How to Catch an Elephant [Paperback]

DK Publishing (Author), Amy Schwartz (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Series: DK Ink

Here's the secret. Follow your uncle's advice and take to the jungle "3 cakes, 2 raisins, 1 telescope, and a pair of tweezers." Find a tree and wait for an elephant. If the elephant is angry, obstreperous, and hungry...hold on, be brave--things are not always what they seem.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Schwartz's (Old MacDonald Had a Farm) girl narrator, ardently in pursuit of a pachyderm, gives her audience some deceptively simple instructions for snaring one. The tools required for the catch, she explains, are few: three cakes, two raisins, one telescope and a pair of tweezers. Speaking breezily, the youngster then advises readers to "ask your Uncle Jack to bring you to the place where elephants go." Equally breezy unadorned gouache art depicts the girl carrying tiny tweezers and a large telescope as she follows her uncleAwho balances a boxed cake on his head while gripping two others in his handsAto just the right spot. With playful repetition and shrewdly kid-targeted visual humor, the author chronicles the capturing of a temperamental, brightly hued yellow pachyderm. To offer a hint at the outcome without giving it away, the fellow loves raisins but hates cakeAand becomes quite tiny when viewed through the wrong end of a telescope. Generous supplies of whimsy and understated humor turn out an engaging, outlandish how-to. Ages 3-6. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-A silly story that is sure to elicit giggles. After being given instructions by her Uncle Jack on just how to catch an elephant, a young girl eagerly sets out to complete this task. "Remember," says her uncle, "elephants are crazy about raisins.-And elephants hate cake." Besides those two strange bits of advice, she is also told to take a telescope and a pair of tweezers. Large, cartoonlike illustrations painted with warm oranges, yellows, and blues and placed on complementary-colored backgrounds are perfect for group sharing and perfectly suit this funny tale.
Rachel Fox, Port Washington Public Library, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; 1st edition (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789481855
• ISBN-13: 978-0789481856
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 7.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,392,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute, fun story!, July 7, 2011

By 

Michelle A Hodge (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Catch an Elephant (Paperback)

Overview: "Three cakes, 2 raisins, 1 telescope, and a pair of tweezers. That's what you need to catch an elephant." This is an amazing story of how a little girl catches an elephant with the items mentioned above!

Mommy Bookworm's Thoughts: This book is full of bright, vibrant illustrations, and is quite fun to read - especially if you act out the elephant's tantrums! Once again, there is a conflict online about what age group it's appropriate for. I believe that younger children (3-5) would enjoy it because of the illustrations & actions, but the actual reading level would be for older children (5-8). It's obviously just a fun book. There's not really a lesson to be learned by it (but that's okay because not all books have to have lessons)!!

Dahlia Bookworm's Thoughts: I liked the book, and it was funny because you needed weird things to catch an elephant. I liked the part where the girl made the elephant smaller & it stayed small. I can read it easily by myself. I would recommend it to kids my age and younger because it's a funny story.

Daisy Bookworm's Thoughts: I like the story because her uncle tells her that elephants go crazy about raisins & they hate cake. I like that the elephant only sucked up the raisins & then went wild because there were no more raisins. I like the pictures. I think it was a good story. It was funny because the elephant shrunk when she looked through the wrong side of the telescope. I would recommend this to kids my age & kids older & younger too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of laughs and giggles, May 11, 2000

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Catch An Elephant (Hardcover)

How do you catch an elephant? Easy...all you need are three cakes, two raisins, one telescope and a pair of tweezers. This is a silly, funny book that will charm your pre-schoolers. The repetitive format makes for easy reading and younger children will be able to "help" you read. The illustrations are simple and colorful. An all around winner. You can't go wrong with this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for storytimes!, March 31, 2000

By 

Ruhama Kordatzky "librariane" (Burlington, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Catch An Elephant (Hardcover)

I am a children's librarian at a small public library, and I used this book during my "silly stories" week. The repetitive structure and clear, colorful illustrations make this a good one for sharing with a group.