Babar on Paradise Island

PreS-Gr 2—After boarding a boat at the Celesteville Marina and sailing for several hours, Babar, his family, and their friend the Old Lady become shipwrecked on an island. There, a hospitable dragon shows the castaways how to find food, build shelter, and have plenty of fun. A helicopter pilot eventually rescues Babar and company. When Babar invites the dragon to return home with them, the dragon declines, preferring to remain on the island paradise. But the dragon soon misses Babar, and with the help of a friendly heron, he visits Babar in Celestville, where he is welcomed by a parade. The evenly paced plot with agreeable characters flows smoothly and with gentle humorous touches added by the accompanying watercolor artwork. The story is written in the past tense and, in comparison to Babar's Museum of Art (Abrams, 2003), has sparing dialogue. The visuals, many of which are spreads, convey the pleasures of being shipwrecked on the dragon's paradise island. The elephants shower under a waterfall, sit around a campfire, and eat key lime pie. The plain white background of the marina setting is bare compared to the warm yellows, greens, and blues of the island setting. This charming offering will not disappoint young fans eager for more elephant fun.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH