When the Elephant Walks

May 24, 2004
Now in board book, Keiko Kasza's 1990 picture book When the Elephant Walks describes a chain reaction setting in as animals inadvertently terrifying one another. PW's review noted, "Kasza fills her pictures with amusing details that children will appreciate along with the simple story."

May 1, 1990
PreS-Gr 1-Is it the elephant's fault or the mouse's that all the creatures are startled? "When the Elephant walks," he scares the Bear who in turn scares the next animal; from Crocodile to Wild Hog to Mrs. Raccoon, the panic spreads until it returns to Elephant who is, of course, scared of little Mouse. Al though adults will easily predict the outcome, young children will giggle at the absurdity of the conclusion of this humorous story. It is a testament to the artist's expressive watercolors that so fulfilling a tale-complete with a subtle lesson (even the mighty among us are afraid of something)-can be told in so few words. Kasza's restraint in the amount of detail included in the pic tures is admirable; large amounts of white space draw attention to and frame each animal's fearful yet silly face. Not an original concept, but nev ertheless sure to be a popular choice for preschoolers and beginning readers.- Ellen Fader, Westport Pub. Lib., CT