Customer Reviews

Babar's World Tour

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

this isn't even a story.

looks like it was slapped together in an afternoon.

3rd rate. not a real Babar book.

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.

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.

Does not have the flavour or ambiance of the Babar books written by the original author.

The warm family values of the Barbar series shine through, but this reader found the jumps from one famous place to another quite befuddling. It's fine, however, for those whose ignorance of world geography is total. Coming back to Celesteville at the end is a distinct relief for both Barbar's children and the reader.

In the first pages, Babar and his family visit Italy, Germany, Russia, India, Japan, Thailand... where they eat new foods, speak phrases in Italian, etc. At one point, Isabelle notes difference in language and asks "What's wrong with our words?" Celeste explains that "People in different places say things differently. They do things differently, too. They build different kinds of buildings." Note the reference to people, of the present day.

Now, I call your attention to this text:

____________

When everyone was rested, they went to Angkor in Cambodia, the ancient city of the Khmers. In Mexico, they climbed a pyramid built by the Aztecs. In both places, the original settlers were gone but tourists abounded.

"Will everyone move out of Celesteville one day, too?" Pom asked.

"Never," said Babar. "But apart from us, it happens a lot, as you'll see."

______________

The "as you'll see" refers to the places they visit next, which are "the cliff houses of the Anasazi in the high desert of the American Southwest, "the Inca Trail, on the same stones that the Incas had walked..." and "... to the remains of the city of Machu Picchu hidden in the Andes Mountains."

How nice for the Babar family and other tourists, that the "original settlers" were gone! How nice that they had, presumably, moved out, leaving these wonderful places for the tourists! And how good it is of Babar to assure Pom that the inhabitants of Celesteville will never move out of Celesteville!

Reviewers of the book failed to note these passages and the messages they impart to the reader. School Library Journal's reviewer finds it lacking because it doesn't have the same adventure and excitement in Jean de Brunhoff's Travels of Babar (which has highly problematic illustrations of "cannibals"). Perhaps if they'd actually come across "savages" (aka "original settlers) she might have given it a favorable review.

The review in Booklist is more favorable: "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."

Perhaps, but I wonder about children of all those "original settlers"?!

There is a great deal wrong with this book. It is very useful for a high school or college classroom, but as a read-aloud for young children? No. It doesn't even deserve one star.