Babar King of the Elephants

I always enjoyed reading about Babar growing up. Once my children were born I again picked up Babar's books to read to them. They also enjoyed the adeventures of Babar and his many friends and family.
Babar's story opens with his mother being shot by hunters. After her death he travels. Alone,Babar arrives in a big city. There he is spotted by a charitable woman who takes him in, clothes him, educates him by showing him the finer points of good society.  One day his cousins Arthur and Celeste come to the city to find Babar. When they find him, they tell Babar he must go home because the old king has died.He has eaten a poisonous mushroom. After Babar returns, the council elects him as its new king. With Celeste as his wife he establishes the land of Celesteville. Together King Babar and Queen Celeste lead their people into a new age of enlightenment.
Jean de Brunhoff, the original author of the Babar series, wrote the books based on his wife Celeste's bedtime stories for their two young sons. Born in 1899 to a publishing family, Jean de Brunhoff wrote and illustrated 7 books in the Babar series before his untimely death at age 37 of tuberculosis. His last two books, Babar and His Children, and Babar and Father Christmas, were written, but the illustrations were only done in black and white. Jean's brother Michel arrainged to have the books published and had Jean's older son Laurent, who was 13 at the time, do the coloring.
After a gap of six years, the next Babar book was published, written by Larent de Brunhoff.
The 13 year old artist trained himself over the years to replicate his father's art, and thus was able to continue the legacy that so many children love.
Laurent de Brunhoff has continued the Babar series to this day,  with well over 30 books, including one published this year. In addition to Babar, Laurent has written another children's books as well including Anatole and his Donkey.
Interesting enough, the Babar books are not without their critics.  Some have commented on their being political in nature. We have a king, although the king is elected. Then the king goes on to fight wars, and annex countries. Some have been said to comment on the western influence of the books, other on colonialism.
Obviously there are many people who read too much into what is a delightful children's story.  Babar is fun to read at any age. Whether you read it in it's original French, or in  English, the stories will leave you happy.