Jean de Brunhoff •
Babar the King •

We don’t normally review books intended for very young readers, but Jean de Brunhoff’s lavishly illustrated Babar series is worthy of an exception.

In this third installment, King Babar and Queen Celeste arrange for the construction of Celesteville, a city so utterly charming that I wanted to pack up and move there myself. They choose an idyllic site on the shores of a big lake. Trunks wielding shovels and saws are much in evidence as the elephants work in harmony to create their utopian dream. Each family gets its own home, as does the Old Lady who instinctively understands what little elephants long for.

Everyone plies a trade: “Tapitor is a cobbler, Pilophage an officer, Capoulosse is a doctor, Barbacol a tailor . . . Hatchibombotar cleans the streets, Olur repairs the automobiles, and, when they are all tired, Doulamor plays his cello to entertain them.” All the elephants work in the morning and enjoy themselves in the afternoon. Elephant amusements run to sailing, tennis, concerts, and merry-go-round rides. “But what the elephants like best of all is the theater,” complete with elaborate costumes, wigs, and plumed hats. Attendees sport tuxedos and tiaras.

When Misfortune visits Celesteville in the form of fire and illness, a host of graceful winged pachyderms appear in the sky, their banners trumpeting the virtues of intelligence, hope, love, courage, and perseverance in driving out evil. An elephant fire brigade? An elephant hospital? But of course. Celesteville and its residents are saved. “And since that day, over in the elephant’s [sic] country, everyone has been happy and contented.”

A.A. Milne said of this series, “If you have never loved elephants you will love them now.” Babar, in his natty green suit, will be a favorite as long as there are picture books and children to read them.