School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-Babar and Queen Celeste decide to embark on a world tour with the children. They head to the airport and board "Elephant One," equipped with a library and language CDs. The first stop is Italy, followed by Germany, Spain, and Russia, where they learn to say hello and a simple phrase in the host language. They move on to India, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, and across the Pacific to the Anasazi caves of the American Southwest, Machu Picchu in Peru, then across the Atlantic to Egypt. Here the story begins to feel like one of those 14 countries in 14 days package deals and readers, along with Babar's children, will get jet lagged. But they cannot forego Paris or Antarctica so they make two more stops before flying home. In contrast to the wild and unpredictable adventures in Jean de Brunhoff's The Travels of Babar (Random, 2002), this is a tame journey, with the elephants traveling in style and with a well-organized itinerary. Unfortunately, the adventure is lacking, and readers are dizzied by the pace of travel and will forget the foreign phrases. The illustrations are charming, classic Babar. Devoted fans might enjoy the continuation of the king's story. Stick with the originals.-Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Babar and Celeste take their children to Rome, Venice, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Mexico, the American Southwest, the Andes, Paris, and Antarctica before returning to show their slides in Celesteville. Babar's familiar charm and the colorful illustrations have iconic appeal, but otherwise this is a superficial travel book with stereotypical cultural references. A pullout poster is included. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 2. In this large-format picture book, Babar and Celeste take their children to see the world. Boarding their plane, Elephant One, they embark on a whirlwind tour, visiting Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, India, Japan, and Thailand, then seeing ancient sites such as Angkor in Cambodia, an Aztec pyramid in Mexico, Anasazi cliff houses in the U.S., Machu Picchu in Peru, and Abu Simbel in Egypt. As the journey extends to place after amazing place, the little elephants begin to long for home. Among the best of Brunhoff's many enjoyable illustrations are the remarkably svelte elephants walking the runway at a Paris fashion show and Babar's family seated at a low Japanese table, eating noodles with chopsticks. Though children listening to the story will get only a glimpse or two of each country before moving on to the next, this colorful picture book provides an inkling of the diversity of places and cultures in the world. A pleasant excursion, recommended especially for those who already know and love Babar and his family. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2005 Booklist
