Starred Review for Publishers Weekly (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In this whimsical, wry caper, Celeste and Babar decide to transform the abandoned Celesteville train station into a museum displaying the objets d'art they've collected on their travels. Preparing the building is a collaborative effort—the town's energetic elephants help rebuild the station, transport the paintings to the new gallery and hang them on the walls. But the pièce de resistance is the museum's opening day, when Babar's family and friends feast their eyes on a witty recasting of almost three dozen classic paintings and sculptures in which pachyderms take the place of human figures. Almost-touching elephant trunks replace fingers in a reimagining of Michelangelo's <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">The Creation of Adam and an elephant with golden tresses springs from the half-shell in a rendition of Botticelli's <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Birth of Venus. The museum-goers share their thoughts on what they like about the works of art and the ways in which they identify with the subjects (young Arthur chooses a Van Gogh self-portrait: "I like this picture because it's red"). With his gentle artistic makeovers and by predominantly keeping the focus on the younger elephants' questions, de Brunhoff skillfully allows young readers an entrée to the world of fine art. Babar offers some wise words when Alexander and Flora ask him if paintings in a museum have to be old or pretty: "It doesn't have to be or mean anything.... There are no rules to tell us what art is." Adding to the value of this impressive volume is a large, handsomely reproduced pull-out poster featuring nine of the "masterpieces" from the book, framed in gold leaf. A visual treat all around. All ages. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Sept.)

<EMPHASIS TYPE=""BOLD"">FYI:<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">An exhibition of the book's original art will travel to the Art Institute of Chicago, the New York Public Library and to additional cities to be announced.

ALA Booklist (Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 CST 2003)

The elephants of Celesteville are delighted when Babar and Celeste open a magnificent art museum, but the royal children are nervous. What happens at museums? How should they behave? As the family walks through the galleries, each member finds favorite works of art. De Brunhoff's words are simple and unpretentious, and they show how personal and subjective art is: I like this picture because it's red, says one elephant. The Celesteville Museum's walls are filled with gleeful reproductions of famous works (listed in an appendix) that substitute elephants for human figures to hilarious effect. It's adults, not children, who will howl most over the images, but children certainly don't need a background in art history to be delighted by the stories in the art, and they'll immediately recognize the children's questions: Does everything have to mean something in a picture? Does it have to be pretty? Babar's reassuring answer sends a universal message of art appreciation: It doesn't have to be or mean anything. There are no rules to tell us what art is. As entertaining as it is instructive, this is a great choice for museum-bound families as well as teachers.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Babar and Celeste turn an abandoned train station into an art museum. At the grand opening, young museum goers express their opinions about the art, e.g.: "I like this picture because it's red." Adults will be tickled by the famous paintings reworked to include elephant subjects, but may be disappointed at the lack of detailed information about the real works of art on which the parodies are based.

Kirkus Reviews

<p>That venerable elephant returns in another classically plotless but curiously appealing outing, this time to the new art museum of Celesteville (modeled on the MusAe d'Orsay). Babar and the gang spend the day gazing at the vast art collection he has amassed and now made available to all: works by the Olda"and Newa"Masters that substitute elephants for the familiar human figures. In this, it bears a superficial resemblance to Anthony Browne's Willy's Pictures (2000), but where that work invited the audience into the paintings and encouraged individual reflection, this serves a more pedagogical end. Wise Celeste invites the children to respond to the arta""I like the dog!" Flora exclaims of an elephantized van Eycka"while pompous Cornelius attempts to expound upon symbolism and goes ignored. As a primer for both parents and children on how to manage a family visit to an art museum, it cheerily offers both good and bad examples to follow and avoid; as a deeper invitation to encounter art, it barely serves as an introduction. (Picture book. 4-8)</p>

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-With the help of an architect and friends, Babar and Celeste decide to establish a museum in the old Celesteville train station and donate their extensive art collection. Readers follow along as de Brunhoff's lighthearted offering touches on how such institutions might be created, how to behave in a museum, and art appreciation. Celeste's most valuable instructions for small children: "look, don't touch, and tell me what you see" precedes Babar's timely reminder, "there are no rules to tell us what art is." The Celesteville museum exhibits echo noted artworks from Rubens to Cezanne, Whistler to Pollock, as more than 30 major works (imitated with pachyderm subjects) fill the pages. Consider this an introduction to museums for the youngest readers, especially for Babar fans. Older students will find entertaining comparisons to classic art collections. For a closer pairing with masterworks, share Jacqueline Weitzman's You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum (Dial, 1998). A fine choice for all libraries.-Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.