Babar the King

The story

After their long journey, King Babar and Queen Celeste are finally home. The old lady has come with them to the land of the elephants.

The elephants are delighted that their king and queen have returned. Cornelius, Arthur and everyone else come to welcome them.

Babar has collected many gifts during his travels. There are clothes, tools, toys, lamps, books and all sorts of other things. But he does not give them away just yet.

“I have a plan,” he says. “We are going to build a real city together. As soon as the city is finished, everyone will receive a gift to suit their new job and home.”

The elephants think it is a wonderful idea.

Babar and Celeste choose a beautiful place beside the lake. There, they draw plans for streets, squares, houses and gardens. The city will be called Celesteville, after Queen Celeste.

Work begins at once. Some elephants drag stones, while others carry wood or dig the ground. Everyone helps.

As they build, they sing:

“Come, let us build it side by side,

A home for you, a home for me.

With helping trunks and feet so strong,

Our city soon will come to be.”

Slowly, the buildings rise. On one side of the city stands the Palace of Work, with workshops and shops. On the other side is the Palace of Celebration, with a theatre and halls for music and dancing.

There are schools, a hospital, a station, a grand hotel and wide avenues lined with trees. Babar and Celeste's palace stands in the middle of the city. Not far away, the old lady has a house of her own.

When the final stone is laid, Celesteville is complete.

The elephants wander through the streets in amazement. Everything is new. The houses gleam in the sun, and flowers bloom in the gardens.

Now Babar gives out the presents. The baker receives an apron and baking tins. The tailor gets fabric, thread and a sewing machine. The doctor receives a white coat and a bag full of instruments. The fire brigade gets helmets and a red fire engine.

Arthur receives a pair of roller skates. He puts them on at once and races through the streets, although he has not quite mastered stopping yet.

Cornelius becomes Babar's chief adviser. He receives a smart uniform and an office of his own. Pompadour helps him with all the paperwork and appointments.

The old lady teaches piano. Music floats from her house every afternoon. Celeste takes care of the art, the celebrations and the gardens. Babar works in the palace. He reads letters, listens to the elephants and makes decisions for the city.

Every morning, Celesteville wakes early. The bakers bake bread, the shopkeepers open their doors and the children go to school.

At school, they learn to read, write and count. They draw animals, sing songs and exercise in the playground. Arithmetic is not Arthur's favourite subject, but he is always first in line for sports.

At the hospital, Doctor Capoulosse looks after anyone who is ill or has a sore foot. Luckily, most of the citizens are healthy because they exercise often.

After work, there is time for fun. The elephants swim in the lake, play tennis or sail in little boats. Sometimes there is a concert at the Palace of Celebration. Then everyone puts on their best clothes.

One evening, Babar conducts the orchestra himself. Celeste sits in the front row, and the old lady plays the piano. Even Arthur manages to sit quietly for a little while and listen.

Rataxes and his wife are also invited to Celesteville. Since the war ended, the elephants and rhinoceroses have been trying to become good neighbours.

Babar shows them around the city. Rataxes admires the wide streets, although he pretends not to be easily impressed.

“Not bad,” he grumbles.

But when nobody is looking, he tells his wife that he thinks the city is magnificent.

The days pass. Celesteville grows, and everyone finds their place. Babar is proud, but being king can be tiring. There are always questions to consider and problems to solve.

One night, Babar lies awake. Everything outside is quiet, but his mind is still busy.

At last, he falls asleep.

He dreams that dark figures creep into his bedroom. Their names are Fear, Bad Luck, Sadness and Discouragement. They whisper that everything might go wrong. Perhaps the city is not strong enough. Perhaps Babar does not know how to keep everyone happy.

Babar begins to feel very small.

Then other figures appear. Hope steps forward first. Courage, Patience and Friendship follow. Together, they chase the dark thoughts out of the room.

“You do not have to do everything alone,” they tell him. “Look at the people standing beside you.”

Babar wakes. Morning light falls through the window. Celeste is sleeping peacefully beside him.

A moment later, he hears the city waking below. A baker puts fresh bread outside his shop. Children run laughing to school. The first notes of the piano drift from the old lady's house.

Babar walks onto the balcony. Below, Cornelius and Arthur wave to him.

“Good morning, Babar!” Arthur calls.

Babar smiles. His worries have not completely disappeared, but he knows what to do again.

He does not have to be a king who can manage everything alone. He must listen, ask for help when he needs it and care for the city together with everyone else.

Celeste joins him on the balcony.

“Shall we begin?” she asks.

“Yes,” says Babar. “There is plenty to do. But first, breakfast.”

Together, they walk inside.

And down below, a new day begins in Celesteville.