How the Elephant Got Its Trunk: A Retelling of the Rudyard Kipling Tale ANNOTATION
Because of his curiosity about what the crocodile has for dinner, a little elephant and all elephants thereafter have long trunks.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
How did elephants get their trunks? This imaginative tale offers up a most fantastical answer.
"Hippopotamus!" little elephant called.
"Yes, little elephant, what can I do for you?"
"Excuse me, please, but could you tell me what the crocodile eats for dinner?"
Here is a story that takes place a long time ago, before elephants had trunks for noses . . . One day a very special elephant comes along--an unusually curious elephant--and she has an important question that she needs answered. Little does she know her question will lead to an amazing discovery.
This vibrant retelling of one of Rudyard Kipling's beloved Just-So Stories is sure to be appreciated and enjoyed by young children. And don't miss the fantastic gatefold where little elephant's nose gets stretched from bump to trunk!
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
The team behind God's Gift eloquently retells Kipling's classic tale, starring an endearingly snub-nosed, aqua-colored young elephant, bursting with curiosity. "Excuse me, please Can you tell me what the crocodile eats for dinner?" she asks Giraffe, whose fuchsia spots and golden body stand out against a dark wood with dappled greens and teals that play off of the heroine's hues. She also asks Hippopotamus, whose pond similarly reflects the colors of the little elephant's physique. Unable to get an answer, she follows the Kolokolo bird's advice and sets off to find the object of her obsession on the banks of the "great, gray-green greasy Limpopo River." In answer to her question, the clever croc beckons her closer. Using a fold-out page, Gorbaty portrays the ensuing tug-of-war, which results in a new appendage ("Her little bump of a nose began to stretch, just like bubble gum"). Richards strips away the violence found in The Just So Stories (in which the elephant is repeatedly spanked for his inquisitiveness); instead, her version plays up the spunky elephant's journey and shows children the joys of perseverance (she swats mosquitoes with her new nose and "She found she could also use her trunk as a trumpet: `Ta-da, ta-da!' "). Gorbaty's ethereal illustrations, layered with rich, transparent hues, create a mysterious mood that will draw young imaginations deep into the jungle, a place as colorful and as unforgettable as the mischievous Kolokolo bird. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)
Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
Some of the richness of language of the original Kipling story is lost in this simplification, but the essence remains, along with "the great, gray-green greasy Limpopo River" where the crocodile lives, and where the curious little elephant is sent by the kolokolo bird to find the answer to her question of what the crocodile eats for dinner. The pourquoi story is too much fun for kids to miss in any form. Gorbaty's imaginative use of stenciled shapes, printing ink and rollers, frequently exploiting jet-black pages to contrast with his bright jungle colors, swings the tale fluidly through branches and flower-dotted grasses. A clever foldout provides space for the climactic tug of war. Open the book to see the full design of the jacket. 2003, Henry Holt and Company,
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3-A simplified and sanitized retelling of Rudyard Kipling's classic. Long ago, when elephants had only bumps for noses, a curious young elephant is determined to find out what crocodiles eat for dinner. When the youngster sticks her nose out too far, a hungry crocodile seizes it and stretches it into the long trunk that elephants have today. This tale is no substitute for the original, as it lacks Kipling's rich use of language and subtle humor. Richards eliminates all mention of the Elephant's Child's many spankings, for example, or misuse of words such as "promiscuous." However, this picture book does make the story accessible to a wider audience. Children can enjoy it either through independent reading or as a read-aloud, and it could easily be adapted for creative dramatics, reader's theater, or puppet plays. Gorbaty uses stencils and rolled ink to create bold, colorful scenes with simple shapes, and the spreads are easily seen across a room. Unfortunately, the title of the original story and its source, Just So Stories, are not mentioned.-Eve Ortega, Cypress Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
A cheerful, curious, small-nosed young elephant's quest to find out what crocodiles have for dinner leads her down to the river, where she finds out with terrifying immediacy that crocs like to eat young elephants, starting by grabbing their noses. She earns her trunk as she pulls backwards until the croc finally gives up, only to realize that her heretofore small nose has been stretched out. At first she doesn't like her new appendage, but then realizes how useful it can be: she can wave to all her friends in the jungle, pull bananas off trees, and douse herself with mud and water when she needs to cool off. The other elephants admire her trunk so much that they go to the river to have their noses stretched by the crocodile. Realistic details about the uses of an elephant's trunk blend intriguingly with imaginary elements, the combination wryly expressed by the answer and question at the end of the story: "And that is why elephants have trunks today. At least that is the story. Do you believe it?" The printer's ink used in the stenciled illustrations provides especially rich, bright, textured colors that show up crisply against alternating backgrounds of clean white and solid black. The blocky, wood-cut look of the elephants, trees, and other forest denizens is deceptively simple; the mien of each of the animals aptly conveyed through facial expressions. The young, light-blue elephant is particularly appealing in her na�vet�. Curious youngsters will appreciate this version of Kipling's pourquoi tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
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