Elephants, monkeys, bugs, and crocodiles play games, interact, and experience emotions together in the jungle. Though the text is simple, the panel illustrations tell a more complex story, allowing new readers to enjoy the book on multiple levels. The soft, pastel-colored illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and ink imbue the eponymous elephants with personality. This is an easy reader with substance. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

There's always fun to be had if you know where to look. It's a bright, sunlit morning, and two sweet elephant babies, Ed and Kip, are ready to play. Chorao's charming watercolor illustrations depict the appealing pachyderm pair as they frolic and stroll through a colorful rain forest, while simple text, closely tied to the pictures, gives just the right amount of repetition for young readers and succinctly describes the elephants' adventures. It all starts when Monkey drops a rock, which naturally leads to a game of catch. But the rock seems to have a mind of its own, and its continued rolling leads to an unexpected alliance with a big bug as well as an altercation with a toothy crocodile. Clearly, this day is far from uneventful. The format works well as an early reader or a picture book for the very young, and the comic-booktype panels and dialogue bubbles will attract fans of that genre as well. When the rock is lost, it looks like the excitement has come to an enduntil the cheeky monkey drops a log from a tree. "MORE FUN!" rejoice the elephants, who continue to playuntil bedtime. An engaging tale of friendship, play and cooperation, replete with mild suspense and gentle humor. (Early reader. 2-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1-This day in the life of two little white elephants begins with the gift of a round rock from Monkey. As they play with the rock, it rolls down the bank and into the water. Sliding down the bank, they counter Crocodile. Distracted by Bug, he bites down on the rock, and Ed and Kip escape. Back home they play with the log Monkey gives them, until the moon rises and they sleep peacefully in their lush surroundings. This book has a larger format than most beginning-to-read titles. The font is big, and the sentences are short. The watercolor and gouache artwork clearly captures the action and gives plenty of clues to unfamiliar words. Speech bubbles also help. The happy little elephants playing in the jungle and sliding down the bank are just a page turn away from the spread of Crocodile with his slit eyes and sharp teeth. Their peril is very real, and their rescue a relief. Reminiscent of Kipling's "The Elephant's Child," this fine title will give much pleasure-and satisfaction-to emergent readers.-Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.