Elephants Can't Jump!

PreS-Gr 1—Elephant wants to know why he can't jump like Lion, Monkey, and Giraffe, but his family's terse explanations don't convince him to stop trying. Time and again, he thinks up a new strategy, but his attempts always fail, much to the amusement of his friends. Finally frustrated by his fruitless efforts and his friends' laughter, Elephant goes off to sulk and discovers a boy who is stuck on the ledge of a cliff. The child implores him to "'Jump down and save me!'" but of course, elephants can't jump. So Monkey tries, Lion tries, and Giraffe tries to jump down to help, but they all end up stuck on the rock below with the boy. Elephant realizes what needs to be done and musters all his strength to rescue his friends and the boy with his long, strong trunk. Reynolds's digital, cartoon animals exude a playfulness and innocence that perfectly complement Willis's winsome story, while the alternating use of close-ups and landscapes creates a sense of intimacy in spite of the expanse of the wilderness setting. Pair this with Giles Andreae's Giraffes Can't Dance and Richard Byrne's Penguins Can't Fly for a storytime on attribute appreciation.—Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, Oak Bluffs, MA