But No Elephants

But No Elephants

4.46 of 5 stars 4.46  ·  rating details  ·  467 ratings  ·  75 reviews
Grandma Tildy finally agrees to take an unwanted elephant into her home, but soon regrets her decision.
Hardcover, 41 pages
Published 1979 by Parents Magazine Press
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Community Reviews

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Anthony W
He is a book that deals with a grandma that would buy animals from the local pet man everytime he offered. Every animal she agrees to get helps her with the work she has in some way. The pet man always offers an elephant until one day she gets him, which he causes problems for her daily until one day he saves the day.

Here is a clever cartoon book with colorful pictures. The cover has a picture with an elephant getting stuck while trying to enter the house. Then you open up to the title page and...more
Marissa J.
This clever, somewhat repetitive book, is one about a grandmother who keeps taking animals offered to her by the local pet man. Each animal she takes serves a purpose, except the elephant that she originally refused to take. The elephant only causes problems for the grandma until the end of the story where he saves the day.

A cartoon illustrated book, But No Elephants has many pictures that cover its colorful pictures. The book cover is actually a picture that appears later on in the book. This a...more
Alicia Scully
Grandma likes to take in various animals and give them a good home but she swears on her life that she'll never take in any elephants. She denies the elephant several times and her house starts to get a little crowded with all of the other animals but she holds her ground. Will she even let the poor elephant inside and give him a good home?

This book is one that kids will enjoy for quite awhile and will help with reading skills. It also has a good message about thinking about your own prejudices...more
Dolly
May 30, 2010 Dolly rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: parents reading with their children
Shelves: 2010, childrens, pets
This is a humorous story about a little old lady who ends up with a variety of pets. All of the animals have a particular talent that helps the household, but the elephant is so big - what can he do? It's a fun tale and our girls really liked the ending.

But the question I pose is she an animal hoarder? She fits the profile: single, lonely older woman. I just finished the book Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things and I know it will change the way I look at things for a long time!

Mona
My parents received this book through a mailing subscription list (it was like Netflix but with kids' books, back in the 1980s), and it became an all-time favorite book in our house. My older sister loved it, I loved it, my younger brother loved it.

My dad says he still remembers how vigorously we all three would shake our heads at the repeated line of the story, "But no elephants!" He said he can't wait to read it to the future grandkids. Good thing we kept it!
Amanda Marshall
My absolute favorite childhood book. My mom would read this to us kids and we always got to say the "BUT NO MORE ELEPHANTS!" part. Such wonderful memories. Sadly our copy got lost in our move from Kansas to Oregon when I was just 8. I'm now looking for a copy to give my mom; sadly most copies are over $50. Who knew our childhood book could now be worth so much?! Great book.
Megan
I used to love this book as a child. This litle old lady buys just about every type of animal from a salesman. Every time she refuses to buy the elephant though. Eventually the salesman just leaves the elephant on her front door. It rains and snows and finally she lets him come in. He turns out to be a real help to her...and well its just a charming book :)
Nancy
I must have read this book a million times over the years! My three boys just loved shaking their heads back and forth and mouthing "but no elephants" along with Grandma Tildy. Much like the smell of lavender scented shampoo, opening the pages of this silly little book evokes memories of their childhood.
george
Grandma Tildy lives all by herself and works very hard. One day a pet salesman comes to her door with a truckload of animals and asks if she would like a bird--Grandma Tildy says yes, but "No elephants." The bird helps her and the pet man returns again and again offering different animals. She always says yes, but "No elephants." The animals work with her and make her life a little happier and easier. Until one day the pet man just leaves the elephant at her house. Now what is Grandma Tildy to d...more
jenn reads fiction
My dad use to read this book to me almost every night when I was little. Fortunately, I still have it because it's out of print. This was one of my favorite books growing up because we had fish, birds, a puppy, a cat and even a turtle. My dad would joke, "But No Elephants." :)
Kim Foy
This is an adorable book that teaches generosity and helping others. After allowing many pets into her home, Grandma Tildy refuses to let the elephant into her home again and again. She finally agrees to let the elephant in and the benefits pay off.
Rebecca
This one is a classic. I knew all the words when I was a kid. It's silly enough to entertain a kid but still be amusing to parents. When I see a copy in a thrift store I buy it and give it to a niece or nephew so they can enjoy it, too.
Corinne
This was my favorite kid's book when I was little! I just found it at my parent's house and of course took it home with me. The pictures are absolutely adorable and that is just as important as how cute a story it is. Everyone seems to have a version of what the deeper meaning of the book is but the bottom line is - it's a cute feel - good book.
Terran Drake
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Maggie Stiefvater
I know this isn't a new book, but it is still hands-down my three-year-old's favorite bedtime story. He will listen to this book back to back night after night. In between the old woman who takes on every animal but an elephant, the pet salesman who tries to foist the elephant upon her, and the various ways the animals help her, there's lots of opportunities for funny voices and sound effects. Definitely a keeper.



***wondering why all my reviews are five stars? Because I'm only reviewing my favor...more
Karen
I started reading this to my children about 20 years ago, they all enjoyed it immensely. The pictures are fun and colorful, they also enjoyed his "Clown Arounds" books.
Angela Ferrari
I love this book about a giving old woman who finds a place and a use for everyone who comes in her door. Even the elephant,,eventually.
Themes- acceptance, giving, sharing
Jodie
This is one of my favorite books from when I was a kid. I absolutely loved the story, the illustrations and the characters. I can't wait to share it with my nephew!
Rachel
This has been my favorite book scince I was really little I give it 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,00,000,000 stars out of 5 READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Amanda
I used this book with my little listener group, but it was a little long for them. I think it would work even better with a slightly older group (k-gr 1)
Kym Bryngelson-mcVicker
This was Stormie's first book, that we ever read to her. She loves it. Her Daddy bought it for her because it was one of his favorites growing up.
Jackie
I love this book! It was one of my favs when I was little and now I read it to my kids and they love it! Makes me happy!
Tonia Williamson
This was my favorite book as a child, I had my mommy read it to me every night and if she tried to skip a page I yelled at her.
Angela
I have loved this book since I was a kid and now I read it to my kids and it's a favorite of theirs too!
Elizabeth
Such a cute book. It was great to read to help my niece put emotion in to her reading, BUT NO ELEPHANTS! :)
Kathy
This book was one of my favourites as a child. Now I read it to my kids and they love it too.
Tim
Thank you Craigslist for pulling this out-of-print classic out of my childhood and into my daughter's lap.
Morgan
I liked when they were trying to pull him into the house because they had to help him.
Michelle Norris
My Favorite Childhood book. I memorized and told my mom I was "reading" it
InYourFaceNewYorker
One of my childhood favorites. Very funny story with cute pictures.
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