Babar Comes to the Seneca Falls Library

Babar, the little elephant who enchants both children and adults, will be featured in the pre-schooler Story Hour series Jan. 18 through Feb. 8 at the Seneca Falls Library.

Free and open to the public, the Babar series is the first of eight Story Hour sessions which will be held at 9 a.m. on selected Wednesdays throughout 2006.

The hour includes read-aloud time, discussion, group activities or crafts, and an opportunity for families to borrow library books. Hundreds of new children's books – including a dozen Babar books -- have been added to the library's collection in recent months through a grant from Seneca Meadows Inc.

"The Story of Babar" begins: "In the great forest a little elephant is born. His name is Babar. His mother loves him very much. She rocks him to sleep with her trunk while singing softly to him."

From there, Babar has many adventures – living in the city, going to school, encountering a "wully-wully," raising a family, traveling to another planet.

Babar's story started when a French woman comforted her 4-year-old –- sick with a sore throat –- with a tale about a baby elephant. Cecile de Brunhoff’s idea was developed into an illustrated book by her husband, Jean de Brunhoff. "The Story of Babar" was published in 1931. One of the de Brunhoff sons continues to write Babar books.

Seven other themes designed for pre-schoolers will be featured in Story Hour sessions scheduled for March 15 to April 5, May 3 to May 24, July 19 to Aug. 2, Sept. 20 to Oct. 11 and Nov. 1 to Nov. 15. All sessions begin at 9 a.m. in the library.

In 2006, Seneca Falls Library reading activities for school-age children will include a Lemony Snicket Book Club at 2 p.m. on Saturdays from Jan. 28 to Feb. 18 and Summer Reading Camp from 9 to 11 a.m. July 10 through July 13.

A Children’s Reading Festival for all ages will be held July 17 at the library, 47 Cayuga St.

More information is available by contacting the library at (315) 568-8265.