BABAR'S BATTLE

Echoing recent political change and prescribing more peaceable strategies, Brunhoff adds still another episode to the annals of the popular elephant king. Urged by an evil witch, rhinoceros King Rataxes plots against Babar; he invites him to dine, but enjoys Babar's company so much that he forgets to have his soldiers take him prisoner. Next he steals the elephants' water and forces them into battle. Calling for single combat, Babar defeats the rhino (who has seized the advantage of having his back to the sun) by dazzling him with light reflected from his shield. Rataxes apologizes, disarms, and (in an all-too-human touch) scapegoats the witch: "It isn't my fault." Pleasantly predictable. (Picture book. 4-8)