawn and crafted as the best in the line of children's books, a marvelous addition edition.
If more need be said to recommend the work, the author offers views of some unusual world sites to make this more than yet another trip to the famous sights.

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, May 16, 2007

By 

Handee Books, LLC (Santa Clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babar's World Tour (Hardcover)

Not a book I'd probably have picked up under normal circumstances, but I met Mr. de Brunhoff at a booksigning recently and I remembered how much enjoyment the Babar books brought me as a child. Mr. de Brunhoff seemed like a very kind man and his newest book is as delightful as I recall the ones read to me as a child. I recommend it to you whether or not you have kids.