Brunhoff ‘s Babar Visits Another Planet (1972) begins at the start of yet another family picnic until a rocketship upsets the fun. Before they realize the situation, Babar, Celeste, their children Pom, Flora, Arthur, cousin Alexander, and Zephir, the monkey, are sucked into the rocket and taken to a distant planet. It ends well, and the elephants return home safely by rocketship. Retelling the adventure, Babar tells his friend, the Old Lady, “It isn’t every day you get taken to another planet.” “I certainly hope not,” she replies.
The picnic is set on the grass surrounded by palms and other jungle growth. Celeste’s basket sits on a blue and white gingham cloth and holds a bottle of still or fizzy water. Already unpacked are sandwiches, bananas, and a plate of peaches or tomatoes.
See Laurent de Brunhoff. Babar Visits Another Plant [Babar sur la planète molle]. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1972
Featured Image: “One beautiful day in the country of the elephants.”
See Laurent de Brunhoff. Babar Visits Another Planet New York: Random House, 1972. The story is vaguely inspired by Jonathan Swift’s Book III, The Voyage to Laputa in Gulliver’s Travels