The Story of Babar the Little Elephant

Babar #1

by Jean de Brunhoff, Francis Poulenc (Contributor), Janet Bookspan (Narrator)

The story of the orphaned elephant who was taken in by a kindly old woman in the city before returning to the forest to be crowned king features music composed for the character by Francis Poulenc.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Animals, Fantasy, France

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1931

About the author

Jean de Brunhoff was a French writer and illustrator known for co-creating Babar, which first appeared in 1931. The stories were originally told to their second son, Mathieu, when he was sick, by his wife Cecile de Brunhoff. After its first appearance, six more titles followed. He was the fourth and last child of Maurice de Brunhoff, a successful publisher, and his wife Marguerite. He attended Protestant schools, including the prestigious L'Ecole Alsacienne. Brunhoff joined the army and reached the front lines when World War I was almost over. Afterwards, he decided to be a professional artist and studied painting at Academie de la Grand Chamiere. He married Ceccile Sabourand, a talented pianist from a Catholic family, in 1924.
Brunhoff died of tuberculosis at the age of 37. After his death, Hachette bought the printing and publishing rights to the Babar series, and ten years later Jean's eldst son, Laurent, took on his late father's role of writing and illustrating the series. The first seven Babar albums were reprinted and millions of copies were sold all around the world, but they were all abridged; they had 30 pages instead of the original 48. The Babar books are thought to be a way for Brunhoff to share himself with his family. Many people did not notice the 10 year gap, as Laurent also showed exceptional talent in drawing elephants. De Brunhoff and his wife are buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

Reviews

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enchanting story about an elephant that goes to the big city.

My buddy reader says this should get 16 stars! #Goals to be the rich old lady clothing elephants. At least I have Bill, my Russian Blue cat, to dress up for Halloween. One can dream though.....

2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities

Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta

[Brian Yahn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aside from endorsing Colonialism, Jean de Brunhoff makes light of death by killing off Babar's mother on page two, quickly moving on and completely ignoring it. I'm sorry, but for a child's mother to die, that's a pretty big deal, and two pages later, that child shouldn't be totally over it and having fun riding an elevator and buying new shoes. He should be mourning, or trying to learn how to deal with loss.

All of this could maybe be overlooked if The Story of Babar had a positive message, but the only take-away seems to be that elephants (read Africans) are uncivilized and would do better with city-life (read European Colonialism).

Further, the translation isn't very good. There's a lot of awkward sentences. The ending doesn't give any sense of closure. And lastly, the pictures are pretty poorly illustrated.

Babar's adventure is somewhat cute, but it's just really hard to overlook death, not once, but twice.

How is this considered a classic in Children's literature??

[T.R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not planning to add children's books to my page, but this one really took my breath away as I read it to my one year old one night.

First of all, Babar's mother is shot on like page two. There she is lying dead with the gloating hunter holding his rifle. Yikes! Little orphan Babar meekly watches on, barely a tear in his elephant eye.

However, this isn't enough to warrant a review. It's what comes next. Babar's story then unfolds as some bizarre French colonial wish fulfillment. Babar, following his mother's murder at the hands of white hunters, blithely follows their path back to the white city. There, he falls into the trusteeship of a sweet grandmotherly lady who helps him get settled into the city. Without his own mother, Babar is a child of the colonial city, happily learning to dress the dandy and eat french pastries.

With the benefits of his education in a civilized country- thank god he's finally wearing clothes over the wrinkled, sagging, gray elephant skin- Babar returns to the land of his people where, due to his fine duds and worldly ways, is immediately declared king of the naked Afri- I mean- elephants.

Babar returns home, more French than the French, and ready to lead his people on the path to civilization. Thank God, those hunters killed his mother!

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a very strange older rich lady who enjoys spending her money on elephants apparently. Not really, but it is a strange lady to spend her riches on elephant clothes and she gives this elephant her car, not a cheap gift.

The story is about Babar the elephant and his journey from his mother being shot out from under him and killed by a hunter, his run to the city where he meets the old woman and then how he wears clothes and acts like a human. This is from 1933 and it’s an interesting little story. I think if I were a child, I would like this more. I’ll give it another star in that consideration and for being a classic.

Now the children did like the story and the elephant wearing clothes. They were very sad when the mother was killed. They were shocked. The nephew loved seeing the elephant drive. The nephew gave this 5 stars and the niece gave this 3 stars.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Has anyone else read any of the reviews left here?!?! Holy shit! Get a grip people! This is Babar, it's a book for children for God's sake. "Gasp! A dead elephant! Good heavens!", "Gasp! Don't go to the white people's city Babar or else I can't read this to my kids!", "Oh my gosh! Tell me that's not a gun! That character can't be hunting, can he?"
Good Lord. I'd hate to spend a day with these people. I don't like hunting. I don't mind guns. But Lord keep me, is it really THAT big of a deal? I mean, really? Enough that you all really sat down and thought about what to say like the instances here?
My daughter loves Babar. This book is fine. If there's anyone out there who is thinking about reading it with or getting it for their child(ren), if you're the type to be scared of by statements like the ones here (I hope you're not for your sake) get the book and read it through yourself first. It's not bad and the people who go off on a tangent here really need mental help IMO.
You'd think this was a book about Dahmer and how to dismember and eat people. I'm still in shock at some of the sentences I read! Jeez, look through my books that I've read with my daughter and I guess I should be in jail. Not to mention the movies and documentaries she watches.
There's more to life than finding fault - nonexistent fault in this case - with everything. And I feel fine saying this - anyone that can find "faults" like what is listed here needs to lighten up. Enjoy life a little and don't be so damn uptight.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, dear. I'm afraid this is one children's classic that I did not like at all upon reading as an adult. I can appreciate the iconic illustrations and can certainly see why Babar made an enduring character, especially when the books were first published, as probably many children found the antics of an elephant in the city humorous, and dressed in his gentlemanly attire he certainly makes an interesting contrast from the other creatures of the forest. However, I really did not enjoy the story and I don't think it's one I will be keen to share with my children.

SPOILERS TO FOLLOW:

First, the beginning is really shocking. It's a Bambi tragedy without the subsequent cuteness. Babar's mother is shot by a hunter and Babar runs off to the city. There, it seems his first order of business is to don a nice suit and fortunately a kindly old lady who understands elephants gives him some money. She also offers to have him stay with her. At least Babar does miss his mother from time to time, but mostly he seems to love life in the city. Until he becomes homesick for the forest and goes back, promising to visit the old lady again (I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, after all she did for him). Here we have another sudden death, as the king of the elephants eats a bad mushroom and dies. Babar is appointed the new king because he has so much knowledge from living amongst men. There's a whirlwind wedding and King Babar and his bride ride off happily in a balloon together.

It's all just so odd, and I'm not sure I can really explain why the story bothered me the way it did but it was just so abruptly tragic in places, then funny and giddy the next. Babar's mother is shot BAM! then a few pages later he's having a wonderful time riding in the department store elevator. It's so disjointed. And I'm not sure how much I like the message that elephants need the knowledge of humans to help them be good rulers of elephants. (I realize many view the story as an homage to colonialism.)

I realize Babar is a very beloved character and I wish I could like the books more. I hope this review does not offend any of those who dearly love the character and I will have to read some reviews from those who really love the Babar books to see what I might be missing here. But for me this was not a pleasant read and I doubt I will seek out more of the series any time soon.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story starts at the beginning, Babars mother is shot by a hunter. Babar escapes capture and runs to a town where he is given some money to buy clothes and first meets his friend the Old Lady. Although he likes his new life he misses the Great Forest and decides to return. Unfortunately the old King had just eaten a bad mushroom and died so when Babar turns up in all his smart clothes and they are looking for a new King, he is the obvious choice. After a wedding, a coronation and lots of dancing animals Babar and Celeste set off on an adventure in their yellow balloon. Wonderful illustrations, humour and lots to look at.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can recall watching the animated series as a kid. An elephant wearing clothes is a pretty striking image to stay in the mind.
With its inclusion in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read, I thought it would be a super cute read to share with my little one.

Boy, was I wrong!
It's like Bambi on steroids...

We learn that little Babar is traumatised after his mother is shot by a hunter. The young elephant fleas the jungle and soon befriends an old lady as the pair go on a shopping spree in the big city.

There's still time for another death as the titular elephant returns back to the jungle in what is a stark reminded that young children's fiction was certainly alot harsher back in the day.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have more sympathy for Babar here, where he is shown lost and orphaned. To some extent I think most children feel like orphans being raised by people constantly making weird demands upon them in an order to civilize them. That said, it is disappointing that he doesn't use his adult size and strength to go on a murderous rampage, or, alternatively, escape back to his home to live wild. Apparently, once you introduce an elephant to gay Paree you can't keep him from grandiose schemes of urbanization.

[Diz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a lot of issues that I was uncomfortable with. First, Babar's mother is killed by a hunter, but at the end of the book when Babar sets up his perfect elephant society, the idea that a human can come in a shoot a citizen is never addressed. Second, Babar has no experience that would make him a good king other than having lived in a "civilized" city. He is provided for by a rich woman and his transformative experience is shopping. He has no accomplishments of his own. Additionally, the city is portrayed as being European while the elephant homeland is in Africa, so there is a colonialist theme running throughout the book.

[Silvia ❄️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un tuffo nell’infanzia.

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was okay, but somethings I found really unlogical. An elephant that has clothes? The death of the mom was quickly pushed away. The drawings could have been beter also.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember being in love with Babar as a child, but I'm thinking they must have been the updated stories. Not only did my preschooler not really enjoy this lengthy tale, I was almost too embarrassed to keep reading! I knew going in that it was a colonial allegory, but geez! I mean we see his mom shot and killed and Babar is sad, but he's ok by the next day because a rich old lady wants to buy him some clothes! Then he goes out to civilize his former herd (who of course want to make him king because he knows of the outside world!) along the way proposing to his cousin...I think I'm done with Babar for awhile!

[Marya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Babar is a shopaholic? After his mother is murdered and he is chased by the hunter who did, his first desire is to...buy some sharp looking threads? And when Celeste and Arthur visit him for the first time in the city, what does he do? Buy them clothes of course! And when he returns with Celeste and Arthur to the jungle in his swanky new car(nice image there; Celeste and Arthur's mothers have to run behind the car with their trunks held up to avoid the belching smoke), what does he do when told he is the new elephant king? Why, tell everyone he and Celeste are getting married and will require (wait for it)...new clothes! Such adventure.

[Sonia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was confusing to me.

Babar has his mother killed in front of him. I thought this would turn out into a similar story to Bambi, but I was wrong.

Oh so wrong.

Suddenly, Babar leaves the jungle and assimilates with the humans (he doesn't hate them for what happened to his mother? or scared of them?).

His cousins join him later and later they all return to the jungle beause the cousin's family was looking for them. Afterward Babar becomes king and his cousin bride becomes queen.

Confused? So am I.

[Honore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really great way to show people what 'colonization' is. It historically makes sense that a writer in France in the 30's would produce a story like this. At this point, this book seems more inline for someone who is studying children's literature rather than for a child who is looking to be entertained. Since i'm closer to the former (and was also pretty entertained!) I gave this a higher rating. Don't recommend for kids.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never thought a children's book about an elephant would leave me with more questions than answers, but it's 2021. Anything goes.

First off, I want to know where Babar lives. He runs away from the jungles of Africa to some sort of civilization. Where is said city that looks vaguely European? Because you just aren't going to tell me that Babar made it from Africa to Europe in such a short amount of time. Still, since this is a children's story and they are often fantastical, I was willing to overlook it.

Then we have Babar having a grand old time with a wealthy older woman who teaches him how to dress like a gentleman, read, and eat with a knife and fork. Again, I want to know why no one is questioning this, but I'm not an animal behavioralist. Maybe this is something elephants do.

Just as Babar starts to miss his dear family, his cousins come for a visit. Sweet, touching, and wonderful. Unfortunately for said cousins Arthur and Celeste, they didn't exactly have said permission to go to this far away land where Babar lives. They get sent back home and Babar decides to tag along, since he comes to realize that that's where belongs.

So far we have some questioning aspects, but like I said before, since this is a children's book and they often account for believing in the unbelievable, I was willing to give it a pass.

Then things get weird, y'all.

So after Babar, his aunt, uncle, and cousins arrive in Africa, Babar is proclaimed King of the Jungle, since the former king ate some bad fruit and keeled over. Babar, being a noble elephant, accepts.

And then do you want to know what Babar has the AUDACITY to say next?

He says that during the car ride back home, he and Celeste have decided to get married.

CELESTE. HIS COUSIN. WHO IS A MINOR.

First of all, how long was that car ride?!! When you left, she was clearly a minor child dressed as a little girl. Now she's of age where you can marry her?

AND SHE'S YOUR COUSIN?!!!!

I didn't know if I read that right at first, but then I read it a few more times and found out that, no, I did indeed read that right. This children's book is low-key adding incest into the storyline.

I'll be darned.

Another thing that really irked me had nothing to do with the plot, but the translation for this book was extremely clunky and awkward. There were some sentences in here that made no sense or read really, really disjointed. that took away some of the enjoyment of the book as well.

It's been a while since I've read such a bizarre book, and it's been even longer than that that I've read a bizarre children's book. From the ambiguous setting to the unbelievable plot devices to the straight up confusing and bizarre relationship at the end, this was the most surprising read I had all year. Unfortunately, it wasn't surprising in a good way.

Or maybe I'm just overanalyzing a children's book.

[Tracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just thought I'd save you the trouble of reading this stupid kid's book by writing everything that happens.

There's an elephant named Babar who has a pretty good life and is being raised by a great mom. Then she's murdered by hunters right in from of him. He runs away to the city where an old woman takes him in. Honestly, I think they're a bit more than friends if you catch my drift. Years pass before two random elephants come running to the city too. And who do they find? Babar and his old lady "friend". He gets them some clothes and tries to make them conform to the posh society but decides this is his chance to escape and dumps his girlfriend and heads back to the forest. On the drive there, he becomes engaged to the girl elephant, not even mourning his recent split from Old Lady. Once he arrives at the forest, he's made king, gets married, and is off to who knows where for his honeymoon.

THE END

[Wreade1872 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd little childrens book. A minor quibble, elephants live in a matriarchy, so not only is this not educational its actively uneducational :P .
I'm sure there must be some other versions of this book but the one i read had hand-written text!, and in cursive! Even i had issues deciphering a word here or there but i can only imagine the horror on a child's face if they were handed this :lol. And their growing horror if they actually managed to figure out what it says ;) .

There are several dark moments in this which are not well dealt with to say the least. Also Babar is elected King rather than inheriting it, which seems a nice change... until you find out why he in particular is elected. Part of me wants to think it's a biting satire on elections but i suspect not :lol.

The art's still nice though :) .

[Shirley Revill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book when I was a child and still love it today.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully illustrated by the author this charming tale of an elephant and his exploits, losing his Mum, shopping, dining with a lady friend and all the rest, is guaranteed to entertain children, and adults, of all ages.

11 July 2025
I bought another copy of this with the A.A. Milne Introduction in which he .explains when he was first introduced to Babar and how he immediately fell in love with him. And his over-riding comment is, 'If you love elephants, you will love Babar and Celeste.'

This story chart Babar's early life from when his mother used to rock him to sleep in his hammock with her trunk through his meeting the love of his life, Celeste to him being crowned King with his Queen Celeste. And in between the delightful illustrations ensure, in AA Milne's words, readers should 'take these enchanting people to your hearts ... making sure that no detail of their adventures has escaped you'.

And a further re-read of 'The story of Babar' is exactly as AA Milne has written.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my 5 yr old's choice for his "on his own" reading today. And he was sorely disappointed. I had read some of this as a child but I didn't remember any of it. But when I started asking my son what it was about he got upset and started listing all the reasons he hated it. The king dies? Babar's mother gets killed by hunters? And on top of all that, he said, he doesn't even like elephants! So there. I'm not a politically correct person when it comes to discerning what my child reads. If he's able to read it, then I'm willing to let him, and then discuss with him after. I read it after him and wanted to kill myself. It was wholly depressing. I told him the bad books are what makes the good books so good. He was just happy he never had to read it again.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child I was drawn to Babar (a name I just recently learned is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable --buh-BAR) partly because the books were written in cursive handwriting. At five, I couldn’t decipher the curly letters, but oh, how I wanted to.

When I could at last read the words, I felt as if I’d cracked some sort of ancient code, so the books always felt quite magical to me. The French names only added to the mystique.

Little did I know the books would be later denounced for their pro-colonialism politics. It hardly mattered at the time. Read with a child’s imagination, if you can crack the code.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Babar's mom is killed by hunters, so he goes off to the big city and is taken in by a rich old lady who happens to like elephants and he becomes her boy toy. After living there for a couple of years, he returns to the rest of the elephants where he is immediately crowned king (the reason? because he has lived with men) and, at the same time, marries his cousin Celeste.

I just could not get into this beloved classic. My son was mildly interested, only because he recognized it from a Babar cartoon we saw last month. Maybe if I were French, I would feel differently.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father loved to read this book to me when I was a child. He made it come alive! Reading it today to my first graders it brings back those warm memories....

[Chase Ryder Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dad: this book was Fantastic! I loved everything about it. I never read this series as a kid, so I'm enjoying this for the first time with Ben. So wholesome and perfect for a read aloud book. I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Ben: paid close attention, I think he dug it. Let's re-read it and find out!

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 sterren- Nederlandse hardcover

Ik weet niet hoe oud dit verhaal is maar ik denk dat ik dit wel 100 keer voorgelezen heb aan mijn kinderen. Blijft een leuk verhaal.

[Clio Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

My kids got this book as a hand-me-down from someone (the inscription on the cover is "To Ben, Christmas 1974," but we don't have any Ben's in the immediate family), and lately my three-year-old has been requesting it almost every night. Frankly, as with many French things, I don't see the appeal.

The story is just trippy and bizarre. Babar is born in a forest and cavorts with cousins until one day a hunter kills his mama. It's very sad for about half a sentence, and then Babar runs off to a city, where he is enchanted by fancy cars and sophisticated gentlemen, and decides he needs some clothes. He finds a sugar mama (named only "Old Lady"), who gives him money and anything else he wants, and he lives in Gatsbyesque opulence until one day his cousins Arthur and Celeste show up. Arthur and Celeste are still children, and Babar buys them clothes (children's playclothes, not suits like his own wardrobe) and entertains them by buying them pastries until their mothers show up to bring them home. At that point, Babar realizes he misses the forest and decides to go with them (taking Old Lady's car when he goes).

While Babar is on his way back to the forest, the Elephant King eats a bad mushroom and dies (no, I am not making this up), so the elephants need a new king. When Babar arrives, the Elephant Elders say, "Oooh, look, he's got the fanciest clothes and a snazzy car; let's make him our king." Babar agrees to take the job, but announces that he and Celeste (who, let's not forget, is a) a child, and b) Babar's cousin) are now engaged. They send a camel-errand boy back to the city to buy more fancy clothes for the wedding/coronation, and then they have a big party. The End.

I think my son must like the illustrations, but I'm put off by the rampant consumerism (your mama's dead? Go shopping!) and entitlement (Old Lady gives Babar anything he wants, and then the elephants make him King, just because). This book is also my son's first introduction to the concept of guns (my wife read it to him without previewing it first), as a hunter shoots Babar's mother just a few pages into the story, and the gun is drawn with flames coming out of the barrel. To my chagrin, our son is full of questions about the gun--what it is, what it does, what the fire is, why--but doesn't seem to grasp that Babar's MAMA IS DEAD.

[Garnette]

I am opening a bookstore. And yes, of course, it is a life-long dream. Tried to just after my divorce thirty years ago and now, here it is again. The wheel has turned. So despite the worry and work of starting a business (state, federal busy.ness), I get to procure books. At first I thought I would just sell my collection - then there was the heartbreak of actually parting from the majority - which I decided not to do one tearful night.

So many people are donating books to salve my soul and save my books from missing me too. Friends, writing group members, strangers. My one family member - willing to part with her books - the only problem with that is that, besides the fantasy and science fiction and vampires she reads, there are so many I've been longing to read from her collection. Can I part with them? Will book buyers have to pass a test on loving the books before I am willing to accept their money? So many lessons. . .

And I don't accept any moldy or smokey (tobacco) books. Because I have to live with them too while they visit on my shelves, now alphabetized and priced.

Now here's the best ever part: I get to garner books from old library collections and barns and garage sales.

Yesterday, in Olive, how appropriate, I found a real gem - not the $38K first edition of Old Man and the Sea, I had that hanging out on my bookshelves all along. Or it would have been except for the gin spilled on it sometimes in the sixties.

Babar! Totally political incorrect but what memories of Mama Sallie reading it to me then my reading it to my children. The charming ride by a naked elephant up and down the 1890's elevator in Paris on his way to buy spats. Let's not debate how enlightened we all are about the really awfulness of it. But a treasure of childhood. And then I found a copy of Five Little Peppers and How They Grew. And a cookbook by Jacques Pepin. Nostalgia of a life of loving books, and the thick paper, and darling drawings. Books Lost but always loved, then suddenly FOUND.

Opening day, Memorial Day, May 31, after the parade in Andes.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was selected as one of the books for the November 2012 - Classic Picture Book Characters reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

I know I read this book (or others in the series) when I was very young, but so far I had not read this book with our girls. It was much as I remembered it, but somehow I don't think this book has withstood the test of time. It seems so dated and just isn't all that engaging.

The illustrations are very recognizable, and the characters are just as I remembered them. We enjoyed reading this book together, but I doubt our girls will remember this as vividly as I did. I would recommend this more for people who want a bit of nostalgia from their childhood, and parents should be aware that Babar's mother is killed early on in the story.