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The Elephant's Child
Because of his 'satiable curiosity about what a crocodile has for dinner, an elephant's child investigates and, after many difficulties with other animals, comes up with a definitive answer that affects all elephants thereafter.
36 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1902
27 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,161 books3,672 followersJoseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist.
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
August 3, 2013
“The Elephant’s Child” is the first “Just so” story introduced in the Rabbit Ears Storybook Classics series and is easily one of Rabbit Ears’ finest videos since it won a Grammy Award in the late 80s. Jack Nicholson’s silky narration, along with Bobby McFerrin’s harmonic music and Tim Raglin’s colorful illustrations makes “The Elephant’s Child” a worthwhile treat for the whole family to enjoy.
Jack Nicholson’s narration is extremely silk and sarcastic as he narrates an Elephant’s Child’s efforts to find out what the crocodile has for dinner. Jack Nicholson’s best vocal performance would have to be for the Elephant’s Child and the Bi-Colored-Python-Rock Snake. With the Elephant’s Child, Jack Nicholson uses a high pitched and childlike voice to reinforce the adolescence of the Elephant’s Child’s nature and with the Bi-Colored-Python-Rock-Snake, Jack Nicholson makes a snake sound each time he reaches a word that contains the s-syllable. Bobby McFerrin’s music is lovely as he makes harmonic sounds using his voice and his ability to create various sounds from his mouth to make music. Bobby McFerrin’s music creates a mesmerizing atmosphere to the story as his voice sounds like it is so far off the distance. Tim Raglin’s illustrations are brilliant and colorful, especially of the forest where the Elephant’s Child lives in as the trees are green and pink. The illustrations that stood out the most was the illustration of the Elephant’s Child having no trunk as his nose looks like a little stub on his face.
Parents should know that there is quite a bit of violence on this video, mainly of the Elephant’s Child being spanked throughout the video. There is also a bit of violence when the Elephant’s Child encounters the crocodile, but you probably can guess what is going to happen without me spoiling the ending for you. Parents should reassure their children that violence is not always the answer to solve your problems and you should not spank your child just because he or she is curious about the world. Just try to explain to your child about the trials of the world in terms simple enough for your child to understand.
The Elephant’s Child” is a great piece of work from Rabbit Ears Productions and it surely has enough humor and action that will satisfy any child for many years to come. I would recommend this video to children ages eight and up due to some advanced vocabulary that younger children might not understand and some violence that might worry some small children.
This story is also available on DVD through the Rabbit Ears Website and Amazon.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
November 3, 2020
Reading stories from your one of the most favorite Author make you dive into mental peace, fun, relaxation. This is same what I felt while reading it. The thought of Rudyard Kipling is way too sensible and affectionate.
Elephant's Child is really a fun read and such short reads are always go-through.
For me its 4.5/5.0
Elephant's Child is really a fun read and such short reads are always go-through.
For me its 4.5/5.0
October 24, 2012
I read this for PrimeTime and found myself nostalgic for the days when beating children without explanation was acceptable and revenge was sweet. Just kidding - I was a bit disturbed by the message of this book but I like that the PrimeTime kids will have to take a break from their modern-sheltered-21st C-childhoods while reading it. Here's my favorite quote: "He went especially out of his way to find a broad Hippopotamus (she was no relation of his), and he spanked her very hard, to make sure that the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake had spoken the truth about his new trunk." Oh, random violence against women. So 19th Century. I can't wait for this book's discussion next week.
January 23, 2008
Incredible. I heard this on NPR and really need to search it out and own it.
February 23, 2012
The illustrations (done by Lorinda Bryan Cauley) in this edition of Rudyard Kipling's The Elephant's Child are just beautiful! The pages alternate between color illustrations and black and white ones, but all of them are fantastic, and really enhance Kipling's story.
I have mixed feelings about the story itself. On one hand, it's a great fable, Kipling's writing is beautiful and poetic, and he has a lot of fun with words. It's masterfully written, of course. But... I can't read this book to my niece and nephew yet. They are still too young to be able to take this book with a grain of salt. While I realize that this was written at a time when the predominate philosophy was "children should be seen and not heard," that is not something that I can get behind with respect to my niece and nephew. Well, they *could* use a volume control, but in no way would I ever give any suggestion to them that asking questions is a bad thing, and that's precisely what The Elephant's Child does. Questions should be asked, how else is a child supposed to learn?
In addition, all the beatings going on in this story were just crazy! Moms, dads, aunts, uncles beating the baby for asking questions; the baby using his trunk to go back and lay the smack-down on his mom, dad, aunts and uncles... Crimony! CPS and/or the ASPCA should be called in here! This is just not a story that really meshes well with what most people today think of as acceptable child-rearing practices! And seriously, if one of the adults in this story had just answered the baby elephant's question instead of smacking him, this whole mess could have been avoided!
So, beautiful illustrations, beautiful writing, good fable, uncomfortable story. It might be good for a unit on fables for *older* kids, but when reading this book I don't think it would hurt for teachers or parents to talk with kids about how beliefs and standards have changed.
UPDATE:
Well, after much begging and pleading, my niece convinced me to please read this book to them. The kids really liked it, and while they did notice some of the things I mentioned above, it didn't bother them to the extent that it bothered me. My four year old nephew even sat through this long, wordy, story, and he understood and enjoyed it. This story really made the kids feel empowered, which is often a good thing. But in this case, well... They maybe got just a little bit too much of a good thing. My sister told me that this evening she told her son "no" about something, and he responded, "why not?" She told him that it was because she was the grown up, and she didn't think it was a good idea. Alas, my nephew's response was, "Well, *maybe* the grown ups should be quiet, and the kids should be in charge." After telling her that we read this story she said, "Ah. That explains it." Um.... Yeah....
There is a lot going on in this story. I don't shy away from my previous feeling that it can probably be read to kids, but it's probably best to preview it first. Adults should be aware of all the layers to this story, and know that kids may come away from this tale with ideas that were perhaps unintended. It is an even more complex story than I first realized, and adult involvement in helping the child to process this story is, I think, pretty important. Sadly, it seems that I slipped up on that with this book. Darn it!
I have mixed feelings about the story itself. On one hand, it's a great fable, Kipling's writing is beautiful and poetic, and he has a lot of fun with words. It's masterfully written, of course. But... I can't read this book to my niece and nephew yet. They are still too young to be able to take this book with a grain of salt. While I realize that this was written at a time when the predominate philosophy was "children should be seen and not heard," that is not something that I can get behind with respect to my niece and nephew. Well, they *could* use a volume control, but in no way would I ever give any suggestion to them that asking questions is a bad thing, and that's precisely what The Elephant's Child does. Questions should be asked, how else is a child supposed to learn?
In addition, all the beatings going on in this story were just crazy! Moms, dads, aunts, uncles beating the baby for asking questions; the baby using his trunk to go back and lay the smack-down on his mom, dad, aunts and uncles... Crimony! CPS and/or the ASPCA should be called in here! This is just not a story that really meshes well with what most people today think of as acceptable child-rearing practices! And seriously, if one of the adults in this story had just answered the baby elephant's question instead of smacking him, this whole mess could have been avoided!
So, beautiful illustrations, beautiful writing, good fable, uncomfortable story. It might be good for a unit on fables for *older* kids, but when reading this book I don't think it would hurt for teachers or parents to talk with kids about how beliefs and standards have changed.
UPDATE:
Well, after much begging and pleading, my niece convinced me to please read this book to them. The kids really liked it, and while they did notice some of the things I mentioned above, it didn't bother them to the extent that it bothered me. My four year old nephew even sat through this long, wordy, story, and he understood and enjoyed it. This story really made the kids feel empowered, which is often a good thing. But in this case, well... They maybe got just a little bit too much of a good thing. My sister told me that this evening she told her son "no" about something, and he responded, "why not?" She told him that it was because she was the grown up, and she didn't think it was a good idea. Alas, my nephew's response was, "Well, *maybe* the grown ups should be quiet, and the kids should be in charge." After telling her that we read this story she said, "Ah. That explains it." Um.... Yeah....
There is a lot going on in this story. I don't shy away from my previous feeling that it can probably be read to kids, but it's probably best to preview it first. Adults should be aware of all the layers to this story, and know that kids may come away from this tale with ideas that were perhaps unintended. It is an even more complex story than I first realized, and adult involvement in helping the child to process this story is, I think, pretty important. Sadly, it seems that I slipped up on that with this book. Darn it!
March 30, 2011
I found this story quite bizzar..All that smacking of the baby elephant was just out right odd to me. I knooow this book was writen in a very different time but it just grated on me :/ I woudn't want to give this book as a present to a small child.
October 28, 2009
Kipling's Just So Stories are literary classics characterized by a wonderful sense of humor and brilliant use of language. In this illustrated version of one, a young elephant (equipped with an abbreviated trunk "as big as a boot") is filled with curiosity, although his family and relations try to drive it out of him through much spanking. He asks endless questions in the manner of small children, receiving many spankings for his trouble, until he hits on a question that provokes a torrent of spanking: "What does the crocodile have for dinner?" Undeterred with this response, he sets out to find out the answer. What happens when he meets the crocodile is a surprise, but he gets a long trunk as a result. He uses this trunk to spank all of his relations upon his return home, and they head off to the river to get their own trunks lengthened.
The young elephant is often confused about why he is being spanked, which provides quite a poor model of adult discipline, since children receiving consequences should always know exactly what standard they have violated. Later, he returns the favor, providing a deliciously naughty fantasy that may be a little too appealing to children inclined to rebellion. Parents will need to be discerning as to whether their child can grasp the story's ridiculous tone. But for a child who can grasp the humor of this pseudo-folktale, it ought to provide an enjoyable flight of imagination.
The book is beautifully illustrated by Lorinda Bryan Cauley (who also illustrated Clancy's Coat), with alternating color and black-and-white drawings. Kipling's original text is retained in full. Because the language is difficult, it may be most appropriate for more advanced listeners or readers in the 4-8 age range.
There are three audio versions of the Just So Stories available for free download at Librivox.org. The volunteer reader in version 1 has a nice British accent and dramatic cadence, but pauses unpredictably and mispronounces some words. The reader in version 2 has an American accent, but a wonderful, dramatic cadence with accurate pronunciation. The reader in Version 3 also has an American accent, and a dramatic, precise enunciation.
The young elephant is often confused about why he is being spanked, which provides quite a poor model of adult discipline, since children receiving consequences should always know exactly what standard they have violated. Later, he returns the favor, providing a deliciously naughty fantasy that may be a little too appealing to children inclined to rebellion. Parents will need to be discerning as to whether their child can grasp the story's ridiculous tone. But for a child who can grasp the humor of this pseudo-folktale, it ought to provide an enjoyable flight of imagination.
The book is beautifully illustrated by Lorinda Bryan Cauley (who also illustrated Clancy's Coat), with alternating color and black-and-white drawings. Kipling's original text is retained in full. Because the language is difficult, it may be most appropriate for more advanced listeners or readers in the 4-8 age range.
There are three audio versions of the Just So Stories available for free download at Librivox.org. The volunteer reader in version 1 has a nice British accent and dramatic cadence, but pauses unpredictably and mispronounces some words. The reader in version 2 has an American accent, but a wonderful, dramatic cadence with accurate pronunciation. The reader in Version 3 also has an American accent, and a dramatic, precise enunciation.
watched-film-only
July 30, 2013Added 7/30/13.
Kids would LOVE this DVD! Adults would too. --->
"The Elephant's Child", Told by Jack Nicholson with Music by Bobby McFerrin (1981)(Rudyard Kipling's "Just So" story)
I just streamed it from Amazon and I loved it!
GOODREADS: The Elephant's Child
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Child...
AMAZON INSTANT VIDEO: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009...
The Bobby McFerrin's music alone is wonderful! Almost mesmerizing!
The simple animation is superb.
And you can't beat Jack Nicholson's voice.
"Rudyard Kipling's story of how the elephant got its trunk has always delighted children with its playful use of language and sense of high adventure. Never has there been a more satisfying rendering of Kipling's most beloved "Just So" story."
Here's a good review by a GR member:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Kids would LOVE this DVD! Adults would too. --->
"The Elephant's Child", Told by Jack Nicholson with Music by Bobby McFerrin (1981)(Rudyard Kipling's "Just So" story)
I just streamed it from Amazon and I loved it!
GOODREADS: The Elephant's Child
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Child...
AMAZON INSTANT VIDEO: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009...
The Bobby McFerrin's music alone is wonderful! Almost mesmerizing!
The simple animation is superb.
And you can't beat Jack Nicholson's voice.
"Rudyard Kipling's story of how the elephant got its trunk has always delighted children with its playful use of language and sense of high adventure. Never has there been a more satisfying rendering of Kipling's most beloved "Just So" story."
Here's a good review by a GR member:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
December 4, 2018
The elephant's child is curious about the world and wants to know why things are the way they are. He asks "what do crocodiles eat for dinner" to multiple characters, and each of the characters spank him for being curious. He finally meets a crocodile and asks him "what do crocodiles eat for dinner". The crocodile tries to eat the elephant's child but only stretches his trunk out. The sad child is encouraged by the snake that saved him, to look at all the things the child could do with his long trunk. The elephant's child returns home and spanks all the characters who spanked him.
This story is very confusing in the words the author chose to use. I couldn't follow the story line. Also, the beginning of the story shows violence for being curious, and that could hinder a child from using their imagination out of fear.
This story is very confusing in the words the author chose to use. I couldn't follow the story line. Also, the beginning of the story shows violence for being curious, and that could hinder a child from using their imagination out of fear.
July 12, 2016
This was the book that made me love audiobooks as a kid. (I still listen to them on a regular basis!) I used to listen to this book over and over on my little cassette player until I drove my brother mad.
I can still hear Jack Nicholson say, in his charismatic voice; "I am going to the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees, to find out what the Crocodile has for dinner."
I can still hear Jack Nicholson say, in his charismatic voice; "I am going to the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees, to find out what the Crocodile has for dinner."
July 4, 2012
The language, o best beloved, is most delectable. Still, children should be told not to go around spanking those who have only mere-smear noses. (Sorry; I had the wrong edition last time, and the fact that Bobby McFerrin was listed as the author bothered me most 'scruciatingly.)
June 5, 2008
Amazing sounds!
March 20, 2012
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING
i almost cried
i laughed
and im so happy i got it for free on the nook
THE NOOK READ IT TO ME EVEN xD
i almost cried
i laughed
and im so happy i got it for free on the nook
THE NOOK READ IT TO ME EVEN xD
June 1, 2017
I'm so happy the little elephant is done with all the spanking!
May 2, 2023
When you are halfway listening to someone read a book to a group of kids, you certainly do not expect to hear “And they spanked him for a very long time” to come out of the readers mouth, But that is exactly what happened this morning. As a daycare provider I expect to get a surprise every day, some are good and some are bad. I’m considering this book, today’s surprise and it is UNBELIEVABLE!
After I snatched the book away from my assistant and read it to myself I was shocked! How could this be a children’s book? The Elephant’s Child is the book I’m talking about, copyright 1989. It’s a story about a curious little elephant who asks a lot of questions. He asks why the ostrich’s feathers grow just so, and why the giraffe has spots, The animal’s reply? They SPANK him! So the curious little elephant sets off to find out what crocodiles eat for dinner. He gets spanked along the way by random animals and almost eaten by the crocodile, who just ends up stretching out the elephants nose into a trunk. When the elephant returns home, the animals try to spank him again but I guess he has had enough because he fights back and throws a monkey into a beehive! Another elephant notices his nose is different and tells him “It is very ugly”, so our curious little elephant says” yes, but it useful” and he spanks all the animals with it for a long time! End of the story, all the other elephants want trunks too, so they hurry off to get them from the crocodile.
WOW! I can’t even believe this book! I guess back in 1989 it was normal to spank kids for asking questions? Can you even imagine? If you are looking for a book to teach your kids that physical violence this would be the one, bullying someone who looks different is acceptable, and that the saying “an eye for an eye” is the way to do things, then this is the book you are looking for!
Considering I was four years old when this was published, maybe I do not remember how people were raising up their children, but this just goes to show how the times have changed! The worst part, this book is a “Read With Me” book, and it has tips for parents in the beginning to have your child follow along and say the word when they see the pictures!
Next time I get a box of books from a garage sale, I will make sure to actually read each and every one before they go on my bookshelf. I wouldn’t want my daycare kids to turn into a bunch of crazy spanking machines!
After I snatched the book away from my assistant and read it to myself I was shocked! How could this be a children’s book? The Elephant’s Child is the book I’m talking about, copyright 1989. It’s a story about a curious little elephant who asks a lot of questions. He asks why the ostrich’s feathers grow just so, and why the giraffe has spots, The animal’s reply? They SPANK him! So the curious little elephant sets off to find out what crocodiles eat for dinner. He gets spanked along the way by random animals and almost eaten by the crocodile, who just ends up stretching out the elephants nose into a trunk. When the elephant returns home, the animals try to spank him again but I guess he has had enough because he fights back and throws a monkey into a beehive! Another elephant notices his nose is different and tells him “It is very ugly”, so our curious little elephant says” yes, but it useful” and he spanks all the animals with it for a long time! End of the story, all the other elephants want trunks too, so they hurry off to get them from the crocodile.
WOW! I can’t even believe this book! I guess back in 1989 it was normal to spank kids for asking questions? Can you even imagine? If you are looking for a book to teach your kids that physical violence this would be the one, bullying someone who looks different is acceptable, and that the saying “an eye for an eye” is the way to do things, then this is the book you are looking for!
Considering I was four years old when this was published, maybe I do not remember how people were raising up their children, but this just goes to show how the times have changed! The worst part, this book is a “Read With Me” book, and it has tips for parents in the beginning to have your child follow along and say the word when they see the pictures!
Next time I get a box of books from a garage sale, I will make sure to actually read each and every one before they go on my bookshelf. I wouldn’t want my daycare kids to turn into a bunch of crazy spanking machines!
April 25, 2025
Utterly delightful
I do however hate that the poor creature was spanked so much & he was just like “if u don’t mind, would u pls stop 😇” & his entire family & also random strangers were like NO, SHUT UP 🥊💥
I do however hate that the poor creature was spanked so much & he was just like “if u don’t mind, would u pls stop 😇” & his entire family & also random strangers were like NO, SHUT UP 🥊💥
May 12, 2021
Cât priveşte veracitatea povestirii acesteia, n-ar trebui să existe niciun fel de îndoială, deoarece mi-a fost spusă de către Mulvaney, în spatele cantonamentului elefanţilor, într-o seară caldă pe când scosesem câinii la plimbare. Cei doisprezece elefanţi ai guvernământului se legănau legaţi de pari în faţa uriaşelor grajduri cu pereţi de lut (câte o boltă, tot atât de largă ca bolta unui pod, pentru fiecare neastâmpărat animal), iar mahuţii pregăteau cina. Când şi când, câte un animal mai tânăr, adulmecând izul de turtes scâncea; atunci copilaşii goi, ataşaţi cantonamentului elefanţilor, îşi făceau apariţia pe drumeag păşind ţanţoşi, strigând şi poruncind tăcere, ori săltându-se pe vârful picioarelor loveau lacomele trompe. Drept care elefanţii se prefăceau a fi profund interesaţi în a-şi turna colb pe cap dar, de îndată ce plecau copiii, legănarea, foiala şi mormăitul reîncepeau.
Amurgul trăgea să moară, şi elefanţii profilau legănatele mişcări ale unor trupuri cu desăvârșire negre pe singura fâşie de-un roşu-trandafiriu, vizibilă pe geana joasă a cerului de culoarea prafului şi a cenuşii. Era la începutul sezonului cald, tocmai după ce trupele îmbrăcaseră uniforma albă, aşa că Mulvaney şi Ortheris arătau ca nişte strigoi umblând în lăsarea serii. Learoyd plecase la altă cazarmă, să cumpere alifie de pucioasă pentru ultimul lui câine bănuit de scabie, şi fusese îndeajuns de grijuliu să-şi pună coteţul de câini la carantină, în dosul cuptorului care foloseşte drept crematoriu pentru cazurile de dalac.
― Ţie nu ţi-ar plăcea să ai scabie, aşa-i, mi ti ti co? grăi Ortheris răsturnând-o cu piciorul pe căţeluşa mea, un terier dolofan şi alb. Eşti fudulă nevoie mare, să ştii că da. Nici n-ai vrut să mă bagi în seamă, deunăzi, când mi te duceai acasă, de una singură în docar, aşa-i?
Amurgul trăgea să moară, şi elefanţii profilau legănatele mişcări ale unor trupuri cu desăvârșire negre pe singura fâşie de-un roşu-trandafiriu, vizibilă pe geana joasă a cerului de culoarea prafului şi a cenuşii. Era la începutul sezonului cald, tocmai după ce trupele îmbrăcaseră uniforma albă, aşa că Mulvaney şi Ortheris arătau ca nişte strigoi umblând în lăsarea serii. Learoyd plecase la altă cazarmă, să cumpere alifie de pucioasă pentru ultimul lui câine bănuit de scabie, şi fusese îndeajuns de grijuliu să-şi pună coteţul de câini la carantină, în dosul cuptorului care foloseşte drept crematoriu pentru cazurile de dalac.
― Ţie nu ţi-ar plăcea să ai scabie, aşa-i, mi ti ti co? grăi Ortheris răsturnând-o cu piciorul pe căţeluşa mea, un terier dolofan şi alb. Eşti fudulă nevoie mare, să ştii că da. Nici n-ai vrut să mă bagi în seamă, deunăzi, când mi te duceai acasă, de una singură în docar, aşa-i?
September 3, 2012
I loved this story! I found it adorable, but kind of scary at some parts (I didn't want the Elephant Child to die)! The story is about a young elephant, with no trademark elephant trunk, who is very curious. He ends up in trouble when he asks about crocodiles eat . What the elephant does not know is that the creature he stumbles upon the Limpopo River he is sent to is indeed a crocodile and crocodiles are vicious carnivores. The crocodile bites the elephant's little nose and, in an effort to escape, the elephant pulls his nose back. The nose continues to stretch until the crocodile lets go. The elephant is in pain, and patiently waits for his nose to go back to normal. However, when it doesn't, he learns to use his nose to his advantage, for things like "spanking" and has all the other elephants going to the crocodile for a "new nose."
This story is good for all age groups, depending on the context the teacher focuses on. For younger kids, the imagery is very vivid and would make a good read-aloud story, with a drawing activity after (maybe draw the Elephant Child doing new things with his new nose). For older kids, like 3rd-5th graders, they can talk about actual benefits elephants have in the wild with such a large nose.
This story is good for all age groups, depending on the context the teacher focuses on. For younger kids, the imagery is very vivid and would make a good read-aloud story, with a drawing activity after (maybe draw the Elephant Child doing new things with his new nose). For older kids, like 3rd-5th graders, they can talk about actual benefits elephants have in the wild with such a large nose.
June 27, 2012
Hi guys here is my latest review
The Elephant's Child
The Elephant's child is a story based on a child elephant that was full of questions which led to a great curiosity. The child elephant kept asking many questions such as `What made Giraffe's skin spotty?'. In answer he would get a nice spanking from his uncle (Giraffe), aunt (Hippopotamus), and all his other relatives to whom he persistently asked the question.
The story goes on to tell how one day Elephant's Child got inquisitive about what do crocodiles have for dinner. Having spoke to Kokolo bird, he took his advice and went to Limpopo River to find an answer for himself.
The story is an excellent read for young children within the classroom that have a inquisitive manner. It highlights the importance of asking questions and how children can find the solutions to these questions. I read this story before with Key stage one and they really related to it. I believe that it is an essential story book to have in any Key stage one classroom.
October 28, 2013
Read by: Mary
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Illustrator: Lorinda Bryan Cauley
Interest Level: K-2
Grade level Equivalent: 5.1
Lexile Measure®: 1100L
Guided Reading: M
The Elephant's Child is a fable about how the elephant got its long trunk. The story starts of with a curios elephant child who was full of curiosity and always got in trouble because of always asking questions. He wanted to know what the crocodile had for dinner so he left, where he meets creatures along the way. He finally meets a crocodile who tricks him to come closer and snaps his trunk and pulls, making it longer in the process. The book has black and white, with inter-spaced color pictures throughout. This book has an overt plot which shows all the incidents in the open and are chronological, which allows the teacher to teach about the conflict, crisis, climax, and so on.
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Illustrator: Lorinda Bryan Cauley
Interest Level: K-2
Grade level Equivalent: 5.1
Lexile Measure®: 1100L
Guided Reading: M
The Elephant's Child is a fable about how the elephant got its long trunk. The story starts of with a curios elephant child who was full of curiosity and always got in trouble because of always asking questions. He wanted to know what the crocodile had for dinner so he left, where he meets creatures along the way. He finally meets a crocodile who tricks him to come closer and snaps his trunk and pulls, making it longer in the process. The book has black and white, with inter-spaced color pictures throughout. This book has an overt plot which shows all the incidents in the open and are chronological, which allows the teacher to teach about the conflict, crisis, climax, and so on.
November 26, 2017
This is a hilarious take on the traditional lessons-learned children's stories. The Elephant's Child was a short-nosed creature that was always curious, but for every question he asked of a relative he got spanked. At one point he wants to know what crocodiles are and what one would have for dinner, gets spanked, but finds out where to go to find a crocodile. He journeys across Africa and finds one. As illustrated on the story's cover, the Elephant's child had a tug-of-war with the hungry crocodile. He returns home with a new, stretched out nose and can spank everyone else as they had spanked him. For a change the child isn't the one who needed to learn a lesson. I could almost laugh, imagining a child going around spanking all the adults that spanked him for asking any kind of question. Talk about setting an example that came around and got you in the butt.
January 26, 2011
This tells the story of how the Elephant got his long nose. The Elephant is extremely curious and is always asking questions of the animals, and one day his curiosity leads him down to where the crocodile lives. The crocodile grabs onto the elephant's very short nose and pulls. The elephant pulls back and pulls and pulls until his trunk is stretched very far. One the crocodile lets go the elephant's nose never returns back to its short state. This seemed to be more of an original story, not to interesting, but at least not like the ones I've been reading.
July 2, 2015
I am reviewing the Kindle version of this book which includes the Tim Raglin illustrations, but not the Jack Nicholson narration. The Rudyard Kipling story is one of my favorites and the Tim Raglin illustrations are perfect for the story, but I was very disappointed in the Kindle treatment. The text is much too small and Kindle just allows you to double-tap to get slightly larger text in a crude dialog box that is awkward to use and distracts from the illustrations. Story-A+, Illustrations-A+, Kindle implementation-D minus.
March 7, 2011
"The Elephant's Child" can be a good book for introducing your students to the idea of a fable. The story tells of how an Elephant gets it's long trunk. As an activating strategy, I would read this to my students and explain the concept of a fable. Can they think of any other fables? As a class we would brainstorm all the fables we can think of and then investigate how fables are written since they all follow a similar format.
June 4, 2011
My first picture book for the NOOK Color, downloaded as a freebie from Barnes & Noble. I was skeptical about the whole "read to me" feature, but it's actually quite appealing. The whole experience is very cute. They don't go overboard making it interactive -- it's just a picture book with voiceover. The narrator does a great job, and the illustrations are adorable.
And yes, I'm adding this to GoodReads solely to catch up on my 2011 Reading Challenge book count.
And yes, I'm adding this to GoodReads solely to catch up on my 2011 Reading Challenge book count.
November 30, 2011
This teaches children that it is ok to have curiosity. This is a great way to show in a humor way about rebelion and reeling back in the student. I thought this was a very good book to use with those kids because of the way that it presents the elphant having its curiosity in its trunk. This would be a good way to introduce the saying, "curiosity killed the cat". I think that children need to know their boundaries.
July 4, 2012
from my sister Sarah:
The language, o best beloved, is most delectable. Still, children should be told not to go around spanking those who have only mere-smear noses. (Sorry; I had the wrong edition last time, and the fact that Bobby McFerrin was listed as the author bothered me most 'scruciatingly.)
here is a good version: The Children's Treasury: Best Loved Stories And Poems From Around The World
by First Glance Books
The language, o best beloved, is most delectable. Still, children should be told not to go around spanking those who have only mere-smear noses. (Sorry; I had the wrong edition last time, and the fact that Bobby McFerrin was listed as the author bothered me most 'scruciatingly.)
here is a good version: The Children's Treasury: Best Loved Stories And Poems From Around The World
by First Glance Books
December 1, 2012
Ha! I loved this book! I have never read a children's book on my NOOK before, and it was such a great experience! I chose the "read it to me" feature just to see what happened. The narrator's voice was perfect. I think my students would LOVE this feature. Now I want to download audiobooks on my NOOK and see how my students like it. Where do I find more awesome books like this?
This book is beautifully illustrated, wonderfully narrated, and just a cool little book for kids, teens, AND adults :)
This book is beautifully illustrated, wonderfully narrated, and just a cool little book for kids, teens, AND adults :)
Want to read
March 31, 2011The story my mother used to read me most often, because I asked for it again and again. I loved the sheer fun of it, the music and the rhythm of the words. It was subversive too. Still my favourite story.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...
August 6, 2011
I got this book free with my NookColor, and my kids love it!!! It has come in handy while waiting in line at the grocery store, or in the waiting room at the doctor's and orthodontist. It is wonderfully illustrated with very bright pictures. All Rudyard Kipling stories are classics, but having this on a "Read to Me" ebook is wonderful.
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