Babar Turns 80

Babar is celebrating his 80th birthday with several retail events just in time for the holiday season. Saks Fifth Avenue’s Toy Boutique puts the beloved elephant front and center in the children’s department in 21 locations, as well as in its flagship store, with high-end products featuring Babar. Manhattan’s largest independent children’s bookstore, Books of Wonder, is also commemorating the anniversary with store windows decorated to honor Babar and a book signing with illustrator and author Laurent de Brunhoff. New items based on the books will include plush, pajamas, puzzles, and board books and games. “With a standout presence at Saks Fifth Avenue and Books of Wonder, coupled with the launch of an exciting new product range marking the brand’s stateside reintroduction after more than a decade, we are thrilled to kickoff Babar’s 80th celebration—and to invite fans of all ages to take part in the fun,” says Andrew Kerr, the head of consumer products for the Americas and Australasia for Nelvana Enterprises. Babar’s story began as a bedtime story brought to life by Laurent’s father, Jean de Brunhoff, who developed seven books featuring the character.