About the Artist
Jean de Brunhoff
Jean de Brunhoff was a French writer and illustrator remembered best for creating the Babar books. After fighting in World War I, de Brunhoff decided to become a professional and studied painting at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. In 1924 he married Cecile de Brunhoff. It was Cecile's bed time story about a little elephant who leaves the jungle for a city resembling Paris that inspired the picture book "Historie de Babar" in 1931. He completed 6 more titles before passing away in 1937. His son Laurent followed his father's path as a painter, author and illustrator, going on to publish over forty-five more Babar titles.
