Right Number of Elephants
- Book Review,
by Jeff Sheppard
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.
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, ILCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"A joyous twist on the...counting-book concept."
Book Description
"[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)
Card catalog description
A counting book in which a little girl relies on the help of some eager elephants.
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