Babar's Museum of Art

Babar

by Laurent de Brunhoff

An all-new Babar book with tremendous crossover appeal! Following the phenomenal success of Babar's Yoga for Elephants , here is an all-new Babar story—one with even broader reach. Everyone who loves art, Babar, or children will love Babar's Museum of Art . The old train station in Celesteville stands empty—should it be torn down? "No!" declare Celeste and Babar, who decide to turn it into an art museum. Their children (like many young museumgoers) have a lot of questions about "Does it have to be pretty? Does it have to be old? Does it have to make sense?" Celeste's patient answers explain the basic ideas of art appreciation. Babar and Celeste's generous donations to the new museum include witty and striking elephant-inspired versions of Michelangelo's Creation of Man , Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte , and Sandro Botticelli's Birth of Venus , along with many other celebrated paintings. Children and adults will want to visit Babar's Museum of Art again and again!

F&P M

Genres: Art, Picture Books, Childrens, France, Humor, Classics, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Laurent de Brunhoff est un auteur et illustrateur français.

Laurent De Brunhoff has kept the spirit of Babar and his family alive for over 50 years. Babar was created by Laurent's mother as a bedtime story, and was first illustrated by Laurent's father, Jean de Brunhoff.

After his father's death, Laurent continued to create over 30 Babar stories.

Laurent de Brunhoff lived in Connecticut with his wife, writer Phyllis Rose.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revisiting some old favourites from my shelves whilst the libraries are closed.

This was an old favourite of my children when they were small. Babar’s family visits an art museum and they look at some well known paintings that have been recreated using elephant figures. What I loved about this book was how it suggested elephants, children or even adults should approach paintings. It suggested questions you could ask, What do you see? Why do you like it? How do you feel when you look at it? What is it about? What does it mean? Does everything have to mean something? What would you make? And the age old statement about Jackson Pollock (in elephant form) ‘I could have done that!’ Well done Babar for replying ‘I wish you would, I’m sure that I would like it’

The story ends with the elephants returning home to create artworks of their own. The back pages mention the artworks included. I would have loved to have seen pictures of the artworks included too but this was still a really good book that gave us plenty to talk about and be inspired by. This would be a wonderful book to read to children before going to an art gallery and a great starting point for things to talk and think about.

[Myriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'adore le personnage de Babar. Délicieusement naïf, gentil sans être mièvre, honnête et droit sans être moralisateur. Une histoire sympathique, amusante à lire, une grande réussite.

[Ronan Crutchfield]

I tried my best to pay attention to this book, but I kept getting distracted by my toes

[Christina (Ensconced in Lit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An artistic masterpiece as well as a great story. The Barbar family wants to move all of their paintings to a gallery to be enjoyed. Famous art is rendered changing the humans into elephants for the stories and we get humorous glimpses of everyone's personalities as to which paintings they gravitate towards. And then there is grumpy old Cornelius who wants to educate everyone. Adults and children will love this old classic!

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

2003 children's book with definite nostalgia appeal to this post-child [!] reader. "Children and adults will want to visit Babar's Museum of Art again and again," it says in the publisher's blurb just above, which is where you should start. Then look to see if your library has a copy. Fun book. I may have to look for some of the other Babar classics!

[Olli Lukkari · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book I've ever read in French. I read it because I was studying a bit of French language, merely the basics of the basics, and thought it would do me good to try to read something easy. What I really liked about the book were the art pictures - the theme if focused on founding on art gallery and they have many elephant-versions of famous Western art in the book.

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aitoja taiteen ihmeitä mukautettu Babarin maailmaan.

[Lisa]

I liked this, but I wonder if it helps to already be familiar with Babar.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

We picked this one up at the library and it has now migrated to my to-buy list.

The story focuses on Babar and Celeste's remodel of the abandoned but architecturally beautiful train station into an art museum for the town. As usual with the Babar series, the story is excellent. However, the illustrations are by far the most enjoyable aspect. Revamping classic paintings such as the Scream, Van Gogh's Self Portrait, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and others into elephant inspired works of art, adult readers may enjoy this one more than the kids!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Classic for any art or history elementary teacher. I love how they replaced the people in the paintings with Babar elephants. My favorite painting depicted in the book, is Luncheon on the Grass.

[Gatto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for young people who have a familiarity or interest in famous European art. The Babar tours a museum of traditional art. The characters in the art are replaced with elephants like in the story of Babar.

The book is fine, but there isn't much of a story behind it. While adults will connect all the elephant art to famous works, the the younger readers are left looking at adequate paintings of elephants.

I would have young students copy the concept. They could replace a real piece of art with animals of their choosing.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babar and Celeste decide to convert the old train station into an art museum for the people of Celesteville. They fill it with an amazing array of art from their personal collection, and we learn about enjoying art along with their children at the grand opening.

A fun beginner's look at the great masterpieces. Adults will recognize the works of famous artists changed to reflect the elephants' world.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging presentation of museums, especially an art museum which is not loaded with gadgets like a children's museum, but requires a certain patience (TRANLATE FOR CHILDREN: potential for boredom). I like the way the children are allowed to see themselves in the art in the most basic of terms, "I like red", because really, if you like a painting by a great master because he used a cool color of red, hey, power to you.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the idea of mimicking masterpieces with Babar elephants as the subjects rather than humans. Although, I wish they had included the originals in the back of the book or something. Parents will likely understand most homages, but it would benefit parents and children to be able to easily compare to the original.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The elepantized artwork is great. It was nice to compare it to the real works. When Babar and Celeste go on a balloon ride, they notice that no one uses the train station any more--opting to drive their own vehicles instead. Celeste really loves the old building and decides that it need to be saved. In order to save it, it is turned into an Art Museum.

[Kathy Ellen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know that I love Babar.
This one is cool!
I really like the elephant take on famous paintings,
and how Celeste encourages the kids to take whatever they want away from the art.

This would be a good one to have in the classroom before a museum visit.
And a good reminder to let the kids say WHATEVER they want about the art,
even if it's: "I like the red!"

[Dana Still · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin Text: I would pair this book up with Paul Cezanne by Iain Zaczek. Babar's Museum of Art introduces children to art in a whimsical and beautifully illustrated way. It is important that we introduce art and artist's to our children, with these two books we are able to do that with whimsy and beauty.

[Becky Galambos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this little book up for a friend's child and decided to read before gifting. A lovely little read, explores children and art - I kept getting the Sondheim song of the same name stuck in my head. It's fun to try to guess all the paintings that they have replaced the people with elephants (answers are in the back of the book).

[Alexandria K · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this story, the elephant in Celesteville don't use the train station anymore they want to go in cars. So Celeste Babar's wife tells why don't they make a museum of art. I saw the elephant paintings and the real paintings.

[Kristen Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. What a wonderful way to teach children about historical works of art. It's fun to compare the paintings in Babars museum to the real thing. Very clever.

[CR Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice way to introduce kids to fine art...

[Urbanfaerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful read! :) i'm a big fan of Babar and this not only indulges my childhood love for the series but also gives a wonderful glimpse to the world of art for kids (and adults) alike :)

[Edmund Davis-Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun playing with classics of art with elephants, I laughed a lot. Also thought of the Musee d'Orsay in Paris which I believe used to be a train station.

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Try again in a few years.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Babar saga is fiction with nonfiction elements. Like members of Babar's family IN the book, readers OF the book learn so much about building a museum, visiting a museum, appreciating a museum.

What fun, that Laurent has included different reactions from the Babar family to particular paintings. As in real life, it's so revealing what folks who go to museums with you either like or dislike. And why.

My favorite such comment came from Cornelius, one of the grownup elephants:

"I like paintings that lift the mind and inspire great thoughts," Cornelius said. "This shows one wise elephant admiring another."

FUNNY AND FUN, THIS MUSEUM TOUR

Among the museum paintings that an art lover will recognize:

* Look out for Botticelli's portrait of Venus.
* Also, "La Grande Jatte," the famous pointillist painting.
* Also, "The Dream," by Henri Rousseau. Only instead of a curvaceous naked woman, in this particular version of the painting... you'll see Babar. He's very appropriately attired, with his crown (casual-like) off to one side.

And isn't that the job of a Goodreads book reviewer, being like museum tour guides? We get to describe the creations of writers (and sometimes illustrators) we admire. Such a privilege, reading books like this one, then reviewing it!

[Uri Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reread this book, which I liked so much a few years ago that I bought a copy.

There's not much story, other than a visit to the newly-built art museum in Celesteville. But two aspects of the book stand out:

(1) The presentation of famous paintings and sculptures as redone with elephants. It's a clever conceit that's well-done. Also, I suspect that some parents, who might object to nudity in the original artwork, won't be bothered by the elephant versions.

(2) It's great for art appreciation! For example, Celeste (the mom) asks the kids to tell her what they they see in each painting. Each kid summarizes a different painting and says what they like about it. Then, when Cornelius (the dad's advisor) tries to correct them with information he knows about the artwork, this happens:

"Hush, Cornelius," said Celeste. "Let them have fun. They'll have plenty of lectures later."
But it did not matter because the children paid no attention to Cornelius.

Later, the book ends with the kids drawing their own pictures and thinking about themselves as artists. Impressive!

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently I checked an animated Babar movie out from the library to watch with my pre-school age grandchildren and as a result they have become enthusiastic fans of everything Babar. Even the youngest one -- age two and a half -- will sit still for these relatively long stories.

This one introduces little ones to visiting an art museum. It also "coaches" adults as to the best way to experience an art museum with youngsters. Many of the paintings will be familiar to the adult reader, but the guide on the back end-paper will be helpful for identifying some of the less familiar works.

Great fun, overall.

[Dona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πρόκειται για μια πολύ όμορφη παιδική ιστορία που επιχειρεί να εξοικειώσει τα παιδιά με την ιδέα ενός Μουσείου Τέχνης και με τις πολλαπλές λειτουργίες του, δηλαδή τόσο με την εκπαίδευση όσο και με την ψυχαγωγία αλλά και με τη σύνδεση με την καθημερινή ζωή των ηρώων του βιβλίου!!

Η εικονογράφηση είναι εξαιρετική- αφού οι πίνακες που συμπεριλαμβάνονταν στο Μουσείο που παρουσιάζεται, είναι ιδιαιτέρως γνωστοί και πολύ σημαντικοί για την Ιστορία της Τέχνης, αλλά με ελέφαντες στη θέση των ανθρώπινων μορφών, ώστε να σχετίζονται με τους πρωταγωνιστές του βιβλίου!!

🐘🏛️📚🖼️

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of Babar, so my rating is biased from the start. The story models a visit to an art museum with children in tow. Celeste ask the kids to "tell me what you see," which is an appropriate question for young viewers. When Cornelius starts to provide more information about the paintings. Celeste shushes him, saying, "Let them have fun. They'll have plenty of lecture later." Good advice.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning - you might not expect an art book for children to have pictures of naked people in it. And while the all the the people in the paintings have been substituted with elephants, my grandchildren can definitely sense the nakedness of the elephants in the pictures and sense their inappropriateness. The paintings picked, though very famous paintings, are an unfortunate choice for children. And so for that I'm putting this book on the not recommended shelf.