But No Elephants

One of my husband's favorite books from his childhood is But No Elephants by Jerry Smath (1980-08-03).  I have no idea where our copy of the book came from or how it found it's way onto our bookshelf, but I remember how my husband's face lite up at bedtime when he was asked to read But No Elephants the first time and explaining how he loved the book as a young boy.  Now it's a favorite book or our two girls.

The Details: Written (I'm guessing and illustrated because I haven't found anything to tell me otherwise) by Jerry Smath

Published 1979

This cute story is about Grandma Tildy who works hard and lives alone. A traveling pet man comes along and asks her to by a pet.  One by one they find a home except for the elephant, when Grandma Tildy finally lets the elephant in things go from bad, to worse, and then the elephant is a help and in the end everyone is happy (it's a kids book, you know it's going to have a happy ending).

Who as a child didn't spend hours with animals waiting for them to talk back to you, or to help you with your chores?  Maybe that was just me.  I loved stories where animals talked to you and made life easier.  If only that was reality.  And that's the fun in the story.  That a pet turtle is transportation (although that sounds awfully slow), instead of a pet in a tank that just is there to look at and feed and clean up after.

The illustrations are classic late 70's cartoon style, that are simple, fun, and colorful.  I love that you can tell that they were done by hand instead of all the digital illustrations in many of today's books.  They help tell the story which is key to children's picture books and early readers.

This book immediately became a favorite book to both of my girls.  It's on every reading log they do for school, and reading challenges they get from the library.  Our copy of the book was used when we got it (thrift store or handed down from family/friends), it has been well read and used in our house and still going strong.  Since it has lasted through the toddler years I think it's safe to say it's going to hopefully last years from now so we can read it with our grandchildren one day (many years from now).  It has been a book that has grown with both children.  My youngest still doesn't read on her own (age 4) but loves to have the book read to her and she helps out with the line she know "But No Elephants" the repetition helps and now that we've read it many times we follow the words with our fingers so it's great for learning to read.  My oldest daughter is in third grade and struggles with reading, so this is a favorite of hers because she can read it with confidence.  It is one of the few books that they will read together.

our well worn and loved copy of the book

For the review of But No Elephants in their own words you can check out my daughters' YouTube video here.

Is there an overall lesson from the story?  If you dive deep into the physiology of it I'm sure you can take away that having animals around makes you more cheerful, and while they don't (in reality) help with household chores and aren't going to uproot your home to some paradise they do add an element to your life that gives more meaning.  Or maybe the lesson is that the thing you most don't want is the one thing that will be best.  (No one wants to do their homework or spend time to study but you'll do better in the end once you give in)  Really it's just a fun story with no lesson needed to be taken away.

The Bottom Line:  A fun story that has and will last generations! 

• Illustrations are classic cartoon style, well done, colorful, attention grabbing, age appropriate, and aide the story
• Story Line is easy to follow, keeps attention, good repetition for early readers, and is cute and fun.

Happy Reading! 

Sick Simon

 The winter of 2016-2017 was a winter of stomach bugs, flu, and colds in my family and for many of our friends.  It was the first year my youngest was in pre-school, and the first year for many kids in school they have to build up their immune system and seem to catch everything that is going around.  It was right after we had all gotten over a bad cold that I found the book Sick Simon; The bright colors on the spine made it stand out to me in neon green and hot pink, it's an attention grabber. 

Before I go into my review here are some important details to the book:
Written and Illustrated by Dan Krall
Published 2015
Age/Grade level 4-8years old or pre-k through 3rd grade


As I read Sick Simon to my 3 year old, the very first thing that was screaming and staying in my mind were the pictures.  Dan Krall has perfectly captured the idea of spreading germs.  I turned slightly green reading this the first time, and really wasn't sure I wanted to keep going, it's gross.  Because the illustrations are disgusting it makes the whole book.  They drive home the lesson and stay in your mind.

I hope you haven't had the thought that just because the illustrations gross you out to give up on this book.  This is one of my favorite kids book.  I am a bit of a germaphobe.  I have come close to panic attacks at the indoor play parks at restaurants when there's a lot of kids and someone is all green snot everywhere, I try to keep as much distance as I can between me and that sneeze or blowing nose I just heard, and it's because of all of this that I love SICK SIMON.

Sick Simon is a picture book so the text amount is small, and easy to read.  Between short sentences and the art work the you will have the children's full attention.

Lesson Learned!  If you haven't checked out the book or figured out, the lesson is about germs, and spreading them.   Stay home if you're sick.  Wash your hands.  You know, all the things you should do to get better and prevent others from catching what you have.

I love it as a parent but what do kids think of the book?  My daughters have a video of their review check it out here. I've also read this book to my daughter's preschool the week they learned about being "super friends" the one thing super friends don't share are germs!  Sick Simon is an extremely fun book to read aloud to a group of kids.  The cries of "Ewww!" "Gross!" "Yuck!" from the kids and watching them comprehend the idea of germs and how you spread germs was great.  Not only that but with the illustrations there was a lot of discussion you can have with the children.  What is going on here?  How do these people feel?  What did you learn?  What is wrong here?

Bottom Line:  This is a book to have in your collection! 

• Illustrations are well done, colorful, attention grabbing, age appropriate, and aide the story
• Story Line is easy to follow, keeps attention, has a valuable lesson, and was fun

May you enjoy SICK SIMON.
 Stay healthy!
Wash your hands, 
rest when your sick,
and enjoy many more books!


Want to enhance the book with an experiment?  Try Glo Germs, and see how fast germs can spread and how you can't see them.  Check them out from Amazon: