Yesterday, I promised to tell you what Babar and Curious George have in common. OK, here we go:

• Both Babar and Curious George are French. They were born (i.e. created) in Paris, France and ended up in New York.
• Both Babar and Curious George had close calls with extinction early on in their lives. Back to Babar's story. As for Curious George, he may never have been if his creators Hans Augusto (H. A.) and Margret Rey had not managed to smuggle sketches of him out of Paris during WWII? The Ryes traveled far and wide, before settling down in New York City. Read more about the "Journey That Saved Curious George."
• Both Babar and Curious George are roughly the same age. Babar turns 75 this year and Curious George turned 65.
• Both Babar and Curious George are in the news this week. The author of the Babar series won a prestigious award  yesterday -- and today, the new Curious George movie hits the big screen. It features Will Farrell as The Man with the Yellow Hat and music is by one of my favorites, Jack Johnson. Watch the video of "Upside Down."

If you've seen the movie or plan to, click on the <<Post Your Comment>> button below to leave us a review.

Have you ever noticed that when you're thinking about something a lot, you see many things related to it all around you? It happens to me all the time. I'll be thinking about going to Florida and I suddenly start spotting lots and lots of Florida license plates on I-95 while I'm driving to work. ... (I bet you have tons of examples from your own life to share. Click on the "comment" link below to help me make a list.)

So, elephants have been on my mind for the past couple of days. The next issue of Writing has a fun image of an elephant on a red bicycle on its cover ... (Why? you ask. Well, you'll just have to wait and see!) ... and I've been reading and re-reading a pretty cool poem about a spotted pink homeless elephant (The poet shall remain nameless until April, when you crack open our magazine). 

Anyway, I was reading The New York Times today and bumped into a story about Babar, my favorite literary and seemingly immortal elephant.

Did you know?

• This year marks the 75th anniversary of Babar's creation.
• Babar is French.
• "Babar might have passed away prematurely when his original author and illustrator, Jean de Brunhoff, Laurent's father, died of tuberculosis in 1937, six years after bringing the popular character to life. For almost a decade, Babar was in literary limbo. But at age 21 Laurent, who studied art at the same Paris school his father had, decided to resuscitate Babar ..." Why? Read the full article to find out.
• Babar does yoga.
• Author Laurent de Brunhoff is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from Child magazine tonight in NYC.
• Babar's latest adventure has taken him on a World Tour. Check it out.

Those of you who are smirking at my excitement about Babar: Hey, it's never too late in life to look at a picture book. Next time you are at a bookstore, go to the children's department and pick up a Babar book ... or one of your childhood favorites. Notice how a picture can sometimes convey a 1,000 words ... and how a few words can tell so much of a story. Both are great writing lessons for all ages.

OK, so that was a tangent. Reading about Babar made me start thinking about monkeys, which reminds me of Curious George. Tune in tomorrow to find out what Babar the elephant and Curious George have in common.

Sonnet by Molly Silverstein, Grade 9

The way the trees move makes me want to smile

Sun shining so brightly through growing trees

Swaying and sweeping forever and a while

Autumn leaves in the cool, blue rushing breeze

Sun shining over the blue expanse

Heat so hot it raises off the cement

Watching the heat move; puts me in a trance

Water on my body, cracking my laments

Sparkling white expanse shocks my numb mind

Cold air past my ears, ringing like a bell

Sunshine bouncing off, creates crystal time

Only for warmth to come and break this spell

Constant cycle brings beauty back to earth

Alive and dead and all starting from birth