In early drafts for the first Babar book, Jean de Brunhoff opened the story with this episode showing the death of Babar’s mother. In the published book, he began instead with the reassuring image of Babar’s mother rocking him to sleep in a hammock. At this stage in his composition process, Jean had not yet given his protagonist the name “Babar” — he was called simply “Baby Elephant.”
Biblioklept 
oh I adored the Barbar books — thanks for the reminder — and how apt the original would tell the tale of what really happens to mama elphants — and their babies.
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Reblogged this on mgtrrz's Blog and commented:
I grew up With BABAR on TV…And I Still Enjoy Watching on Saturday Mornings…
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