What to do if an Elephant stands on your foot by Michelle Robinson illustrated by Peter H Reynolds

Here are a few text quotes:

"If an elephant stands on your foot, keep calm. Panicking will only startle it."

"If a rhinoceros has heard you, whatever you do - do not be tempted to climb a tree."

The little child in the story does not follow any advice given by the off stage narrator. There is the potential for a tiger attack, snake biting, and crocodile chomping. Just as things get really dangerous the child finally listens and screams for 'help!'.  There is no message, no moral this is just a book to share when you feel like a laugh.

Sharp-eyed readers will see the problems coming even before the reveal of the page turn. The narrator, whose helpful advice appears in the white above the cartoon-like illustrations, is not above saying “told you so” and “don't say I didn’t warn you.” Kirkus 

This book is sadly out of print but I just wanted to share it here because it is funny and it has glorious illustrations by Peter H Reynolds.

The title of this book really caught my eye and it made me think of two very old vintage books which also have terrific illustrations by a master of the craft - Maurice Sendak.  What do you say, dear? was published in 1958 and it won a Caldecott Honour in 1959. What do you do, dear? was first published in 1961. 

Here are some other books by Michelle Robinson:

There's a Lion in my Cornflakes

I Feel a Foot! by Maranke Rinck and Martijn van der Linden

Turtle, Bat, Octopus, Bird and Goat are confronted with a huge creature. Each describe this monster from their own point of view. Turtle can feel a foot "just like my foot, but super big". Bat can feel a wing "just like my wing, but super big." Octopus is sure she is touching a tentacle, but extra super big. Birds find an extra superduper big beak and goat is sure the creature has a goatee which is "fantastically, amazingly extra superduper big."

What is the creature? Can you guess? What a shame I didn't discover this book last year. It links so perfectly with the 2020 CBCA slogan - Curious Creatures Wild Minds. I feel a foot was published in 2008 but an English translation in paperback was published in 2019. I was excited to read the publisher has plans to produce this book in a tactile format for blind children.

In this retelling of the familiar Sufi tale, a group of small animals meets a big new friend, one body part at a time. Kirkus Star review

I feel a foot was originally published in The Netherlands with the title Ik voel een voet! Take a look here at other books illustrated by Martijn van der Linden. Maranke Rinck is his wife. This is a book with wonderful illustrations which will inspire your school art teacher.

I would link I Feel a Foot with these:

Little Nelly's Big Book

Tyson the Terrible by Diane and Christyan Fox

In my last post I talked about Little Tom and the trip to the Moon.  Here is another preschool book by the talented husband and wife team of Diane and Christyan Fox.

At it's heart this is a book about preconceived ideas. The little dinosaurs have not met Tyson but they have heard some terrible rumours and seen pictures of Tyson in the Dinosaur Weekly:

"I've heard he's got six hundred razor sharp teeth."

"They say he eats seventeen dinosaurs for breakfast EVERY DAY."

"He's taller than a mountain ... his claws are like knives ... He's always really angry."

Little Stegg, Serra and Plod can hear a boom boom boom coming their way. It gets louder and louder. Finally another dinosaur arrives. Has he been making all that noise?

"Nobody ever wants to play with me!' wailed a little voice."

Did you notice the important word 'little'? These are the words of a tiny tyrannosaurus. Stegg, Serra and Plod are happy to pay football with this little guy - he is not fierce or scary at all. BUT ... then their new friend asks:

"Can my little brother play too?"  This brother is NOT little - in fact he is so big the page has to fold out and expand so we can see all of him. YES it is Tyson!  Take a look at this video to see the whole book.

Hopefully you can find this book in a well stocked library because it was first published in 2006 and so is now out of print. All preschoolers will love meeting this little band of dinosaurs and their "new" big friend Tyson.