Roger Bollen (1941–2015)

A paperbackswap find; [b:Alistair's Elephant|6145924|Alistair's Elephant|Marilyn Sadler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1337053023l/6145924._SX50_.jpg|2392674] that I'll be offering back out to any (US) requestor.

First of all, I don't like zoos. So, let's just not pay too much attention to that part of the story.

Now:
Is this just a funny story, in which a wild(ish) elephant shakes up the life of a very well-behaved boy? Yes & no. It is that, and it is show more worth reading and rereading on that level.

But it's not just that.
It's also the story of a persnickety little old man in a boy's body, with a domineering mother, who unconsciously realizes that he needs a little wildness in his own life... at least on weekends.

This is one of those all ages, different for each reader, fables that I love. If you love them too, be sure to also read the picturebooks by [a:Jon Agee|87516|Jon Agee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1484213052p2/87516.jpg] and some by [a:Arthur Yorinks|11352|Arthur Yorinks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561051156p2/11352.jpg], especially [b:Hey, Al|526077|Hey, Al|Arthur Yorinks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1586096083l/526077._SX50_.jpg|513903]. show less

Aliens! Monsters! Lost Library Books!

Alistair is a Very Good Little Boy. He's always clean, always on time, always organized. He always knows just what to do. Which is good, because this Very Good Little Boy ends up in some straaange situations. Only Alistair, on his way to return library books, would get kidnapped by aliens! (Fortunately, he's an excellent navigator and gets them all home safely). Only Alistair would end up with an elephant, find previously unknown monsters while scuba show more diving, or be able to deal with an alien invasion.

The completely insane situations contrasted with Alistair's consistently deadpan face and Very Good Behavior, will keep you giggling all the way through!

Verdict: Although these books are older, they're not at all outdated. Great fun if you find a used copy or buy the still in print paperback.

Alistair in Outer Space
ISBN: 978-0671666781; Published January 1984 by Simon & Schuster (paperback edition in print)

Alistair's Elephant
ISBN: 978-0671666804; Published September 1983 by Simon & Schuster (out of print)

Alistair Underwater
ISBN: 978-0671694067; Published June 1990 by Simon & Schuster (out of print)

Alistair and the Alien Invasion
ISBN: 978-0671759575; Published April 1994 by Simon & Schuster (out of print)

Alistair's Time Machine
ISBN: 978-0130223517; Published April 1986 by Simon & Schuster (out of print) show less

Aliens! Monsters! Lost Library Books!

Alistair is a Very Good Little Boy. He's always clean, always on time, always organized. He always knows just what to do. Which is good, because this Very Good Little Boy ends up in some straaange situations. Only Alistair, on his way to return library books, would get kidnapped by aliens! (Fortunately, he's an excellent navigator and gets them all home safely). Only Alistair would end up with an elephant, find previously unknown monsters while scuba show more diving, or be able to deal with an alien invasion.

The completely insane situations contrasted with Alistair's consistently deadpan face and Very Good Behavior, will keep you giggling all the way through!

Verdict: Although these books are older, they're not at all outdated. Great fun if you find a used copy or buy the still in print paperback.

Alistair in Outer Space
ISBN: 978-0671666781; Published January 1984 by Simon & Schuster (paperback edition in print)

Alistair's Elephant
ISBN: 978-0671666804; Published September 1983 by Simon & Schuster (out of print)

Alistair Underwater
ISBN: 978-0671694067; Published June 1990 by Simon & Schuster (out of print)

Alistair and the Alien Invasion
ISBN: 978-0671759575; Published April 1994 by Simon & Schuster (out of print)

Alistair's Time Machine
ISBN: 978-0130223517; Published April 1986 by Simon & Schuster (out of print) show less

Effective and affecting.. and funny, too! Brings to mind [b:But No Elephants|1243806|But No Elephants|Jerry Smath|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412230915s/1243806.jpg|1232511] and [b:Crictor|1097582|Crictor|Tomi Ungerer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347345187s/1097582.jpg|1084436], but is probably actually going to stick in my head better.

But what is it with little old ladies and exotic animal companions? There was one in Babar, too....