Reviews

The Story of Babar: The Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff

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maryehavens's review

5.0

We had a gigantic version of this book - like 11x17. It was huge (compared to the other children's books we had).
I loved Babar's journey to France and all the good food he ate. The illustrations were just magnificent. And his fancy clothes.
Looking back, it seems a bit like colonialism, no?? Eeps.

jordanmae23's review

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3.0

This book has an interesting and somewhat engaging story to it. Although, the idea of Babar needing to have all of these fancy clothes even though he is an elephant from the jungle doesn't teach a very culturally appropriate lesson. The book is riddled with hints of colonialism and what you have to do to become accepted and gain power.

jwsg's review

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1.0

I read this before reading this to my kids and I don’t think I’ll be reading this to them after all. Babar’s mother is killed by a hunter, he makes his way to town where he is anthropomorphized and presumably, civilized, by getting clothes, getting an education and taught proper etiquette and how to drive. When he makes it back to the forest, he is deemed worthy of becoming king of the elephants because of his deep learning. I’m not sure this sends the right messages. It’s also a little too bizarre for my tastes (this coming from someone who just read Spaghetti for a Yeti)

wombat_reads's review against another edition

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3.0

I read the book in a fit of nostalgia. As a child I loved the story and the illustrations tenderly. Suddenly I discovered that Barbar is propaganda for French colonialism. A sudden discovery, but for 1931 it's perhaps not surprising.

barbarianlibarian's review

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2.0

meh

caitmarie24's review

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1.0

I *really* didn’t remember how horrifying this story is. A baby elephant’s mother is murdered, then he goes to get “civilized” in the big city, then he comes back to marry his cousin? Just. Wow.