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The Elephant's Ball
After learning that the creatures of the air have had a grand celebration, Elephant, not to be outdone, decides to throw an even more glorious ball for the animals of the land.
What follows is a story of food, festivities, and fantasy — lions marching in flowing robes, monkeys making music, and dogs dancing the night away. Bright, whimsical artwork from beloved children’s book illustrator Pauline Baynes will make readers want to join the party!
Framed by an introduction and a glossary, this playful nineteenth-century story-in-verse will transport readers to another era of storytelling. A perfect read-aloud for all ages.
What follows is a story of food, festivities, and fantasy — lions marching in flowing robes, monkeys making music, and dogs dancing the night away. Bright, whimsical artwork from beloved children’s book illustrator Pauline Baynes will make readers want to join the party!
Framed by an introduction and a glossary, this playful nineteenth-century story-in-verse will transport readers to another era of storytelling. A perfect read-aloud for all ages.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Pauline Baynes
164 books87 followersPauline Diana Baynes was an English book illustrator, whose work encompassed more than 100 books, notably those by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Pauline is probably best known for her illustrations in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. She was also J.R.R. Tolkien's chosen illustrator: her drawings appear in Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, Tree and Leaf, and after Tolkien's death the poem Bilbo's Last Song.
Pauline Baynes began her career with little formal training. After spending her early years in India, where her father was commissioner in Agra, she and her elder sister came to England for their schooling. When their father retired, their parents settled near Farnham in Surrey and Pauline, as the unmarried daughter, found herself looking after them during the day and trying to illustrate at night.
Pauline attended the Slade School of Fine Art, where her sister was completing a diploma course, but after only a year she volunteered to work for the Ministry of Defence, painting camouflage. However, since her kind of attention to detail and accuracy were skills essential for map-making, she was soon transferred to another department to draw maps. This experience was very helpful when she later drew maps of Narnia for Jack, and of Middle-earth for his friend J.R.R. Tolkien.
Over the years Pauline Baynes created many new illustrations for use on book jackets, as well as colouring the original illustrations. In 1989, she made a series of full-page colour paintings for two books, one called The Land of Narnia, and the other a beautiful, deluxe version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
She was awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 1968 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to children's illustration.
Pauline Baynes began her career with little formal training. After spending her early years in India, where her father was commissioner in Agra, she and her elder sister came to England for their schooling. When their father retired, their parents settled near Farnham in Surrey and Pauline, as the unmarried daughter, found herself looking after them during the day and trying to illustrate at night.
Pauline attended the Slade School of Fine Art, where her sister was completing a diploma course, but after only a year she volunteered to work for the Ministry of Defence, painting camouflage. However, since her kind of attention to detail and accuracy were skills essential for map-making, she was soon transferred to another department to draw maps. This experience was very helpful when she later drew maps of Narnia for Jack, and of Middle-earth for his friend J.R.R. Tolkien.
Over the years Pauline Baynes created many new illustrations for use on book jackets, as well as colouring the original illustrations. In 1989, she made a series of full-page colour paintings for two books, one called The Land of Narnia, and the other a beautiful, deluxe version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
She was awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 1968 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to children's illustration.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 9, 2025
A grand rural fete I will shortly provide,
That for pomp, taste, and splendor, shall far leave behind,
All former attempts at a similar king. ~ The Elephant
So, the scene is set. A grand ball described in lyrical verse and illustrated by the talented Pauline Baynes.
Why was I set on reading this one?
📚 I recently saw a review of The Butterfly's Ball by my GR friend Thibault and that story is referenced in the Introduction to this book as it was in the same series.
🎨 Not long ago I read a picture book bio about Pauline Baynes entitled Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and decided to seek out more of her work.
🐘 Elephant and the other animal characters are illustrated in colorful detail by Pauline in all their party finery.
✍ The verse is fanciful and elaborate like the pictures. A glossary is included to help translate terms like Grimalkin (cat), Sol (the sun), and Viands (meat).
In such good amusements the evening they past,
till Aurora appear'd to the eastward at last;
When back to their homes, they return'd one and all,
Well pleas'd with the sports at the Elephant's Ball.
That for pomp, taste, and splendor, shall far leave behind,
All former attempts at a similar king. ~ The Elephant
So, the scene is set. A grand ball described in lyrical verse and illustrated by the talented Pauline Baynes.
Why was I set on reading this one?
📚 I recently saw a review of The Butterfly's Ball by my GR friend Thibault and that story is referenced in the Introduction to this book as it was in the same series.
🎨 Not long ago I read a picture book bio about Pauline Baynes entitled Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and decided to seek out more of her work.
🐘 Elephant and the other animal characters are illustrated in colorful detail by Pauline in all their party finery.
✍ The verse is fanciful and elaborate like the pictures. A glossary is included to help translate terms like Grimalkin (cat), Sol (the sun), and Viands (meat).
In such good amusements the evening they past,
till Aurora appear'd to the eastward at last;
When back to their homes, they return'd one and all,
Well pleas'd with the sports at the Elephant's Ball.
November 15, 2023
college reading level
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews