But No Elephants

I'm glad I kept this on my list until I found a new library to join. It's one of those magically nostalgic classics, a 'sleeper' or 'cult' favorite, if you will. Kids, including child me, get a true kick, and feel the wonder of being able to empathize with the old lady, the pet salesman, and the critters too. There are also some neat details in the pictures; for example I love the smaller critters in bed, and the overalls the grandma changes into to cut wood. If you actually have kids or grandkids, you might actually want to buy this. If you don't, get it from your library, and if they don't have it, ask them to buy it. (Refer them to GR reviews to persuade them!) Btw, it's also Vegan-friendly. I will consider more by the author.

I get the message that this book is trying to convey, and that is why I am giving it 3 stars, but looking back as an adult, I have a more critical view of it and think the author could have presented the idea better.

This book is about an old woman living in her house alone. The zookeeper came and brought her animals one by one. She would take the animals, but she always said "But No Elephants!". Eventually, she took in the elephant and though he broke through the floor, he proved helpful by moving their house to a warmer climate where the winter wouldn't be so harsh on everyone. I loved this book and the lesson it is teaching. Though the elephant barely fit in the house, he contributed and helped the family of animals and the old lady. This book is appropriate for ages K-3.

"But no Elephants" is a story about a little old lady who buys a bunch of pets from a man selling them to her. He always has an elephant with him, but she's never willing to buy it, until the winter comes. She finally buys it, and hilarious things happen. I really liked this book and I would use it for grades K-3. I think the overall theme is acceptance and love.

This is a big favorite at our house. We read can read it over and over again and never get tired of Grandma Tildy and her house full of pets. We are quite pleased when she finally concedes and lets the elephant move in. Who could resist a crying elephant? And we always cheer when elephant saves the day and walks them to the tropics.

Wonderful repetitive book for young children. They feel for the elephant as he is turned away repeatedly, but love to shout, "but no elephants". When the elephant saves the day at the end the children are relieved and satisfied. they ask for this one again and again.

I saw this the other day and I remembered that I used to read this all the time when I was small. I couldn't remember much about it from when I was little, besides the pictures of the elephant. I have some vague notions that it used to make me sad and then super happy at the end. Which is kind of how it made me feel reading it now.