The Littlest Elephant

by Kate Read

Overview

Adorable jungle animals explore kindness and the importance of respecting others in this playful and energetic romp.

Ellie, the littlest elephant, is in a big hurry. She's just learned to swim, and she's excited to get to the water. She better get dashing if she wants to be the first one in! But as she crashes through the jungle, Ellie doesn't stop to see all the creatures she's knocked out of the way. Until...she steps on a tiger tail. ARRRGH!


Kate Read depicts a rich and lush setting, which hosts a delightfully colorful cast of friendly animals. This social-emotional tale is an excellent pick for introducing young ones to concepts of shared spaces and boundaries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682634943
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	10/18/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.25(w) x 10.12(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Kate Read is an author-illustrator of books for children, such as One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller (Ezra Jack Keats Honor Book) and Hey! A Colorful Mystery. Kate originally trained as a theater designer and graduated from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge with an MA in children's book illustration. Follow her on Instagram @kateeread28 and visit her on the web at www.kateread.co.uk.

Editorial Reviews

"The book offers a solid message. . . . the artwork is compelling."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-07-13
The titular elephant’s self-absorption causes problems for other animals.

Having just learned to swim, Ellie the littlest elephant wants to be the first to reach the water. As she rushes past other animals, shouting about all that she will do when she gets there, she knocks over the chameleon, interrupts the monkeys’ mango-picking, and jostles the butterflies. After she steps on the tiger’s tail and the big cat roars, Ellie pauses. A little voice responds, “Just in time!” Ellie glances down and realizes she was about to step on a mouse, who reminds her to watch where she’s going as all the animals look on. Ellie apologizes for her carelessness and then shows extraordinary concern and helpfulness as she and the others approach the pool together. The book offers a solid message, but the text feels didactic—less a story and more a lesson in respecting others. However, the artwork is compelling. The endpapers show a sophisticated pattern of trees. Mixed-media collages, in a colorful, soothing palette, depict animals with generally sweet expressions (the roaring tiger is a dramatic, slightly frightening exception); their exaggerated unhappy countenances when the mouse confronts Ellie will elicit giggles. Speech bubbles are sprinkled throughout as the creatures warn Ellie to slow down or call out in excitement.(This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet, though preachy. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews