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Tell Me Some More...
Andrew introduces his friend to a magical place--the library--where he can ' hold a camel in his hand ' or ' carry home a steam shovel.' ' Highly original and full of fun.' --H.
64 pages, Library Binding
First published May 20, 1961
72 people want to read
About the author
Crosby Newell Bonsall
73 books12 followersCrosby Barbara Newell Bonsall, b. Jan. 2, 1921; d. Jan. 10, 1995 was an American artist and children's book author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated more than 40 children's books.
Bonsall began writing and illustrating for juvenile readers after working for advertising firms.
Born Crosby Barbara Newell, she married George Bonsall.
Works were published as Crosby Newell, Crosby Bonsall, and Crosby Newell Bonsall.
Bonsall began writing and illustrating for juvenile readers after working for advertising firms.
Born Crosby Barbara Newell, she married George Bonsall.
Works were published as Crosby Newell, Crosby Bonsall, and Crosby Newell Bonsall.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 9, 2014
At 4:30 am this morning my daughter was preparing to go on a Smithsonian field trip. Into the kitchen she lugged her two-ton backpack and pillow pet. She assured me she'd need both on the bus. As she got out a bottled water and a huge sack lunch from the fridge, I wondered:
WHAT THE HELL IS IN THAT BACKPACK?
And guess what? I invoked the mommy clause and unzipped it, despite her shrieking, "Mom, it's all packed! It's already packed!" It held these things:
11 books
2 headbands
1 hairbrush
a pocket mirror
One of the books inside was this book. A book wayyyyyy under her reading level but one she loves. And one I do too. After telling her to narrow the reading choices down to three (with one being the kids' blessedly fat copy of this Bone), I realized two things:
1. My daughter is just like me (SURPRISE!) and that means she is humming with the birds and singing in the shower and annoying the ever-loving shit out of her morning-haired brothers. She's always bringing too many books with her everywhere... and the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man in the moon, and whys your spine so crooked mom? Your back is bent. Books will do that then, child. It's known that books will do that then.
2. I have never reviewed this book! WHAT IN THE HELL WAS I THINKING?
So, this book! It is a vintage "I Can Read" from the early 60's and it is all about how libraries have everything. You can visit one and go home with an elephant under your arm or maybe three camels and a steam shovel in your hands. The best part about this book is that it's about a boy who is a little library missionary, visiting all his friends with their unwashed imaginations (Three camels?!? No-uh! Yes-hunh!) and showing them paradise. The not-best part is the illustration of adults and librarian angry and shocked at the children and their behavior. Thankfully, it is no longer 1961 and libraries now have welcoming spaces for both children with minds wide open and grumpy adults needing some sound-proofed reading privacy to do crosswords, research genealogy, or doze with a Redbook magazine on the lap. And now and again in 2014 there'll be an adult or two who even smiles at a child rejoicing over the finding of ELEPHANTS DOWN THIS AISLE!
WHAT THE HELL IS IN THAT BACKPACK?
And guess what? I invoked the mommy clause and unzipped it, despite her shrieking, "Mom, it's all packed! It's already packed!" It held these things:
11 books
2 headbands
1 hairbrush
a pocket mirror
One of the books inside was this book. A book wayyyyyy under her reading level but one she loves. And one I do too. After telling her to narrow the reading choices down to three (with one being the kids' blessedly fat copy of this Bone), I realized two things:
1. My daughter is just like me (SURPRISE!) and that means she is humming with the birds and singing in the shower and annoying the ever-loving shit out of her morning-haired brothers. She's always bringing too many books with her everywhere... and the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man in the moon, and whys your spine so crooked mom? Your back is bent. Books will do that then, child. It's known that books will do that then.
2. I have never reviewed this book! WHAT IN THE HELL WAS I THINKING?
So, this book! It is a vintage "I Can Read" from the early 60's and it is all about how libraries have everything. You can visit one and go home with an elephant under your arm or maybe three camels and a steam shovel in your hands. The best part about this book is that it's about a boy who is a little library missionary, visiting all his friends with their unwashed imaginations (Three camels?!? No-uh! Yes-hunh!) and showing them paradise. The not-best part is the illustration of adults and librarian angry and shocked at the children and their behavior. Thankfully, it is no longer 1961 and libraries now have welcoming spaces for both children with minds wide open and grumpy adults needing some sound-proofed reading privacy to do crosswords, research genealogy, or doze with a Redbook magazine on the lap. And now and again in 2014 there'll be an adult or two who even smiles at a child rejoicing over the finding of ELEPHANTS DOWN THIS AISLE!
April 30, 2025
This book was always one of the first my children read all by themselves. Excitement for the library and books is contagious.
We've worn our first copy out and were excited to find another at a 2nd hand store.
3/29/17 Read with Naomi & Julia
4/29/25 Read with Charlotte
We've worn our first copy out and were excited to find another at a 2nd hand store.
3/29/17 Read with Naomi & Julia
4/29/25 Read with Charlotte
April 23, 2019
The I Can Read book collection, one of the most prestigious and recognizable series of beginning readers ever published, has been in print since the 1957 release of Elsie Holmelund Minarik's
Little Bear
. It includes some of the true classics for this age level, among them Syd Hoff's
Danny and the Dinosaur
, the
Amelia Bedelia
series, Arnold Lobel's
Frog and Toad
books, and of course, one of my own all-time favorites,
Scarlet Monster Lives Here
.
This entry in the series was originally published in 1961, and is a delightful exploration of the magic of books and the joys of reading. "I know a place," begins young Andrew, and proceeds to tell his friend Tim of a magical place where a boy can hold an elephant in his arms, pick up a river and never get wet, or see a sky full of stars. "Tell me some more," Tim interjects at every turn, until he finally asks "Is everything there?" Everything IS there, as Tim discovers when he finally sees this place for himself. It is the library of course, and the adventures are only beginning...
Tell Me Some More... had a special place in my childhood collection. It was one of those books that I liked to read again and again, probably because it so perfectly captured the enchantment that my own library held for me... Our weekly trips were one of the high points of my week, and like Tim, I never tired of hearing more...
It is a true shame that this title remains out-of-print, and something of a mystery to me. As a long-time bookseller, I know that practically anything with the I Can Read label on it will sell, and Crosby Bonsall has many other titles that are currently available. Why not this one?
This entry in the series was originally published in 1961, and is a delightful exploration of the magic of books and the joys of reading. "I know a place," begins young Andrew, and proceeds to tell his friend Tim of a magical place where a boy can hold an elephant in his arms, pick up a river and never get wet, or see a sky full of stars. "Tell me some more," Tim interjects at every turn, until he finally asks "Is everything there?" Everything IS there, as Tim discovers when he finally sees this place for himself. It is the library of course, and the adventures are only beginning...
Tell Me Some More... had a special place in my childhood collection. It was one of those books that I liked to read again and again, probably because it so perfectly captured the enchantment that my own library held for me... Our weekly trips were one of the high points of my week, and like Tim, I never tired of hearing more...
It is a true shame that this title remains out-of-print, and something of a mystery to me. As a long-time bookseller, I know that practically anything with the I Can Read label on it will sell, and Crosby Bonsall has many other titles that are currently available. Why not this one?
March 7, 2021
শিশুদের বই পড়তে আগ্রহী করে তোলার জন্য চমৎকার একটা বই।
November 12, 2016
Throw away all those crappy "Oh, we love libraries! We love librarians!" books that are written solely to be purchased by librarians who long to be loved and respected. This is the sales pitch for the library done right (and please note that the librarian herself is not involved at all). Brilliant illustrations by Siebel as well - the typical 1950s 3-color process contrasted with pen-and-ink - just amazing results.
September 20, 2022
2 3/4 stars
February 28, 2022
Tell Me Some More …. By Crosby Newell Bonsall Illustrator Fritz Siebel- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of Andrew who introduces his friend to concept of Library. In verse form, Andrew informs his friend that in library both can hold camels, elephants, steam shovel. Both visit a library. They select books for themselves. Get the books issued in their name. Return back home with their books. Show the books to his younger sister so that she also loves books. Message- excitement for library book is contagious.
November 27, 2018
A book that is clever in showing just how magical the world of books can be.
Ages: 5 - 9
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Ages: 5 - 9
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
September 14, 2017
I loved this book as a kid. It was always at the Harrisville campground library and re-read each year.
March 31, 2018
Cute book that encourages reading and imagination.
July 1, 2023
Great book about libraries and books!
July 30, 2023
What a darling kids book about a library! I loved it!
June 5, 2012
This is a short and entertaining story about the magic of books and the library. It's good for beginning readers and the repetition in the narrative will likely reassure young children, although it started to annoy me.
The illustrations are humorous and have an old fashioned feel (which makes sense, as the book was originally published over 50 years ago.) Overall, I liked the way that Andrew enticed Tim (and later, Tim enticed Tansy) to discover the wonderful world of the library. We enjoyed reading this book together.
The illustrations are humorous and have an old fashioned feel (which makes sense, as the book was originally published over 50 years ago.) Overall, I liked the way that Andrew enticed Tim (and later, Tim enticed Tansy) to discover the wonderful world of the library. We enjoyed reading this book together.
June 22, 2022
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I owned a very old and very worn out copy and through the many nights of re-reading, the book eventually fell apart. The book was very well loved. I haven't been able to read it again in years but I remember it perfectly. Such a fantastic little story. I hope to purchase a new copy soon. Got a few little ones I watch who I think would adore it just as much as I once had.
February 25, 2013
Illustrated by Fritz Siebel
There was good use of repetition of the words in this book that would build the reader's confidence and the pictures also give good clues to the words associated with the story.
There was good use of repetition of the words in this book that would build the reader's confidence and the pictures also give good clues to the words associated with the story.
April 15, 2016
All about books, but not really as charming as I hoped. I guess it feels sort of misleading -- I like the idea of romanticizing books, but it ended up being a bit nonsensical to actually call the book the object /animal it's about.
November 9, 2012
I missed this charming I Can Read book when I was young. It's about children telling other children about all that you can find and do in a library.
August 6, 2013
Indoctronization!!!
March 16, 2016
A book about one of my favorite sentences. Love it.
November 13, 2014
This is the book that started my love for reading.
Read
March 17, 20161973 Bloom School
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews