In "Babar's friend Zephir", Zephir travels back to his home town for the school holidays. There he is reacquainted with family and friends and really enjoys himself. He is even more delighted when he finds out Babar has sent him a boat. Zephir decides to take the boat and go fishing. While he is fishing, he accidentily catches a mermaid named Eleanor. The mermaid says if he doesn't let her go, she will surely die. She says that she will remember Zephir and if he ever needs any help, he should throw three pebbles in the river and call her name three times. Zephir reluctantly unhooks her from the fishing line and watches her swim away. While going home, Zephir hears that Princess Isabel (Princess of Monkey Land) has disappeared! It turns out that while she was playing, a green cloud passed over her and lifted her up, then took her away. Zephir decides to go to the mermaid for help.The mermaid takes Zephir to see her aunty, who tells them that a monster living on a nearby island might have abducted Isabel. He lives on the island with his monster friends and often gets bored and abducts animals for his amusement. He might have abducted Isabel for this purpose. She says Zephir must make the monster laugh in order to save Isabel. The monster will get angry and turn Isabel into stone if not amused. Zephir sets off at once to save her with the mermaid. Eleanor takes Zephir to the island and waits.

Once on the island, Zephir finds the monster and introduces himself to him. He says he is a qualified clown/musician and will amuse him. He tells stories, jokes and performs funny tricks in a clown costume. His funny antics make the monster laugh. Then Zephir plays music and everybody dances to the happy tunes. After dancing for a long time, the monster and his friends become tired and decide to take a nap. Zephir seizes this opportunity and runs away with Isabel. They both sail back to Monkey land and everyone celebrates their return. Isabel's father gives Zephir her hand in marriage and says they shall marry when Zephir is old enough. Zephir's family celebrates. Overall Babar's Friend Zephir is a delightful story with many charming illustrations.

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