And here it is Perfect Picture Book Friday again! Where does the time go? I think there's a time thief around here somewhere. I'm going to have someone look into that at once. I can't afford to be having entire weeks stolen right out from under me! :)
But for right now, I have the cutest, sweetest book to share with you. I dare you not to fall in love with this baby elephant :) His name is Raju... in case you were wondering :)
Written By: Timothy Knapman
Illustrated By: Patrick Benson
Candlewick Press, February 2015, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 2-5
Themes/Topics: patience, family relationship (mother/son), adventure, bedtime
Opening: "Very early one morning, Raju and his mother set out on a great adventure. It was cold and dark. They walked for a long time. "When can we go home again?" asked Raju. "Soon," said his mother."
Brief Synopsis: A little elephant and his mother go on an adventure which the little elephant is not sure about. "When can we go home?" he keeps asking. But when the adventure is complete, all he wants to know is, "When can we go again?"
Links To Resources: discuss what you think the qualities of an adventure are, and what you would like to do for an adventure; talk about ways that your mom and/or dad makes you feel safe; go on an adventure walk; make up your own adventure story.
Why I Like This Book: First and foremost, oh! I love the art! Soft pastel colors, the cutest baby elephant you ever saw, and such expression in the elephants' faces and body language. The story is sweet and tender, the mother leading her baby on a special outing, keeping him safe from every danger along the way (crocodiles, snakes, tigers) and in so doing teaching him how to keep himself safe. In the same vein as The Camel Who Took A Walk (1967) (reviewed HERE for PPBF), there's not a lot of rootin' tootin' action, but the story is just lovely, and perfect for bedtime.
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you and see what wonderful books you've chosen this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Another cute elephant story and I do like mother and baby stories. My daughter is a little bit like baby elephant- always asking to go home and then once we get home then she says she's bored.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the time-change-effect.... we turn our clocks an hour ahead and then an entire week goes missing! Thanks for the elephant story. How cute!
ReplyDeleteOh, that cover has me.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there is very little on this earth that is cuter than a baby elephant.
I love elephant stories and this sounds like a reassuring book for a young child. It encourages interaction. The cover is gorgeous! I love your activity suggestions.
ReplyDeleteAs for time, it's speeding up.
What an enchanting looking and sensitive sounding book, thanks for sharing it with us! I want to look at "The Camel Who Took A Walk" too.
ReplyDeleteGosh Susanna I don't know where the week went to either... Maybe it was the day light savings snatcher.
Wow. So sweet! Have you noticed how many books are anout elephants? Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this one, Susanna and it DOES look SO sweet! Checking it out :D...
ReplyDeleteHow sweet, Susanna. I'm checking this one out for ReFoFeMo! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm sharing this on my Edmund page and also sharing with my animal loving daughter in law. I Just love the sound of this sweet book. Thanks for introducing it to us!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I feel the same way you do about time. There has to be a time thief somewhere. Please look into it. I thought it was Sunday, too. :)
That looks like such a sweet book. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh, that little elephant sounds so much like my little elephant. :D Pastels make very soothing bedtime colors, don't they? Sweet!
ReplyDeleteMy week disappeared into the flu bucket. Haven't had it in years. Don't want to have it ever again. Nuff said.
Don't know this book, Susanna...but it looks charming. I love the retro look of the cover/illustration. It's so interesting that although publishers and agents keep saying that no one wants quiet books, we keep seeing them get published. Same thing about rhyming pbs...I guess if it is really really a winner, someone is going to snatch it up...'sigh'. :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks lovely. I love quiet books and this seems to be a quiet one. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteThis looks absolutely lovely. Gotta go pick it up! Thanks again for this (hoping to actually have one up next week :D).
ReplyDeleteHow interesting to have a MC that doesn't want to explore! I am interested to read (and see more of that cutie baby elephant)
ReplyDeleteThat is the cutiest of elephants illustrations. What a sweet story. Perfect for PPBF :)
ReplyDeleteElephants are one my favorite animals. Oh, they are wonderful, wonderful beings. I'll read this book on the fact it is about elephants on that alone -- but the illustrations and story look amazing! This is the perfect book for us! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love an elephant?! And I also love pastel art, soooo, I guess I must check this one out, too. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
This sounds delightful. And the title makes me swoon ... Soon. Another pick for my ever-growing list. Thanks and happy springtime.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it, Barbara! Soon is how I'm feeling about springtime - it's coming soon! :)
ReplyDeleteI know, seriously! How can you not love baby elephants? Look at this cute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi5wMW1sCU0 How cute is THAT little baby?!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you like it, Tiffa! I just put the cutest baby elephant video ever in the comment above - you must go see it! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane! I'm so glad you like it. I am helpless not to love baby elephants :)
ReplyDeleteThe art is just gorgeous, Wendy! Wait until you see him playing in the water! And yes, he is a reluctant adventurer - and I probably should have included trying new things in the theme list :)
ReplyDeleteWe all do what we can, Joanne - some weeks there just isn't time for everything... well, actually, it seems like pretty much EVERY week there isn't time for everything :) I'm glad you like this sweet book :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a quiet one, Rosi, but lovely, and pretty, and sweet! I think you'll like it :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you and the library enjoy it, Anne - it's so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSigh indeed! Those are the books I write... but alas, mine don't seem to be winning enough most of the time! We've just got to keep at it, I guess! :) Hope you get a chance to see this one, Vivian - it's really sweet :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the book, and hope you are feeling much, much better - that is the worst!
ReplyDeleteIt is a sweet book, Barbara - and so pretty :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one having trouble with the time, Clar :) And I'm glad you like this book - it's SUCH a cute one!
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it, Jarm! :)
ReplyDeleteSweet is the word for it, Donna - you can't not love this book :)
ReplyDeleteI know - there do seem to be a few of them out there :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a really cute book, Michelle, and The Camel Who Took A Walk is one of my all time favorites from when I was little - the rhythm of the language just makes you want to read it over and over. I'm sorry time is giving you a hard...time :)... as well, but I'm also glad I'm not the only one!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the look of this book, Pat - it IS reassuring - I love the way the mother takes care of her little one! And yes, I'm afraid time is speeding up! Wasn't I just 29? :)
ReplyDeleteExcept maybe a kitten :)
ReplyDeleteYou know, I didn't think about that, Sue! I believe you're right! Another reason to do away with daylight savings - which is the most backward thinking, seriously!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Then she will like this one, Rachel :)
ReplyDeleteAwwww…so sweet. Thanks for sharing, Susanna!
ReplyDeleteI just placed "The Camel Who Took a Walk" on reserve from my library. I read your review from 2012 about it, and I too wish there were more of an abundance of lyrical PB's. There are some but there could be many more… Soak up some of that extra sun light we're graced with when you can.
ReplyDeleteThe illustration on the cover is beautiful! It reminds me of kids asking "Are we there yet?" when on a trip. :)
ReplyDeleteIt kind of does :) Except for this baby it's the opposite - he wants to go home :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it, Cathy - it's a cute one! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you like it! It's old-fashioned, but I LOVE those books :) As for sunlight... it's been raining here for two days. But I'm not complaining! Rain is not snow! And the snow is melting... slowly but surely :)
ReplyDeleteHarumph. Are you trying to provoke me?
ReplyDeleteI love the sweet ones like this. Especially at bedtime (so my kids will CALM DOWN!) ;) And I can only see the cover, but I love the art! A talent I really wish I had.
ReplyDeleteOh that looks and sounds adorable, Susanna! I'm really into elephants at the moment.
ReplyDelete