Elephants Never Forget!

“Elephants Never Forget”
I REALLY liked this book for a few reasons. One of the reasons was that the text was poetic and every page rhymed. This always makes for an engaging story for young children to read or listen along. I also liked the layout of the book. When picking it up I thought it wouldn’t be interesting but grabbed it anyway, but the text is not just straight lines across the page but the text has somewhat of a motion of the sounds of the story. For example on page says, “The reason they’d run was suddenly clear… R O A A R! The elephant trembled in fear.” The “roar” portion on this page was spread out large across the tiger that had come along in the story. I also enjoyed the plot of the book because it is show more not predictable and ended in a way that is very unique by having the elephant decide that he wants to stay with the buffalo in the end. The main message of this book is friendship and how important long lasting friends can be in someone’s life. show less

I first discovered this author in Catch that Crocodile! While I admit the artwork isn't my favorite style, and my library patrons don't seem to be very interested in checking them out, when I've pulled the books and read them in storytime the kids love them.

Each of these stories has a strong rhyming pattern and include many opportunities to get the kids involved in the story, asking what happens next, trying to answer the questions asked by the text, etc. Elephants Never Forget also has excellent opportunities for practicing elephant toots and buffalo bellows. They each seem to follow a pattern of a misplaced animal - a crocodile in a village ditch, a tiger in a village tree, and an elephant among buffalos. The artwork is blocky and can show more be difficult to discern the actual pictures, although Elephants Never Forget, which is illustrated by Christine Pieper rather than Pulak Biswas, is more conventional. You may have to actively push these stories at patrons - but once they've tried them, they'll love them!

Verdict: I recommend Elephants Never Forget and Catch That Crocodile. Have a crocodile and/or elephant themed storytime and introduce your patrons to something different!

Catch that crocodile
ISBN: 978-8186211632; Published March 2008 by Tara; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal wishlist

Elephants never forget
ISBN: 0618997849; Published March 2008 by Houghton Mifflin; Borrowed from the library; Added to my personal wishlist

Tiger on a tree
ISBN: 978-0374375553; Published March 2005 by Farrar Straus & Giroux; Borrowed from the library show less

I absolutely loved this book! It is the classic story of an elephant who grows up with water buffalo and finds purpose with his new "family". This will definitely be in my classroom library next year. The illustrations are unusual as they have an old 1920's feel to them but they match the story.

About how a baby elephant gets lost in a storm, meets a herd of cows and becomes a part of the herd.
When the time to make a choice whether to go back to the elephant herd or cows, it chooses the cows.
About emotional connect and where one belongs. The choice of that Illustrations are unique.
"Graphic feel with the old-fashioned woodcut style of an earlier era" - from back cover

This is a book about an elephant who becomes lost in the forest and ends up becoming a buffalo. When he sees elephants again what will he do. This is a great book about fitting in and finding your place even though you may be different. This would be a great book for any elementary children and provides a great story and teaching point.

elephant grows up with water buffaloes, when elephants are met years later, he decides he will stay with the water buffaloes. Nice rhyme.

SPOILER: When an elephant who has been welcomed by a herd of buffaloes finally meets up with other elephants again, he realizes that he identifies with the buffaloes.