Jean de Brunhoff, French author and illustrator, was born on December 9th 1899. He is known throughout the world for being the creator of Babar, the beloved elephant who first appeared in print in 1931. Babar was the product of a family story told by de Brunhoff's mother. Babar went on to have many adventures and, when Jean died of tuberculosis at the age of 37, his son Laurent continued the inspiration, largely to keep his father and his childhood alive for himself. Laurent had inherited his father’s artistic talent and began writing and illustrating Babar books in 1946.

—Karen Ritz