When I was in elementary school, a group of boys who I played with decided to form a boy's only 'club.' I was told very firmly that I could not be a member and that I should "buzz off!" Needless to say, my feelings were very hurt by this rejection.
When I read today's picture book I was reminded of that time when being excluded made me feel so alone. This book explores what it is like to be left out, and we see how some children deal with the problem.
Strictly No Elephants
When I read today's picture book I was reminded of that time when being excluded made me feel so alone. This book explores what it is like to be left out, and we see how some children deal with the problem.
Strictly No Elephants
Lisa Mantchev
Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Simon and Schuster, 2015, 978-1-4814-1647-4
Having a little pet elephant in your life is wonderful,
but an elephant is such an unusual pet that sometimes it can cause a problem
because you “never quite fit in.” The truth of the matter is that no one else
has a pet elephant. All the neighbors have dogs, cats, fish and birds. In other
words, they have traditional pets.
Not fitting in
exactly what happens to one little boy and his pet elephant. Every day the little
boy takes his pet for a walk, and when the elephant refuses to cross the cracks
in the pavement because he is afraid of them, the little boy picks up the
elephant and carries him across the cracks because that is what friends do for
each other; they help each other out.
One day the
little boy dresses himself and his elephant in red scarves and they head out
for Number 17 because it is Pet Club Day. When they get to the little green
house they see that there is a notice on the door and it reads: “Strictly no
elephants.” The boy and his pet are truly upset by this and they walk off in
the rain, sadness resting on their shoulders. Then they see a girl who is
sitting on a bench. The girl has a skunk in her lap and the boy learns that the
other children don’t want her to join their games either. The boy then suggests
that they should start their own pet club, one that will be all inclusive.
With sweetness
and gentle humor this picture shows children how painful it is to be left out
when you are different in some way. Thankfully, the little boy in this story is
not as alone as he thinks he is, and he and his new friend find a solution to
their problem.
Children will
love the charming illustrations and cunning animal characters in this book, and
grownups may find that odd questions start popping up around the dinner table.
Questions like, “Can I get a pet elephant?” and “Where can you buy a pet
skunk?”
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