Customer Reviews

The Travels of Babar

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

 

 

this is the second babar book, still written by the author (and i include brunhoff's wife who is babar's true creator.) there is much in it that might offend today - i see versions of the book with those sections edited out and maybe that is wise in this day and age. however, we find those sections good leadins to deeper matters of prejudice and ignorance and therefore the book, intended as light humorous reading, serves a much more valuable purpose. with this in mind, i would advise parents to read the book before buying, not on account of the book's quality, but because of the content. It has served as a read-to book, and is read by our kids 4 - 6. It's sturdy, has taken much use, and is still looking good on the shelf!

Babar is one of the most endearing characters in children's literature. This volume is a classic that belongs on any child's bookshelf. The story of Babar and Celeste's hot air balloon ride and subsequent adventures in interesting locales fascinates kids, while broadening their cultural horizons. Some mature themes that may disturb kids (war, cruel treatment by a circus ringmaster), but provide a change from the pastel bunny and kitty story genre. Thought provoking for kids mature enough to handle it.

My daughter was given these books when she was a child and loved the pictures and the stories..so I bought them for a friend's 4 year old grand-son for his birthday. And even though he had so many of the new modern toys. He really loved the books and stories. His parents were excited, too, since they had the books as children. it was a sweet gift.

Loved this book, as did my children. Great use of vocabulary. Every child is sure to love it.

My husband and I remembered the Babar books fondly but obviously not well! We bought this title for our daughter, then almost 2 years old, and started reading it to her at bedtime. Then came the part about the cannibals. Holy cow. Quick thinking and on-the-fly editing by dad saved the day, and 3 years later our little gal still thinks that Babar and Celeste are "accosted by the inhabitants" (as in "the inhabitants of the island"), not "attacked by cannibals."

I love the Babar books, but the original two volumes are full of episodes that would be scary to most very young kids. "The Story of Babar" includes the murder of Babar's mommy -- no thank you, that's just not something I need my under-5 kids to think about! We've made Travels of Babar work with a little revising (there's also a war, a kidnapping and forced labor, and the decimation of a beautiful forest), and it has been a favorite, but I really think it's better for slightly older kids.

I was excited when I found it at a used bookstore. I remember liking Babar as a kid.
But this stuff if racist. I don't want my kids exposed to that. In the trash it goes.

Grandma bought it. Mama read it. Toddler loves it. What to do?

The story has a lot of themes that are to mature for a young toddler but some of these I may have been able to skip over. But the book also has images of "cannibals" that are so offensive and so racist that I will not permit my child to read it. I cannot believe this text, with such blatant and offensive imagery, is still in print. I understand later Babar stories are not so offensive but Babar is lost to us. That bad...

I loved the Babar books when I was little and my son is coming to love them, too. They have fun stories and a great use of vocabulary. I was excited when I found this book for a quarter in the discard sales rack of our local library. However, my happiness at purchasing it turned to dismayed shock when I read about Babar & his new wife encountering "savages" on their trip. The savages portrayed are offensively stereotyped Africans - big lips, sub-human, stupid leers on their faces, mindlessly violent... it's been a long time since I saw such blantant bigotry in a child's book. I trashed the book immediately. It's offensive enough that I can't believe it's still in print.

Enjoy the other Babar books, but stay far away from this one if you don't want your child absorbing hurtful racial sterotypes.

Wow, what a disappointment! Cute elephants, great travel adventure theme, great pictures. Strange and very negative story. To address another's comments -- I do not purposely seek out offensive racial stereotypes to teach my kids. That's something you handle as it comes. And the audience of this is a little young for the cannibal/savage stereotype to be necessary. There is also violence (elephants injuring humans, war), rudeness, war prisoners in a cage, etc. I ripped out the offensive pages and donated the book.

Accepted racist reading. I never knew that I was considered a "fierce and savage cannibal" (Pgs.10-13). I found this book at my PEDIATRICIANS OFFICE!!!!!!!!!

For all of those who has given this book more than one star, understand what you are saying. You're saying that it's ok to say and display these racist depictions of African people, regarless of the time frame of when this book was written. What is wrong in 10000 B.C., is wrong today. REGARDLESS! Don't say it "may be a bit insensitive", or even "poor taste". It's a form of racism.

Racism is the system of racial subjugation against nonwhites in very areas of:
human relations
Entertainment
education
labor
politics
Law
religion
sex
war
economics


Any one can be prejudiced (pre-judge), but those in power can invoke racism.
But then again, what do I know about America's favorite past time (racism, not baseball).