Babar and Father Christmas by Jean de Brunhoff (translated by Merle S. Haas).
Title: Babar and Father Christmas.
Author: Jean de Brunhoff (translated by Merle S. Haas).
Genre: Fiction, children's lit, illustrated, animals.
Country: France.
Language: French.
Publication Date: 1940.
Summary: Babar's children have caught wind of a fellow named Father Christmas who brings joy and toys to little children and now they must meet him. So begins Babar's journey to wintery Bohemia, to convince the magical man to make a stop at the land of the elephants.
My rating: 8.5/10
My review:
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Zephir thought he would like a bicycle. Flora said she would love a doll. Alexander wanted a butterfly net, Pom a big bag of sweets and a baby bear. As for Arthur, he longed for a railway.
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Babar got out his pipe and smoked it. He walked up and down, thinking hard. "Why didn't I ask Father Christmas before, to come to the land of elephants? It would be a good idea to go at once and look for him."
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♥ Celeste would have liked to go with him, but Babar told her that it would be better if she stayed and ruled the country in his absence, and that mysterious people often did not like to be approached by several people at once.
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When Babar joined them the little mice said to him happily: "There is Father Christmas! He stays quietly here all the year round. But on Christmas Day they come to fetch him to put him on the top of a brand-new Christmas tree. When the party is over he goes back to his corner and we can play with him."
"But this is not the one I am looking for!" said Babar. "I want the real Father Christmas, the living Father Christmas, not a doll!"
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"Excuse me, sir, but are you really Father Christmas, who gives toys to children?"
"Alas, no," replied the old man. "My name is Lazzaro Campeotti. I am an artists' model by trade. My friends the artists first called me Father Christmas and now everyone calls me by that name."
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"Your book is very difficult to read. It is written in old Gothic letters. It gives details of the life of Father Christmas, and states that he lived in Bohemia, not far from the little town of PRJMNESTWE. But I cannot find any more definite information on this point."
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Several minutes later Babar in his turn came face to face with the little dwarfs. They tried to frighten him, and bravely rushed at him and bombarded him. But Babar quietly blew on them, and immediately they fell on top of each other, and as soon as they cold get up, disappeared noiselessly. Babar burst out laughing and went on climbing behind Duck, who had again found the trail.
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N.B. The visit included: the big room where Father Christmas usually lived and where Babar had fallen through the hole that you can see on the right; the toyrooms - for example, the doll room, the soldier room, the fancy-dress room, the train room, the room of building-toys, the toy animal room, the bat and ball room, etc. (all these were stored in boxes or sacks); and then the dwarfs' dormitories, the lifts and the machine-rooms.
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"Oh, Father Christmas," said Babar, "I do understand, but you know you must look after yourself, get more air, leave your underground house. Come with me now to the land of the elephants and warm yourself in the sun. You will be rested and better for Christmas."
Pleased by this idea, Father Christmas commanded the little dwarfs to take care of everything. Then he went away with Babar and Duck in his flying machine, F.C. No 1.
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Often Father Christmas went out riding on a zebra. Babar went with him on his bicycle.
But every day Father Christmas rested for two whole hours in the sun as Dr. Capoulosse had advised him to. Sometimes Pom, Flora and Alexander came to look at him when he was lying in his hammock, but they were very quiet so as not to disturb him.
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"Christmas is near, and I must go now and distribute my toys to the little human children; they are waiting for them. But I have not forgotten the promise I made to the little elephants. Can you guess what I have in this sack? I areal Father Christmas costume made to fit you! A magic costume that will enable you to fly through the air, and a sack that is always full of toys. You shall take my place on Christmas Eve in the land of the elephants. I promise to come back when I have finished my work, and bring you a beautiful Christmas tree for your children."
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