Is this really true?
From the Boston Globe:
But there hasn't been much notice in the United States except for an undercurrent of belief that Babar is too sexist, racist, or imperialist for children today.
I don't buy that. There was that piece in the Guardian recently, but that's a British paper. From what I've seen (in the library and in the bookstore), most people love Babar.
The small percentage of people who complain about him are the same people who complain about Tintin being un-PC. I guess you could call that an 'undercurrent', but I don't think it's much of one. It's probably the same three people over and over again who feel the need to tear a picture book to shreds in order to prove how intellectual and witty and politically conscious they are. Bah.
(And yes, I do see what they are talking about, but I really, really doubt that any young fans of Babar are going to turn into sexist, Westernizing dictators.)
It's FREAKING Babar! Let it go. Do you not have bigger concerns?
(Clearly I don't.)
The only thing that really ticks me off about Babar is when people call him "Barbar". ONE R, PEOPLE. ONE.