Jean and Laurent De Brunhoff: The Legacy of Babar

In 1931 Jean de Brunhoff introduced French children to a little elephant by the name of Babar, a gentle, charming character whose journey from orphaned forest dweller to dapper, convivial sophisticate is chronicled in L'Histoire de Babar, the first in a series of stories that has captivated children the world over. In this book and the six that followed, de Brunhoff created an idyllic world in which Babar, wearing spats and driving a little red convertible, marries, has children, travels extensively, and is eventually crowned king of the elephants, all the while espousing a quintessentially French ideal--bonheur--and placing a high premium on family affection, discipline, and benevolence. Laurent de Brunhoff finished some of the manuscripts left incomplete on his father's death in 1937 and then wrote Babar stories of his own, continuing a storytelling legacy in which the perplexities of modern living are always reconciled with traditional values. The rendering of situations in which aplomb and elegance occur simultaneously with action and adventure is the hallmark of the de Brunhoffs' illustrations, so distinct with their bold lines and primary colors.In her unique study of the Babar milieu, Ann Meinzen Hildebrand looks at the de Brunhoffs' complete works, analyzing the thematic development of the stories and commenting on the essential role of the illustrations. Acknowledging the differences between the work of father and son, Hildebrand attributes the series' continuing popularity to the way in which both artists have created an elephant cosmos that is a mirror of real and ideal life. She shows how de Brunhoff pere et fils have eschewed simple "animal fantasy" for fascinating characters who respond to everyday situations, both tragic and frivolous, thoughtfully and act on the principles of perseverance, patience, hope, and courage. Hildebrand's comprehensive study establishes the genius of the de Brunhoffs and explains how one kindly, nondidactic elephant in a derby hat has become such a socializing force for young readers.