"Babar and The Christmas Tree" is a delightful book that's intended for younger children. It has bold, colourful
illustrations throughout and large text combined with a charming storyline. It tells the story of how one day, when it is nearing Christmas time, Babar and his friend Zephir decide to go and get a christmas tree for Babar's family. Once they've brought it home, they are faced with certain problems. However, they quickly solve these complications and proceed to have a lovely Christmas. The first problem they encounter when bringing the large christmas tree to Babar's home is that it is too tall to fit in the living room! Babar quickly solves this problem by removing part of it with an axe. Then, Arthur (Babar's cousin) discovers that there aren't enough glass balls to decorate the tree. Zephir suggests that they use "..stars of all colours" instead and so the pair of them go to work painting stars on paper, cutting them out and hanging them on the tree. They have a wonderful time. Then Pom, Flora and Alexander (Babar's children) come to help them. They hold up glass balls, tinsel garlands and stars to Babar who places them on the tree. Then, everything is ready and Pom, Flora and Alexander cheerfully dance around their christmas tree. All of a sudden, they notice Zephir has disappeared! At that very moment, Zephir pops up from the top of the christmas tree, swinging from the branches! De Brunhoff comments "Look! What a clown Zephir is!". Overall, it is a beautifully written and entertaining story which should enchant children of all ages, especially at Christmas time.
