What do you think?
I Like to Read
It Is a Tree
Funny animals play a party game that's both silly and thought-provoking. This Level B book is perfect for new readers!
It is a tree.
It is a wall.
It is a snake.
It is a fan.
A zebra, a giraffe, a turtle, and other animals play a party game. Blindfolded, they guess what's in the room by feel alone. Could it be a wall? A rope? A fan? No. It's an elephant!
This very easy-to-read story, based upon the ancient Indian parable about the blind men and the elephant, teaches point-of-view, and reinforces the simple vocabulary with bright illustrations of the different objects the animals guess. Perfect for new readers to practice on their own!
This book has been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient(TM) Leveling System.
Level B books, suitable for kindergarten readers, feature short sentences and high-frequency words. The illustrations provide clues to word meanings. When Level B is mastered, follow up with Level C.
The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own!
A Bank Street Best Childrens Book of the Year!
It is a tree.
It is a wall.
It is a snake.
It is a fan.
A zebra, a giraffe, a turtle, and other animals play a party game. Blindfolded, they guess what's in the room by feel alone. Could it be a wall? A rope? A fan? No. It's an elephant!
This very easy-to-read story, based upon the ancient Indian parable about the blind men and the elephant, teaches point-of-view, and reinforces the simple vocabulary with bright illustrations of the different objects the animals guess. Perfect for new readers to practice on their own!
This book has been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient(TM) Leveling System.
Level B books, suitable for kindergarten readers, feature short sentences and high-frequency words. The illustrations provide clues to word meanings. When Level B is mastered, follow up with Level C.
The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own!
A Bank Street Best Childrens Book of the Year!
32 pages, Paperback
Published December 7, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 2, 2025
The classic elephant description story but in language simplified for first readers.
June 22, 2024
Soon as I saw the cover, Goodreaders, what did I think? This must be a version of the Indian parable about the blind men and the elephant. Which would be a very profound opportunity for readers of all ages.
A writer might say, this book teaches point of view. But that's the silly kind of technical shop talk we can do, we Goodreads authors and other writers.
Before I share what I think this book really teaches -- something different from authorly considerations about point of view! First, Goodreaders, here come three examples from the blindfolded animals featured here.
* Giraffe thinks the elephant is a wall. Likely because the elephant is taller than the giraffe is... not such a common occurrance in a giraffe's experience.
* Hippo thinks the elephant is a snake. Likely because the hippopatamus is holding the elephant's trunk, which feels similar to a large snake.
* Zebra thinks the elephant is a rope. Likely because the zebra is holding the elephant's tail, which feels a lot like a rope.
SO WHAT CAN THIS PARABLE TEACH YOU?
At a minimum, there's this spiritually powerful lesson. As my former guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, used to say, Knowledge is structured in consciousness.
That is, our understanding depends primarily on the clarity of our awareness. (Hampered by however messed up and distorted by inner stucknesses, that person's consciousness may be.)
BUT FOR THIS GOODREADS AUTHOR THERE'S MORE.
AND IT'S A VERY PRACTICAL MORE.
One step at a time, I've had the opportunity to bring better "energetic literacy" in the world. For instance, I've been the first aura reader to identify "chakra databanks" and publish articles about them.
In addition, I've trademarked and published about the system of Aura Reading Through All Your Senses®. Look, this FIVE STAR review is already quite long. How about this? I'll add my personal insight into this elephant book... in a COMMENT below.
A writer might say, this book teaches point of view. But that's the silly kind of technical shop talk we can do, we Goodreads authors and other writers.
Before I share what I think this book really teaches -- something different from authorly considerations about point of view! First, Goodreaders, here come three examples from the blindfolded animals featured here.
* Giraffe thinks the elephant is a wall. Likely because the elephant is taller than the giraffe is... not such a common occurrance in a giraffe's experience.
* Hippo thinks the elephant is a snake. Likely because the hippopatamus is holding the elephant's trunk, which feels similar to a large snake.
* Zebra thinks the elephant is a rope. Likely because the zebra is holding the elephant's tail, which feels a lot like a rope.
SO WHAT CAN THIS PARABLE TEACH YOU?
At a minimum, there's this spiritually powerful lesson. As my former guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, used to say, Knowledge is structured in consciousness.
That is, our understanding depends primarily on the clarity of our awareness. (Hampered by however messed up and distorted by inner stucknesses, that person's consciousness may be.)
BUT FOR THIS GOODREADS AUTHOR THERE'S MORE.
AND IT'S A VERY PRACTICAL MORE.
One step at a time, I've had the opportunity to bring better "energetic literacy" in the world. For instance, I've been the first aura reader to identify "chakra databanks" and publish articles about them.
In addition, I've trademarked and published about the system of Aura Reading Through All Your Senses®. Look, this FIVE STAR review is already quite long. How about this? I'll add my personal insight into this elephant book... in a COMMENT below.
August 15, 2020
At first, I thought, okay that was short and sweet. Maybe not a first purchase for my K-5 elementary library? Perfect to borrow from public library for beginning reader ages 3-5 with bright, fun, colorful illustrations. Kids will giggle at the final pages with the elephant shape made of the jungle animals' guesses of fans for ears, snake for trunk, etc.
And then I thought of my K-1 teachers who may like to use this for point of view and various science projects using the five senses with mystery boxes. Not sure yet. Sturdy, tightly sew binding - no ebook available.
And then I thought of my K-1 teachers who may like to use this for point of view and various science projects using the five senses with mystery boxes. Not sure yet. Sturdy, tightly sew binding - no ebook available.
November 4, 2020
4 stars
This picture book has simple language for early readers. It also has a fun story concept. The main characters are blindfolded at a party. They bump into an elephant and then, depending on which body part they are touching, start guessing what it is that they think they ran into. It introduces the concept that the way that something feels can describe more than one object. If young readers close their eyes and try the concept themselves, then this story can be a great addition to the sensory exploration activity.
- Miss Emily
This picture book has simple language for early readers. It also has a fun story concept. The main characters are blindfolded at a party. They bump into an elephant and then, depending on which body part they are touching, start guessing what it is that they think they ran into. It introduces the concept that the way that something feels can describe more than one object. If young readers close their eyes and try the concept themselves, then this story can be a great addition to the sensory exploration activity.
- Miss Emily
Read
February 5, 2021Blindfolded animals play a party game--they use their other senses to guess the object they are all touching. A tree, a wall, a snake, a pipe--all turn out to be parts of an elephant.
A simple beginning reader (Level B). Repeated beginning refrain "It is a" followed by a longer word clearly depicted in a picture beside the text. Could possibly work as a read-aloud or conversation piece during a storytime about senses, where kids might play this kind of game afterward.
A simple beginning reader (Level B). Repeated beginning refrain "It is a" followed by a longer word clearly depicted in a picture beside the text. Could possibly work as a read-aloud or conversation piece during a storytime about senses, where kids might play this kind of game afterward.
September 6, 2020
It's a party and the animals are blindfolded. What do they feel? "It is a tree," one says. "It is a wall," says another. The guessing continues, each focusing on one small part of the whole.
Perfect early reader for children. Filled with fun. Illustrations to share the bulk of the story. And did I say fun?
Perfect early reader for children. Filled with fun. Illustrations to share the bulk of the story. And did I say fun?
January 3, 2021
During a party, animals who are blindfolded take turns guessing what an elephant is. They are all at different locations on the animal. A variation of the parable The Blind Men and the Elephant.
A simple book that will help introduce the idea of perspective to young students.
A simple book that will help introduce the idea of perspective to young students.
April 15, 2026
Good basic easy reader portraying a well known Indian folktale of the blind men and the elephant using animals as the characters. (See "Seven Blind Mice" by Ed Young [H. Edwin Young], winner of the Caldecott Award in 1993, for a more detailed version.)
January 1, 2021
Based on the classic story of the blind men, these party animals need to guess what they are feeling. Perfect humor for four and five-year-olds.
September 15, 2021
This is a comical story that would be perfect for beginning readers. The bright, fun pictures make it an entertaining read that children will enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews