Babar and Zephir

Babar and Zephir (originally published in 1936 as Les vacances de Zéphir) is the fifth classic picture book in the Babar series by Jean de Brunhoff. While Babar the elephant makes a brief appearance, the story focuses entirely on his childhood friend, Zephir the monkey.

In the story, Zephir returns to his home in Monkeyville for his school holiday. Shortly after his arrival, the monkey princess, Isabelle, is mysteriously kidnapped by a horned monster named Polomoche. To save her, Zephir embarks on a brave, fairytale-like quest with the help of a tiny mermaid named Eleanor.

The book is celebrated for its lush, whimsical illustrations and fantasy elements, contrasting sharply with the early, more grounded Babar books.