The Right Number of Elephants [Paperback]

Jeff Sheppard (Author), Felicia Bond (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

"[In] a joyous twist on the counting-book concept, a girl decides how many elephants are needed to pull a train out of a tunnel, paint the ceiling, go to the beach. . . .Bond's well-executed illustrations [project] a contagious sense of movement. A puckish sense of humor prevails among elephants who skateboard, don sunglasses, act tough, and even wink at the audience." —SLJ.

1993 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There are millions, billions and trillions of counting books; is there room for another? For this one, absolutely. Sheppard counts down from 10 elephants to one in an inventive takeoff on the jokes that ask "How many whomevers does it take to do whatever?" First the reader is asked how many elephants it takes to pull a train out of a tunnel and save everyone on board; turn the page and 10 elephants charge into the countryside, squirting water and carrying train cars on their backs. It takes five elephants to "impress the neighbors with a quick circus" and three for "a fast game of cards." The text is quick, clever and unpredictable. Bond's illustrations are wild and fast-moving, and the format offers so much variety that readers will stay on their toes. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- A joyous twist on the well-worn counting-book concept. A girl decides how many elephants are needed to pull a train out of a tunnel, paint the ceiling, go to the beach, etc. The answers appear on subsequent pages, beginning with 10 elephants and decreasing by one with each new challenge. The elephants have a riotously good time cavorting across pages, winding up with just the one elephant needed for sharing a book and a special moment under a tree. As befits the concept, the story is slight; this book's success rests solely on Bond's well-executed watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil illustrations. Using tilting planes and a slightly distorted perspective, she projects a contagious sense of movement. The palette of rich greens, reds, and--of course--grays is shown to best advantage against the ample white space. The children are executed in a cartoonlike style, reflecting a broad range of cultures and races. The elephants, furniture, and other props have been done in a more realistic style. A puckish sense of humor prevails among elephants who skateboard, don sunglasses, act tough, and even wink at the audience. Children will no doubt be drawn to these delightful creatures. --Denise Anton Wright, Library Book Selection Service, Inc., Bloomington, IL
Copyright 1990 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: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (June 30, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064432998
• ISBN-13: 978-0064432993
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Elephants > Fiction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun counting book, April 16, 2000

By 

JKH "Selective TV Viewer" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Right Number Of Elephants Lb (Library Binding)

This is a fun, imaginative counting book, great for young children (2-4). "If you suddenly need to pull a train out of a tunnel and save everyone on board, then the right number of elephants is 10." It counts down to one elephant as a "very special friend." Very nice, and cute illustrations.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Condition, November 15, 2010

By 

archerst - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Right Number of Elephants (Paperback)

The book was in excellent when I got it. The story is also really cute. My kindergartners loved it! We are making our own "Right Number" book.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Right Number of Elephants, October 14, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Right Number of Elephants (Paperback)

The Right Number of Elephants is as silly as an elephant driving a car. First, each page helps the child count from ten to one by illustrating it with whimsical pictures of elephants doing everyday activities. Second, learning to count is a very important skill for young readers. Third, mixing fantasy with reality is a very good combination. For example, getting ten elephants to block the sun at the beach is ridiculous. If your child is having trouble with counting, this is the right book for them.