On the first booky day of christmas my true love read to me: The Babar Collection by Jean De Brunhoff.

As Christmas booky-stocking-fillers go, this is a mighty tome - befitting of the mighty Babar, King of the Elephants and one of the most well known and best loved children's book characters ever.

Babar is a whopping 80 years old (80!!) but you wouldn't know it, the stories are so brilliant and timeless that being able to read through this collection has been a huge treat. Collected together in a stylish binder, you can find out all about the suited and booted elephant supreme and his origins.

In "The Story of Babar" we learn how this curious and intelligent elephant left the jungle to seek his fortune in the big city. With no money and nowhere to live, Babar was luckily taken in by a rich and rather sweet old lady who befriended Babar, educated him and introduced him to civilisation and culture. Babar is a quick study, and when the old King of the Elephants dies suddenly, Elephantkind look to Babar to become their new leader.

With each story in the collection, we find out a little more about Babar's world - and experience the highs and lows of life for this wonderful character. Babar marries, has children and founds a marvellous Elephant city - and tying neatly in with our christmas theme, even meets Santa himself!

If you're new to Babar, this is definitely worth purchasing as you get a brilliant selection of stories to read to your little ones over the space of a few bedtimes (or, like us, to read all in one huge glorious gulp! Hooray!)

Jean De Brunhoff's meisterwork is still as vital and important to children's literature as ever, so truly don't miss out on the chance to enter the world of Babar. You'll want to stay till Christmas and beyond!

Charlotte's best bit: Babar's naughty little children who are always getting into trouble

Daddy's Favourite bit: A pleasant surprise to see Charlotte's reaction to Babar, proving how timeless and appealing this wonderful elephant still is. 80 years old and no signs of slowing down at all, love you Babar!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Egmont UK)

We love Babar. We've got some rather special Babar loveliness coming up on the blog very soon but today we're looking at Babar and the Wully Wully, a fantastic story that highlights all the reasons why Jean De Brunhoff's peerless Elephant characters are still so timeless and brilliant 80 years (yes, 80 years!!!) on.

Babar the Elephant is king of a wonderful realm, living in perfect harmony with his elephant subjects. However, things aren't always perfect in paradise - a tribe of rhinos, led by the grumpy and curmudgeonly Rataxes are always causing trouble. So when Babar's children Pom, Flora and Alexandra find a strange creature while out playing in Celestville, they bring him home as a well-loved pet.

The Wully Wully is cute and charming, and loves life in Celestville, but the evil Rataxes watches with an envious glint in his eye, and can't wait to kidnap the Wully Wully for himself.

Needless to say, Wully Wully does not have a happy life living amongst the rhinos. He's kept in a cage, or on a lead, and is thoroughly miserable. So it's up to the bravest elephants and their monkey chum to mount a rescue mission.

Trouble is round the corner though, when Rataxes finds out - and declares war on the elephants. Things look grim, but can Flora change the course of history before the elephants and the rhinos fight?

This is a truly wonderful book, teaching children why sharing and kindness are important - but also that fighting and war are not the only answer, sometimes diplomacy and discussion can win out.

I've often said that Jean De Brunhoff was a time traveller, who leapt back in time to the 1930s to begin writing his stories, because they feel so contemporary (with a few odd anachronisms of course) and their messages are utterly important, even today.

Beautifully illustrated as ever, with a cast of engaging characters, we just cannot get enough of Babar and his friends.

Charlotte's best bit: The Wully Wully is so cute! I hadn't the heart to tell her that she can't have one for Christmas.

Daddy's Favourite bit: Sharing, compassion, diplomacy, war, you name it, Jean De Brunhoff expertly makes it accessible and understandable by children of all ages - which is why the Babar books are so durned special. Do not miss out as they're steadily being reprinted!