Elmer Takes Off

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2AOn a windy day in the jungle, fun-loving Elmer, the patchwork elephant, decides to trick his friends and pretend he is being blown away. The worried elephants form a chain, trunk to tail, to save him and laugh at themselves when they find out it's a joke. Bird, however, does not laugh, warning Elmer of the danger of a strong wind. The jovial character sets out once again to prove to Bird that elephants are too heavy to fly. To his surprise, the wind carries him off, with his ears acting as wings. Initially fearful, he begins to enjoy the flight and lands safely. Rejoining the others, he tells them about his experience. The effervescent elephant brings laughter and cheer to all around him in this fifth adventure. As in the others, his vibrant multicolored hide stands out among the lush pinks, warm oranges, and deep blues of the jungle. Each page is a feast of colors from the green windswept trees to the distinctively happy blue birds. The emotions of the elephants, ranging from worried to gleeful, are all portrayed beautifully in their eyes, mouths, and trunks. This pleasant story will not disappoint Elmer's fans.AAnne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TXCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 4^-6. In his return here, Elmer the patchwork elephant is something of a cross between Dumbo and the little boy who cried wolf. The wind is blowing hard, and Elmer and his cousin Wilbur decide to play a trick on the other elephants by pretending Elmer has been blown away. The herd, linking trunks, comes to the rescue, but Elmer and Wilbur just laugh at the elephants for being taken in. The next time, of course, Elmer is blown away. No one comes to rescue him, and those big elephant ears take him up in the air. The other elephants see him fly by and finally come to find him; however, Elmer is reveling in his flight. The ending is flat, and little kids may be confused by the way Wilbur throws his voice to make the herd think Elmer has been blown away; otherwise, the story works well enough. The art is the main draw here. Pen-and-watercolor illustrations capture the movement of a windy day, and children will like looking at the brightly colored elephant, especially when juxtaposed with his gray friends. For larger collections or libraries where Elmer is popular. Ilene Cooper

Book Description
On a very, very windy day Elmer, the patchwork elephant, assures all the other animals and birds that nothing could ever blow him away.

Card catalog description
On a very, very windy day Elmer, the patchwork elephant, assures all the other animals and birds that nothing could ever blow him away.


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K-Gr 2On a windy day in the jungle, fun-loving Elmer, the patchwork elephant, decides to trick his friends and pretend he is being blown away. The worried elephants form a chain, trunk to tail, to save him and laugh at themselves when they find out it's a joke. Bird, however, does not laugh, warning Elmer of the danger of a strong wind. The jovial character sets out once again to prove to Bird that elephants are too heavy to fly. To his surprise, the wind carries him off, with his ears acting as wings. Initially fearful, he begins to enjoy the flight and lands safely. Rejoining the others, he tells them about his experience. The effervescent elephant brings laughter and cheer to all around him in this fifth adventure. As in the others, his vibrant multicolored hide stands out among the lush pinks, warm oranges, and deep blues of the jungle. Each page is a feast of colors from the green windswept trees to the distinctively happy blue birds. The emotions of the elephants, ranging from worried to gleeful, are all portrayed beautifully in their eyes, mouths, and trunks. This pleasant story will not disappoint Elmer's fans.Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX


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