When Your Elephant Comes to Play

March 14, 2016
Mexican author-illustrator Barba makes a vivacious U.S. debut with the story of a rosy-cheeked boy who happily recounts the chaos that accompanies Wednesday visits from his friend Prudence, an elephant. The story is essentially a string of cautionary warnings: if you offer an elephant "a slice of your dad's famous double chocolate cake, just out of the oven," odds are good that the elephant will eat the whole thing and wreck the kitchen, too. The same goes for tackling chores (sweeping up dust causes Prudence's expressive trunk to curl into a spiral before she erupts into an enormous, gravity-defying sneeze), swimming, and more. Painted in bright reds, pinks, yellows, and blues, Barba's artwork has a joyful, childlike energy that is ideally suited to this series of improbable causes and equally over-the-top results, as when bouncing on the bed sends the boy and elephant hurtling across town. Lest anyone think that elephant friendship is all bad, the boy concludes with a reminder that their hugs can't be beat. It's a story as irrepressible as the cross-species pals it stars. Ages 3â7. Agent: Prospect Agency.

February 15, 2016
There are certain rules to keep in mind when an elephant comes to visit.... In this playful selection, inventive acrylic illustrations created with brush and paint roller on cotton paper show a young black-haired white boy with his friend Prudence, an elephant, as he goes about his day. "You might think it's easy being friends with an elephant," the boy explains. "It's not." Elephants, for example, should not be offered chocolate cake--at least not if you want your own helping. And chores? Not a good idea. Cooling off in the pool? Not if you want to get in. Sitting in a treehouse? Nope. And absolutely no jumping on the bed, as your baby sister (and your neighborhood) will definitely be woken up. Hugs though? Absolutely! This whimsical portrayal of an imaginative youngster's day is sure to delight, and the minimal, humorous text leaves lots of room for young listeners to join in and add their own details. The eventful day closes at bedtime, the child still in his game of pretend--the text, delivered in a collegial second-person, never breaks character to suggest that perhaps it's the boy who is making the messes--and in fact, the fun is sure to continue in the morning. An excellent addition to any collection, this appealing tale is full of humor and easily extends imaginative play. (Picture book. 2-5)

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May 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Friendship, tolerance, and diversity are at the heart of this lively picture book. On Wednesdays, a boy's friend Prudence, an elephant, comes to play. Readers see how certain situations are difficult to maneuver with an elephant in the house, including jumping on one's bed or eating warm chocolate cake. However, the child revels in the companionship and shows that elephants do give wonderful hugs. The last page of the story gives a preview of another friend, who is coming to play on Thursday. On a deeper level, this book shows that it is sometimes necessary to be patient with friends, no matter their differences or how hard it can be to accommodate special needs. The main theme is that love and friendship are ultimately the most important things. The text is rich with new words for building vocabulary, and the illustrations are simple, if a bit abstract. They are still fun and help to move the story.

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