A Surprise for Giraffe and Elephant

January 12, 2015
Chatty, bossy Elephant and her quiet pal Giraffe star in three new vignettes in Gude’s follow-up to When Elephant Met Giraffe. In the first tale, Giraffe expresses his creative side by playing his alpine horn, with mixed results (“Giraffe!” Elephant shouts. “It’s too early for alpine horns!”) Next, the duo’s toboggan ride through their savanna environs isn’t as fun as imagined. And, finally, Elephant takes a very literal approach to planning Giraffe’s “surprise” party. Striking just the right tone between prickly and sweet, Gude offers a succinct, drily funny tribute to the seesaw nature of friendship. Ages 3–5. Agent: John Rudolph, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

December 15, 2014
The welcome return of odd-couple pals Elephant and Giraffe (When Elephant Met Giraffe, 2014).Gude tenders three brief but pointed moments in the lives of Elephant and Giraffe: the best time to play the alpenhorn (here referred to as an alpine horn), how to enjoy (or not) a toboggan on a tropical savannah and how to throw a surprise party. Its exactitude is charming. In the first vignette, Giraffe (who does not speak) is clueless as to when to play his huge horn: when Elephant is going to bed, when she is getting up, maybe when she is having lunch? Lunch turns out to be the best time. In the second sketch, Elephant voices that she would like a toboggan, so Giraffe sets to work (with an acetylene torch) to build her one. Once it's completed, they bring it to the dry, flat savannah and sit on it. Elephant is very grateful-and tactful. In the final episode, Elephant tells Giraffe she is throwing him a surprise party. Giraffe asks for balloon animals, polka music and no cake. That's what he gets but only if you take one word at a time. Though there are some quirks-using a blowtorch to build a wooden object is a big one-the artwork's an utter distraction, with color straight out of first-grade paint jars. Readers can't help but feel lifted after spending time with these two companions. (Picture book. 3-5)

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February 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-In this collection of short stories, Gude uses plain but bold black lines, basic backgrounds, and colors in his illustrations to play on the vignettes about a giraffe and elephant friend. The artwork appears simple, but that doesn't mean it is basic. Rather, it is exactly the right kind of simple, hitting the same notes as Mo Willems's "Pigeon" books (Disney-Hyperion) and Lucy Cousin's "Maisy" series (Candlewick). The three stories are equally straightforward and charming, perfect for young children to pore over. One is about Giraffe playing an alpine horn, the next is about Giraffe building a toboggan for his friend Elephant (sitting on it on the flat ground, "neither of them mentioned that it had been a little disappointing"), and the last vignette is about a surprise party. Funny and playful, the stories touch on friendship and caring for one another. The "No" cake featured at the end of the book, after Giraffe asks for "no cake" at his party, is a hilarious misunderstanding that children will love. VERDICT A solid addition for preschool and early elementary collections.-Shalini Miskelly, St. Benedict Catholic School, Seattle, WA

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