What do you think?
Rate this book
Adventures with Jeremy James #1
Elephant's Don't Sit On Cars
Jeremy James finds an elephant sitting on his Daddy's car, has trouble with babysitters, burglars and buried treasure.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 1, 2018
Some good moments with a few chuckles thrown in.
January 27, 2015
I first came across this little gem many years ago when my children were in infant school and it was brought as a home reader. My daughter had been searching for a copy of it to give to my grandson and she also bought one for me! It is extremely funny and the antics of Jeremy James are classic toddler pranks...we see our own children at that age doing exactly the same things. I laughed just as hard this time as I did all those years ago.
This book is a must have for children's library shelves both as a reader for the older child and as a bedtime read for all children - IF you can read it without exploding into gales of laughter!
This book is a must have for children's library shelves both as a reader for the older child and as a bedtime read for all children - IF you can read it without exploding into gales of laughter!
November 5, 2015
First read to me at junior school by my teacher, Miss Basher (no really, that was her name!) and the whole class were in fits of laughter. Had my own copy as a child and bought it again as an adult to read to my own children (the 'Triple Trouble with Jeremy James' collection). I dare say I'll be reading these brilliant stories to my grandchildren one day!
July 31, 2012
A brilliant book for reading out loud to children (and adults) - that is if you can bottle up the explosive laughter for long enough to get the words out. Highly recommended.
June 8, 2020
David Henry Wilson has a very special talent. Very few authors are able to write a book that is entertaining both for adults and children. I for example, think P. G. Wodehouse is hilarious but my 8 year old brother probably wouldn't agree with me. What makes Jeremy James so remarkable is that it bridges this gap, creating a delightful children's story that is also funny for adults. Without further ado, lets look at the pros and cons (mostly pros) of this fantastic book.
Positives
What makes Jeremy James so funny is it's innocence. Without meaning too, he frequently causes total chaos; who would have thought that playing hide and seek would end with a panicked call to the local police or that digging for treasure would require the services of the local water board? And why is everyone so shocked when he asks if he can have the coffin at a funeral? After all, it's not like his Great-Aunt is going to need it again. To even very young readers, it's clear why this is such a bad idea which is why I think, that both old and young readers can enjoy the stories so much. Perhaps almost as interesting though, is Jeremy James' musings on daily life. Everyone who either has children or younger siblings knows that they are capable of devastating clarity as well as constant conversation. Why do football grounds have stands when you sit down in them? Why do parents buy corn flakes, then say they don't have enough money to buy ice cream? And why can they get away with saying 'hhmmpph' when you can't? I think this is part of the books wide appeal; children can sympathise with Jeremy James while their parents, who have their own Jeremy James' to look after, can secretly sympathise with his poor parents! After all, sometimes it's nice to have some peace and quite. 'Go play with you train set Jeremy James!'
Negatives
The only problem with this book is it's length; it should be much longer! Other than that, it is practically perfect, I can literally think of no way in which this book could be improved. I told you it was good!
Conclusions
This is a funny, endearing and vastly entertaining children's book. In many ways, it reminds me of P. G. Wodehouse due to the fact that it's comedy is based on very simple observations that make you think, of course, I've always thought that! The prose writing is not quite up to Wodehouse's standards, naturally, but then very few books are! A book that everyone should read at least once, it really is that funny.
Positives
What makes Jeremy James so funny is it's innocence. Without meaning too, he frequently causes total chaos; who would have thought that playing hide and seek would end with a panicked call to the local police or that digging for treasure would require the services of the local water board? And why is everyone so shocked when he asks if he can have the coffin at a funeral? After all, it's not like his Great-Aunt is going to need it again. To even very young readers, it's clear why this is such a bad idea which is why I think, that both old and young readers can enjoy the stories so much. Perhaps almost as interesting though, is Jeremy James' musings on daily life. Everyone who either has children or younger siblings knows that they are capable of devastating clarity as well as constant conversation. Why do football grounds have stands when you sit down in them? Why do parents buy corn flakes, then say they don't have enough money to buy ice cream? And why can they get away with saying 'hhmmpph' when you can't? I think this is part of the books wide appeal; children can sympathise with Jeremy James while their parents, who have their own Jeremy James' to look after, can secretly sympathise with his poor parents! After all, sometimes it's nice to have some peace and quite. 'Go play with you train set Jeremy James!'
Negatives
The only problem with this book is it's length; it should be much longer! Other than that, it is practically perfect, I can literally think of no way in which this book could be improved. I told you it was good!
Conclusions
This is a funny, endearing and vastly entertaining children's book. In many ways, it reminds me of P. G. Wodehouse due to the fact that it's comedy is based on very simple observations that make you think, of course, I've always thought that! The prose writing is not quite up to Wodehouse's standards, naturally, but then very few books are! A book that everyone should read at least once, it really is that funny.
July 2, 2025
“Elephants Don't Sit on Cars" is a delightful collection of short stories for children featuring the protagonist Jeremy James. Jeremy is a boy filled with whimsical ideas, always believing that his thoughts are far better than those of his mummy and daddy. His innocent confusion about the way grown-ups think and act leads to hilarious situations that make this book a joy to read.
I fondly remember my primary school days when my teacher would read Jeremy James stories to us when I was around ten years old. The classroom would erupt with laughter at Jeremy's quirky misadventures and his amusing take on life. Each story is cleverly written, capturing the essence of childhood curiosity and the humorous gap between a child's perspective and adult logic.
Although some stories felt a bit brief, the charm of Jeremy's character and the lighthearted humor kept us all entertained. This collection is perfect for young readers and anyone looking to relive the joy of childhood giggles. Overall, it’s a delightful read that highlights the imaginative world of a child, making it a must-have for any storytelling session!
I fondly remember my primary school days when my teacher would read Jeremy James stories to us when I was around ten years old. The classroom would erupt with laughter at Jeremy's quirky misadventures and his amusing take on life. Each story is cleverly written, capturing the essence of childhood curiosity and the humorous gap between a child's perspective and adult logic.
Although some stories felt a bit brief, the charm of Jeremy's character and the lighthearted humor kept us all entertained. This collection is perfect for young readers and anyone looking to relive the joy of childhood giggles. Overall, it’s a delightful read that highlights the imaginative world of a child, making it a must-have for any storytelling session!
October 7, 2019
This was a book my husband read as a child and he really wanted to share this with our daughter who is five. Since I had never read it, I decided I would read it to her so we both could enjoy it. It is several short stories and each could stand alone. Each story is told through the eyes of young Jeremy James and his interpretations of the world as he sees it. This, of course, means there are misunderstandings and amusing internal monologues that made my little one laugh and often made me chuckle as well. It also reminds parents of how their kids might be seeing and hearing them as well. It was a delightful and entertaining read.
One small caution to American readers. This is a British book and does contain some words that may be different than those more commonly used in the States. I didn't find this a hindrance, but you may find yourself explaining a few words to your child along the way.
One small caution to American readers. This is a British book and does contain some words that may be different than those more commonly used in the States. I didn't find this a hindrance, but you may find yourself explaining a few words to your child along the way.
July 24, 2017
Elefanten können sitzen auf Autos aber wieder jung werden! Ich habe bestens amüsiert und lege sie allen Lesern ab 8 Jahren ans Herz.
April 19, 2024
Fun to read it again, but the first story - the title story - is the best.
March 30, 2022
I love the books about Jeremy James. They are so funny and loving. I read these books to my 8 year old son and we laughed and cheered with Jeremy from the first story. We are hooked and have also read all the books at least twice already. Definitely not just for kids. And the format of several short brilliant stories that follow each other is great for reading aloud.
Read
August 29, 2018Das war das allererste Buch, das ich gelesen habe. Sehr schwer jetzt noch zu beurteilen, wie ich es fand, weswegen ich keine Sterne vergeben werde. Ich weiß nur noch, dass ich mich ewig lange durch dieses Buch gequält habe, da ich nicht die schnellste Leserin war. Am Ende vom Tag bin ich froh noch zu wissen was mein erstes Buch war, aber umso glücklicher macht es mich, dass ich nach einer jahrelangen Lesepause vor drei Jahren das Lesen wieder für mich entdeckt habe und mich inzwischen auch nicht mehr durch Bücher quäle, sondern sie genieße. ;)
(Mir hat außerdem keiner gesagt wie man diesen blöden Namen ausspricht. Auf Deutsch ausgesprochen klingt der nämlich ziemlich blöd... aber das weiß ich eben erst jetzt.)
(Mir hat außerdem keiner gesagt wie man diesen blöden Namen ausspricht. Auf Deutsch ausgesprochen klingt der nämlich ziemlich blöd... aber das weiß ich eben erst jetzt.)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews