WHEN YOUR ELEPHANT COMES TO PLAY

There are certain rules to keep in mind when an elephant comes to visit....

In this playful selection, inventive acrylic illustrations created with brush and paint roller on cotton paper show a young black-haired white boy with his friend Prudence, an elephant, as he goes about his day. “You might think it’s easy being friends with an elephant,” the boy explains. “It’s not.” Elephants, for example, should not be offered chocolate cake—at least not if you want your own helping. And chores? Not a good idea. Cooling off in the pool? Not if you want to get in. Sitting in a treehouse? Nope. And absolutely no jumping on the bed, as your baby sister (and your neighborhood) will definitely be woken up. Hugs though? Absolutely! This whimsical portrayal of an imaginative youngster’s day is sure to delight, and the minimal, humorous text leaves lots of room for young listeners to join in and add their own details. The eventful day closes at bedtime, the child still in his game of pretend—the text, delivered in a collegial second-person, never breaks character to suggest that perhaps it’s the boy who is making the messes—and in fact, the fun is sure to continue in the morning.

An excellent addition to any collection, this appealing tale is full of humor and easily extends imaginative play. (Picture book. 2-5)