Babar's Guide to Paris

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.