Did you hear the rumbling from the second and third floors last Sunday? Perhaps it was the footsteps of Babar the elephant and his friends celebrating the opening of our newly renovated and expanded Children’s Library. In honor of the occasion, the Library was pleased to host an event with Laurent de Brunhoff and Phyllis Rose, the current creators of the perennially popular Babar books. Young children and older guests gathered in the Members’ Room for a reading and a visual presentation of favorite Babar titles. De Brunhoff mesmerized the audience—children and adults alike—as he sketched an original drawing of Babar for the Library’s art collection.

Our festivities continued on the Third Floor in the Children’s Library and Whitridge Room with refreshments (a rare treat, to eat in the Library!) and book signing. Mr. de Brunhoff graciously signed dozens of prized Babar books for eager readers of all ages. During the celebration, adults and children marveled at the remarkable renovation and expansion of the Children’s Library. Head Librarian Mark Bartlett and Library Board Treasurer George L.K. Frelinghuysen took the opportunity to express our gratitude to the donors who made this renovation possible. Our words of thanks are engraved in brass on a plaque installed in the Children’s Library. We hope you will come read with us in our spectacular space for young members and their families.