Babar the King by Jean de Brunhoff (translated by Merle S. Haas).
Title: Babar the King.
Author: Jean de Brunhoff (translated by Merle S. Haas).
Genre: Fiction, children's lit, illustrated, animals.
Country: France.
Language: French.
Publication Date: 1935.
Summary: This novel is about Babar and his family follows the elephants as they build a magnificent city: Celesteville. Life is peaceful and contented, everyone has a job to do, and celebrations are frequent. But one fateful day a snake bites the Old Lady and Babar fears that he may lose his oldest friend.
My rating: 8/10
My review:
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"This countryside is so beautiful that I would like to see it every day as I wake up. We must build our city here. Out houses shall be on the shores of the lake, and shall be surrounded with flowers and birds."
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♥ Having called an assembly of all the elephants, Babar climbs up on a packing case and, in a loud voice, proclaims the following words: "My friends, I have in these trunks, these bales, and these sacks, gifts for each of you. There are dresses, suits, hats and materials, paint boxes, drums, fishing tackle and rods, ostrich feathers, tennis rackets and many other things. I will divide all this among you as soon as we have finished building our city. This city-the city of the elephants-I would like to suggest that we name Celesteville, in honor of your Queen."
All the elephants raised their trunks and cried: "What a good idea! What an excellent idea!"
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Here is Celesteville! The elephants have just finished building it and are resting or bathing.
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Today Babar keeps his promise. He gives a gift to each elephant and also serviceable clothes suitable for work-days and beautiful rich clothes for holidays. After thanking their King most heartily, the elephants all go home dancing with glee.
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In order to have one last taste Zephir bends his head, sticks out his tongue and plouf!-in he falls head first. At this sound the chief cook looks around and, greatly annoyed, fishes him out by the tail. The soup chef bursts out laughing. Arthur hides. Poor little Zephir is a sight, all yellow and sticky. Celeste scolds him and goes off to clean him up.
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"Two times two?"-"Three," answers Arthur. "No, no, four," said his neighbor Ottilie. "For, that's what we study for," sang Zephir.
"Four," repeated Arthur. "I'll never forget that again, teacher."
hearts;
All the elephants who are too old to attend classes, have chosen a trade. For example: Tapitor is a cobbler, Pilophage an officer, Capoulosse is a doctor, Barbacol a tailor, Podular a sculptor and Hatchibombotar is a street cleaner. Doulamor is a musician, Olur is a mechanic, Poutifour a farmer, Fandago is a learned man. Justinien is a painter and Coco a clown. If Capoulosse has holes in his shoes, he brings them to Tapitor, and, if Tapitor is sick, Capoulosse takes care of him. If Barbacol wants a statue for his mantelpiece, he asks Podular to carve one for him, and when Podular's coat is worn out Barbacol makes a new one to order for him. Justinien paints a portrait of Pilophage, who will protect him against his enemies. Hatchibombotar cleans the streets, Olur repairs the automobiles, and, when they are all tired, Doulamor plays his cello to entertain them. After having settled grave problems, Fandango relaxes and eats some of Poutifour's fruits. As for Coco, he keeps them all laughing and gay.
♥ At Celesteville, all the elephants work in the morning, and in the afternoon they can do as they please. They play, go for walks, read and dream...
Babar and Celeste like to play tennis with Mr. and Mrs. Pilophage.
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But what the elephants like best of all is the theater in the Amusement Park.
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Every day, early in the morning, Hatchibombotar sprinkles the streets with his motor sprinkler. When Arthur and Zephir meet him, they quickly take off their shoes, and run after the car, barefoot. "Oh, what a fine shower!" they say laughingly. Unfortunately, Babar caught them at it one day. "No dessert for either of you, you rascals!" he cried.
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After having rewarded the good scholars, Cornelius made a noble speech.
"...And now I wish you all a pleasant holiday!" he ended up. Everyone clapped hard and applauded loudly.
Then, quite wearily, he sat down, but alas and alack, his fine hat was on the chair and he crushed it completely.
"A regular pancake!" said Zephir. Cornelius was aghast, and sadly looked at what was left of his hat. What would he wear on the next formal occasion?
The Old Lady promises Cornelius to sew some plumes on his old derby, and in order to console him further, she invites him to go for a ride on the new merry-go-round which Babar has just had built.
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On his way home from the celebration Zephir notices a curious stick.
He goes to pick it up. Horrors! It is a snake which rears its head and hisses,
and cruelly bites the Old Lady who tries to hide Zephir in her arms.
Arthur furiously smashes his bugle on the snake's back and kills it.
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♥ Babar finally drops off to sleep, but his sleep is restless and soon he dreams: He hears a knocking on his door. Tap! Tap! Tap! Then a voice says to him: "It is I, Misfortune, with some of my companions, come to pay you a visit." Babar looks out of the window, and sees a frightful old woman surrounded by flabby ugly beasts. He opens his mouth to shout: "Ugh! Faugh! Go away quickly!" But he stops to listen to a very faint noise-Frr! Frr! Frr!-as of birds flying in a flock, and he sees coming toward him...
...graceful winged elephants who chase Misfortune away from Celesteville and bring back Happiness. At this point he awakes, and feels ever so much better.
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A week later, in Babar's drawing room, the Old Lady says to her two friends. "Do you see how in this life one must never be discouraged? The vicious snake didn't kill me, and Cornelius is completely recovered. Let's work hard and cheerfully and we'll continue to be happy."
And since that day, over in the elephant's country, everyone has been happy and contented.