Babar's guide to Paris

Babar offers advice to his youngest daughter, who is planning a trip to one of his favorite cities, Paris. Though the fatherly elephant king suggests visiting the Louvre and Orangerie museums and mentions the Eiffel Tower in passing, don't look here for a laundry list of famous sites. Instead, Babar tells Isabelle how to enjoy the city: sit at a café to read, converse, or watch the passersby; walk everywhere and be on the lookout for surprises; go prepared for rain, wind, and cold, but enjoy every scrap of good weather. Babar's affection for Paris is evident on every page. The simply written text accompanies the sometimes lovely and occasionally amusing watercolor illustrations on every spacious double-page spread. De Brunhoff originally heard his mother tell Babar stories as a five-year-old at bedtime, before his father, Jean de Brunhoff, created the first book in 1931. Since his father's death, the son has carried on the family tradition in dozens of well-crafted picture books featuring Babar. Fans young and old will enjoy this fond tribute to Paris.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist

K-Gr 2-When his youngest daughter, Isabelle, is about to embark on a trip to Paris, Babar offers advice on ways to enjoy the city. Cafés are the "theaters of Paris," he says, where she can eat as well as watch the parade of Parisians walk by. There are brasseries for more formal dining, the Louvre and the Orangerie for taking in fine art, the Luxembourg Gardens, amazing sights such as the Eiffel Tower, and "surprise[s] on every block." Isabelle can stroll along the Seine, where booksellers and painters abound, or relax on its banks. Babar even provides her with information on how to manage traveling on the Métro, how to get into apartment buildings, and how to be prepared for inclement weather. The text shines with a father's obvious love for Paris and his desire to share his experiences with his daughter. De Brunhoff's familiar watercolor illustrations provide authentic renderings of the cafés as well as other Paris landmarks. There are humorous touches, too, such as elephants squished in a tiny apartment elevator or standing with their trunks wrapped around poles in the Métro. VERDICT This simple overview of Paris is a fine addition to the series and, along with Salvatore Rubbino's A Walk in Paris, will awaken children's interest in this marvelous city.-Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.