Babar's Yoga for Elephants

Babar

by Laurent de Brunhoff

Well before yoga became fashionable via Sting and Madonna, the beloved elephant king Babar and all the residents of Celesteville were finding peace and tranquillity through yoga. And now elephants everywhere can join them! Through easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations, Babar's Yoga for Elephants presents 15 positions and stretches as well as helpful breathing exercises. The book also provides useful advice on what to do with your trunk while in position, a dilemma that human yoga books often ignore.

Written by Babar himself, the book explains how yoga was introduced to Celesteville and how he and Queen Celeste keep fit doing yoga on their many travels. Babar's Yoga for Elephants is sure to become a classic for elephants as well as their human friends.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, France

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

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

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only yoga guide I've ever seen with instructions on where to place your trunk during the asanas. Seriously, this is a good introduction to yoga.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute AND fun! Detailed and simple diagrams on stretching and yoga positions for young kids. My 4 1/2yr old loves to do yoga with me and this is another wonderful book at his level for diagram illustration. And of course, Babar makes you smile while you do it.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not fully a storybook, but not as dry as an instruction manual, this book lies somewhere in between. Most of my 3-year-old's Yoga How-to books involve photographs of humans doing positions, which can sometimes result in her getting hung-up on looking EXACTLY like the photos (even wanting the same hairstyles!), but this book made that problem disappear for us. I am NOT a big Babar fan (I read Should We Burn Babar?: Essays on Children's Literature and the Power of Stories and I can never go back), but I do really like this book. Unfortunately, a lot of the references will be lost to folks who have never read the original Babar story.

[Alison Whiteman]

I find this introduction to yoga more interesting than adult books I have read this year.

I was laughing and learning yoga poses.

Very cute illustrations too.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I bought it for my daughter when she was a toddler, but I still regularly turn to it when I've not been practicing yoga and need to get back into it. There's just something delightful about reading about elephants doing yoga, and it's a nice change to follow practice pictures of awkward elephant versions of elegant poses instead of watching a lithe yogi do them on my tv. I've read this book dozens of times and this year, I'm counting it. It's a lovely little book.

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

My well-meaning mother got this for my son when he was in a major Babar phase, but he wasn't interested in this book because he didn't know anything about yoga, and there's no real story. Years later, I'm very into yoga, so I finally gave this a read. I stand by my opinion: I'd still pass on this one --though I strongly recommend Babar books in general.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little book! Babar and yoga - what could be better? Oh, yeah, if some of it took place in NYC. It does!

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book to be okay, but I think I was expecting more of a story. The illustrations are cute, but I didn’t really follow along and try them all out.

[Kayla Lindbloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore reading this book with my son, it's so cute!

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coyer Rereadathon
I love this beautifully illustrated book celebrating yoga with true descriptions of various poses.

[Kathy Nealen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun guide (not really a story) for yoga by elephants and their friends. I had no idea elephants were so bendy!

[Micebyliz]

i love Babar anyway so this was a treat.

[Kenzie Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you are familiar with the original character of Babar or not this book is a great resource for teaching kids mindfulness and yoga. This would be great to use during a morning meeting time.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a toddler, my mother read Babar books to me and I loved them! To this day, I still love elephants a lot.

My mother gave me the hardback edition of Babar's Yoga For Elephants by Laurent De Brunhoff, when it was first published for the nostalgic factor... Yes, this book is written for children. I love the artwork, cute story, and mostly, I love the images of Babar doing various yoga poses and how we humans can perform each yoga pose too.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is an instructional book for basic yoga. Whether you are a child or an adult, you need someone to read you the instructions step-by-step as you go through them. Even though the illustrations are Babar, this did not strike me as a topic in which children would be interested. And if they are, chances are they are enrolled in a class or have an easier-to-follow video.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like yoga and Babar the elephant, this book is for you!

There is no story, other than Babar and Celeste travelling the world doing yoga, but the instructions for each pose are comprehensive and the illustrations really help depict each stance.

Overall, it's a fun, fast read and will appeal to Babar enthusiasts of all ages (and probably some yogis, too.)

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small yogis who've already got the hang of basic pose can challenge themselves by following along (with the help of caregivers) as Babar demonstrates and gives detailed instructions on more advanced poses and sequences. Recommended for ages 5+.

[Triss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The illustrations are so funny and also sweet.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'mon - it's Barbar, and yoga. 'nough said

[Anna Rae]

for the montessori summer camp, yo

[jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

:) i love yoga and babar

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful intro. into yoga.

[Jordana · Rating 5 out of 5]

so incredibly cute

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I not love this after reading all the Babar's when I was little? It was like visiting an old friend. One of the best Christmas gifts I ever received.

[Deb Merskin]

A delightful book!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute - bought this for my niece and read it before mailing it to her. Cute yoga book for kids. :)

[Jailynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could be better for learning yoga than an elephant at half dome or by the Golden gate bridge.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, fun, well illustrated, as always, and has me eager to do more yoga!

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun way to look at Yoga! Even if you don't feel like you're an elephant.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great explanation of poses!