The Travels of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff (translated by Merle S. Haas).
Title: The Travels of Babar.
Author: Jean de Brunhoff (translated by Merle S. Haas).
Genre: Fiction, fantasy, time travel, death, romance.
Country: France.
Language: French.
Publication Date: 1932.
Summary: Babar and Celeste set off in a balloon, beginning an exciting series of adventures. Escaping from savage cannibals, only to be trapped by a circus owner, Babar knows nothing of his home country’s escalating war against the rhinos. But with some help from the Old Lady, Babar returns in time to save the day.
My rating: 7.5/10
My review:
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By extraordinary good fortune, just as the balloon is about to fall into the sea, a final puff of wind blows it on an island where it flattens out and collapses.
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Having found a quiet spot, they take off their clothes. Celeste hangs them up to dry, while Babar lights a good fire and prepares breakfast.
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Celeste sighs sadly. she thinks soon she will be eaten. She does not yet see Babar, who returns just in time to save her!
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In the twinkling of an eye, Babar has unbound Celeste. They both hurl themselves on the cannibals. Some are wounded, others take flight; all are terrified.
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"I am going to eat up some of these," says the whale. "I'll be back in a minute." And she dives down after them.
The whale has not come back! While eating the little fish, she completely forgot her new friends. She is a giddy, thoughtless creature.
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They have been seen! A lifeboat rescues them while the excited passengers all watch.
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♥ They have lost their crowns during the storm, so no one will believe that they are actually King and Queen of the elephants, and the Captain of the ship orders them locked up in the ship's stables.
"They give us straw to sleep on!" cries Babar angrily. "We are fed hay, as though we were donkeys! The door is locked! I've had enough of this, I'm going to smash everything."
"Be quiet, I beg you," says Celeste, "I hear someone. It is the Captain coming into the stable. Let's be good so he'll let us out."
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Now just this time, back in the elephants' country, little Arthur has had a mischievous idea. While Rataxes the rhinoceros was having a quiet siesta, Arthur tied a big firecracker to his tail without waking him. The firecracker explodes with a terrific bang and Rataxes leaps up into the air. Arthur, the scamp, laughs until he nearly chokes. It is really a very mean trick.
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The Old Lady lends Celeste a nightgown and provides Babar with a pair of pajamas.
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But real war is not a joke, and many of the elephants have been wounded. Celeste and the Old Lady take care of them with great devotion. The Old Lady is especially good at this, as she used to be a trained nurse.
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Here is the camp of the elephants. They have all found new courage. And now Babar has a bright idea:
He disguises his biggest soldiers, painting their tails bright red, and near their tails on either side he paints large, frightening eyes. Arthur sets to work making wigs. He works as hard as he can so he'll be forgiven for causing all this trouble.
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The next day before all the elephants, Babar and Celeste, having put on their royal garments and their new crowns, reward the Old Lady who has been so good to them and has cared so well for the wounded. They give her eleven singing canaries and a cunning little monkey.
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.."I am going to try to rule my kingdom wisely," answers Babar, "and if you will remain with us, you can help me make my subjects happy."