Strictly No Elephants

Pet Club #1

by Lisa Mantchev, Taeeun Yoo (Illustrator)

When the local Pet Club won’t admit a boy’s tiny pet elephant, he finds a solution—one that involves all kinds of unusual animals in this sweet and adorable picture book.

Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed. The Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend.

Imaginative and lyrical, this sweet story captures the magic of friendship and the joy of having a pet.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Animals, Fantasy, Storytime, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

Lisa Mantchev is a temporally-displaced Capricorn who casts her spells from an ancient tree in the Pacific Northwest. When not scribbling, she is by turns an earth elemental, English professor, actress, artist, and domestic goddess. She shares her abode with her husband, two children, and three hairy miscreant dogs.

She is best known as the author of the young adult fantasy trilogy, The Théâtre Illuminata. Published by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan,) the series includes the Andre Norton and Mythopoeic awards-nominated EYES LIKE STARS (2009), PERCHANCE TO DREAM (2010), and SO SILVER BRIGHT (2011.) Her Kindle #1 Bestselling young adult steampunk novel, TICKER, is available from Skyscape. Her near-future young adult collaboration with Glenn Dallas, SUGAR SKULLS, is forthcoming from Skyscape.

Her adult urban fantasy collaboration with A.L. Purol, LOST ANGELES, is now available on Kindle along with its sequel, LOOSE CANON.

Her first picture book, STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS, is now available from Paula Wiseman/S&S, to be followed by SISTER DAY! and JINX AND THE DOOM FIGHT CRIME.

Stay updated with all the fun and glitter at her author website: www.lisamantchev.com

or get your Backstage Pass by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/LisaMantchev

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends, just like pets, come in all different varieties. A sweet story of friendship, acceptance, and inclusion.

[Iman Binagh Dirige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our sweet little boy was recently diagnosed with hyposensitive sensory-seeking autism - with his joyful autism, our deeply affectionate son loves bright lights and loud music at our monthly concerts that we enjoy as a family tradition, rollercoasters at amusement parks, and is sweetly empathetic whilst being within his optimistic extroverted intuition primary cognitive function as a NeTiFeSi keeper. We’ve been open-minded for the past 26 months as well two months prior to our son’s birth when we were matched through loving open adoption that he could possibly hold atypical complications due to prenatal environmental stressors and neonatal abstinence syndrome - yesterday afternoon was the official diagnosis by our pediatric specialist. Hanai is a foundation within our Hawai’i Nei culture. Healing our children of meth, heroin, and homelessness is one of the greatest gifts of life we’ve ever achieved.🌻

In “celebration” of our sweet ohana that is beloved deeply by our Asian elephant & African elephant 'aumākua - my beautiful wife & I read this endearing children’s book to our beautiful daughter and handsome son.🌻

Actually, a brilliant and kind three year old big sister read this lovely book to her joyful and inquisitive two year old little brother - with the help of their benevolent Mommy & optimistic Mama.🌻

The gentle flow of words with vibrant illustrations had our two adorable children smiling in delight with this wonderful story immediately - all in the powerful teaching of compassion, acceptance, empathy, kindness, self-esteem, friendship, courage, and inclusion.🌻

Life lessons we hope to continue to instill and share with our two heartbeats for decades to come - whilst serving our country, traveling the world, and immersing ourselves within vibrant cultures on this vast earth as a positively resilient Military/Adoptive/Autism family.🌻

We are a blessed and highly favored Mommy Elephant & Mama Elephant to our two beautiful baby elephants. 'Strictly No Elephants' deserves to be listed as a classic children’s book - in just one day, it has been deemed a favorite within our own humble home of bookworms.🌻

Goodreads review shared publicly December 13th 2018 - coincides with our Pinterest vision boards for our humble Dirige Ohana.🌻🌺🍀🌸🌵

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet.

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my toddler's bedtime. Each kid has a pet... a pet unlike any you are familiar with.. and there's a pet club but one day, one pet was rejected from joining. So the pet owner, upon meeting another owner who was rejected from entering as well, formed a new club. Cute illustrations.

Read from kindle unlimited.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about inclusion and acceptance. Exceptional illustrations. I truly enjoyed it.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I do not appreciate the idea of having wild animals as pets. But I do appreciate the concept of accepting everyone for who they are. Love the illustrations.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I'm charmed. What could simply be a silly book about having an unusual pet (which was what I expected when I picked it up, thinking it might work for a pet-themed storytime) becomes a book about friendship--with the refrain "That's what friends do," for ex:

"That's what friends do: lift each other over the cracks."
"That's what friends do: brave the scary things for you."
"Because that's what friends do: never leave anyone behind."

Banned from an existing pet club (because "Strictly no elephants"), an elephant and a boy meet new friends with a variety of animals as they walk home) decide to start a new club where [the sign reads] "ALL ARE WELCOME."

The book closes: "My tiny elephant will give you directions [to the clubhouse] if you need them. Because that's what friends do."


A sweeter, softer book than I usually choose for my storytimes (with 60+ kids, I tend to keep things very high-energy and dramatic), but I will definitely try it in mine (friendship, kindness, or pets theme), and think it will work well for just about anyone who tries it.

[Parastoo Khalili · Rating 3 out of 5]

ایده‌ی کتاب خیلی بامزه بود: این که چطوری تبعیض حتی توی دنیای حیوانات هم وجود داره. داستانش قشنگ به بچه‌ها یاد میده همه حق دارن جایی داشته باشن، حتی اونایی که با بقیه فرق دارن.

فقط یه نکته هست: کتاب یه جوری نشون میده انگار همه‌ی حیوانات باید پت باشن. برای همین شاید برای همه‌ی بچه‌ها مناسب نباشه. اگه خواستید به بچه‌ای معرفی کنید، خوبه قبلش خودتون بخونید و درباره‌ی آزادی حیوانات هم باهاش حرف بزنید.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Pet Club Day! A little boy and his tiny pet elephant are looking forward to meeting all the other pets and friends. Once they arrive though, they find a sign declaring—Strictly No Elephants. Both the tiny elephant and the boy are down, down, down in the dumps until they meet up with another unwelcome Pet Club pair. Maybe it’s time for a new club! A club where all are welcome!

Simple, sweet, easy to read words with soft colors and cute characters create a warm, welcoming feel to the book. A book that reveals and shares the meaning of friendship.

A perfect bedtime story in my book.

[Kassiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet. Everyone needs this book and not just because he has a Tiny Elephant for a pet. Adorable.

[Christie Angleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this times infinity!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the message; the illustrations are gorgeous; and some of the writing just made my heart so happy (example: "His is a very thoughtful sort of walk.")

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely darling.

Used for an elephant-themed storytime on 11/7/17.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. So amazing. Beautiful illustrations and text. Perfect example of pure kindness, no exceptions.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cybils finalist for best fiction picture book.

[Lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

زنده باد دنیای متفاوت‌ها، جالب‌ها، دیوونه‌ها، کار درست‌ها. و البته زنده باد کار و دغدغه‌ی هنرمندهایی که پیام‌هایی چنین قشنگ روایت می‌کنن‌ تا ذهن‌ جوان بچه‌ها رشد و کیف بکنه.🪴🐘

[Jessica VanBuren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This text is about a boy who has an elephant as a pet. He wants to do normal pet things with his pet elephant. Until one day for Pet Club, there is a sign on the door saying "strictly no elephants!" What will they do now?

This text is cute and engaging for students. I read this to my students and they kept wondering what you do with an elephant as a pet. This keeps students imagination working!

You could connect this text to the text "Same, same, but different"

"Strictly No Elephants!"

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are much better than the text. They really save it from being too preachy and overly sweet. It's a nice concept, though.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want a tiny elephant with a red scarf! A sweet story about the importance of inclusion and acceptance of differences. Lovely book.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

1/20/2019 ~ Do you want a book to talk about friendship? Setting up classroom guidelines about how to act as a friend? Great illustrations, a diverse range of children (and pets), and a punchy story.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book. I love the part where they crossed out the parts of their sign that left people out and just went all inclusive.

[Lizzy (reviewsshewrote) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book made me cry in a Barnes & Noble

[Rachelle Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable book about friendship and acceptance. This made my heart smile!

[Iris Besseling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dit verhaal en deze illustraties zijn zo lief 🥹

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que história fofinha lida pelo meu irmão a mim. ❤️🐘

[Villa Park Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy and his best elephant pal are so excited to show up to Pet Day at school. But upon arrival, they read a sign that says they’re not allowed. The pair leave feeling disappointed… that is, until they see other classmates with cool, yet unconventional pets. A read that trumpets and triumphs the importance of friendship of all kinds, it makes for an elephant-astic back-to-school book!

Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet story about friendship and inclusion! It's Pet Day, but when the narrator and his pet elephant arrive, there is a sign that says, "Strictly no elephants". When they meet another child with her unwelcome pet, they decide to begin their own club where everyone is welcome.

(Some of the pets really wouldn't make good pets; shouldn't be kept as pets. You may want to discuss this with children...)

[Jan Polep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gem of a picture book for the K-Grade 2 group. In this day and age of divisiveness, this book brings the message of friendship, inclusion, and acceptance...no matter the person or the pet. When an elephant and a skunk are excluded from a club, two kids are smart enough to start a new club. I loved it and would like to see it in every library.

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations here. The pets and kids are all super cute and the color palette reflects the feelings well. I like the lessons on how friends should behave toward each other and the inclusivity message. I don't care for the wild animals being kept as pets angle. But I realize that's a weird foible of mine and kids will understand (hopefully) that that isn't realistic.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet book! This would be a great one to share with children for a storytime or discussion on friendship, acceptance of differences, and even pets. The adorable illustrations really share the emotion of the story.