Mr. Elephanter Book

Come visit the Elephantery, where Mr. Elephanter looks after the peppy elephanties! A charming, quirky picture book debut by an acclaimed cartoonist.

Early every morning, Mr. Elephanter arrives at the Elephantery to care for his diminutive charges, who greet him with toots and trumpets. There are hugs and hellos all around! They all eat pancakes, paddle and splash in the neighborhood pool, and parade through the bustling city. After naps, Mr. Elephanter pretends he’s a tunnel, tower, and bridge, while the elephanties play all around him. In fresh watercolors exuding warmth and whimsy, Lark Pien introduces the doting Mr. Elephanter—and the most adorable miniature creatures you’ll ever meet.

Publishers Weekly

Mr. Elephanter goes to work at the Elephantery every morning--it appears to be an orphanage, but looks more like a grand hotel--and spends the day with three diminutive elephanties. ("Fwee!" they snort, cavorting happily around the mustachioed man.) He makes them banana pancakes; he takes them to the zoo; they dance together. At day's end he hugs them all goodnight and heads home. There's only the gentlest hint of conflict; after naptime the three elephanties biff each other up a bit and a vase is broken. Three small rear ends are perched on time-out stools as Mr. Elephanter tidies up the pieces. Pien's (Long Tail Kitty) tints are as faint as wisps of mist; her lines say no more than is necessary to convey action and emotion. Despite the unusual circumstances and questions that might arise--who are the elephanties, where are their parents, and how did Mr. Elephanter fall into elephanting?--this vision of quiet love and steady, dependable attention is just the thing for children to fall asleep to. Ages 5 up. (Sept.)