Babar and Father Christmas
Author/Illustrator: Jean de Brunhoff
Series: Babar, the little elephant
Original language: Babar, le petit éléphant
Translated by: Merle S. Haas
Published: September 2001
ISBN13: 9780375814440
Price: € 14.49
Age group: 4 - 8 year
Our picture book of the week is a vintage Christmas book in the world-famous Babar series by Jean de Brunhoff, Babar and Father Christmas. Babar, the little elephant was a made up bedtime story by Madame Cecile de Brunhoff, told to her sons Laurent (6) and Mathieu (5) in 1931.
The boys loved the story so much that they asked their father Jean de Brunhoff (an artist) if he would draw Babar for them. Father did better than that, he drew Babar's story and made it into a book. He wanted to credit Cecile in the book but she thought her contribution too insignificant.
Babar and Father Christmas from 1941 is the last book by Jean de Brunhoff. At the moment it is unavailable in Dutch but in the French or English language it is available in every bookstore. After his father's death son Laurent de Brunhoff continued his work and he has already written quite a few Babar books!
Three glorious shining Christmas stars for Babar and Father Christmas, from the readers and the little listeners!