Elephants Books

I remember when I first met Sheldon Bull. There was an all day symposium on writing from UCLA extension and he was on the panel devoted to comedy writing. All four gentlemen made me laugh so hard that I instantly vowed to take a class with each and every one of them.

Fortunately Sheldon wants to save people some money and has written a book on Sitcom Writing and Lifestyle titled "Elephant Bucks". Sheldon has written for MASH and produced such shows as Coach and Sabrina: The Teenage Witch, then started writing this book after teaching seminars at colleges about sitcom writing. His writing style is very straightforward with tinges of optimism, which is awfully like the experience of meeting Sheldon in person, hard nosed and heartfelt.

His candor really washes over well when he discusses his views on how to break into the field of sitcom writing, and what a person needs to do to ensure a career in such a competitive field. He wants to be responsible for winners and takes great care in choosing what to say. Topics like: How do you break in? How do you stay in? When should you think about becoming a producer? How do you handle the competition and insecure egos? What are shows looking for in a staff writer? What will a pitch meeting and first Outline / Script meeting consist of? How should you react? What is an agent's job? What is the schedule and atmosphere like? What take out foods should I avoid? Sheldon takes the time to give the reader a firm grasp of what they are in for should they decide to pick up the gauntlet.

The other parts of the book are devoted to the stereotypical (a.k.a mandated) formula for a sitcom screenplay. Sheldon goes step by step through the process from outline to second draft by creating a fictional Spec script for the show Frasier. While some might consider this a little constrictive, there are some hints to pick up if you don't take the process literally. I learned some tips about outlining a script which showed me a more narrative approach to scriptwriting and how character's attitudes can punch up a slogging script.

After reading Elephant Bucks I gained a new and stronger appreciation for what goes into making a sitcom. Knowing myself, I probably won't go into television writing, I don't have the ware withal to write all those different spec scripts. And I believe that is the best way to break into the business because it proves you aren't a one hit wonder and that you have the discipline to create this kind of life for yourself. One of the things that kind of annoy me about the age we are living now is that a lot of artistic projects are getting green lighted for their novelty. Innovation is necessary, but first someone has to have the necessary experience to see the void and deal with it appropriately. Otherwise its just schlock. Well, this read was enjoyable, and the search for meaning breathes on for another day.

Lots of screenwriting books are dry as dust. Not Elephant Bucks. This one is that rare combination of easy to read and informative. It's clear, concise, entertaining, instructive and eminently practical.

Bull offers specific guidance on how to structure a sitcom. He explains what belongs where. As important, he shows the reader logically and engagingly how to go about putting the elements in place. He uses specific (and very entertaining) examples that made me go, "Ohhhhh! That totally makes sense!" Having "Elephant Bucks" is like having a great and experienced teacher right there with you.

Sheldon Bull has credibility: He has done this stuff. Check him out on IMDb and you'll see his slew of credits, from "Newhart" to "M*A*S*H" to "Coach" to "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." So it's pretty clear the guy knows about writing for television. In "Elephant Bucks," he ably transitions from television writer to teacher. We aspiring writers are lucky he did!

I bought half a dozen sitcom writing books in one go and having read them all I can say with certainty that this is the only one you will need. Other than Evan Smith's "Writing Television Sitcoms" I wouldn't bother getting any other book, and even that is superfluous if you buy Sheldon's one, but it is pretty decent if you choose to buy more than one.

Having read some really dodgy television comedy writing books by chancers Sheldon's book was like a breath of fresh air. I'm guessing that if you are reading this then you want to know how to structure and write a spec script, Sheldon does a near perfect and utterly thorough job showing you how.

He starts with a concept for a Frazier script and actually takes you through the whole process - picking the right story, the seven fundamental plot elements, structuring the story in scenes and acts, how to write outlines and more detailed outlines of the story, writing the dialogue of the script first as a drama, then rewriting it as a comedy. You see the script product being produced sequentially before your eyes. This is what you want and this is exactly what you get.

Brilliant.

Very nice, very well written book giving straight forward easy to follow advice on how to write a TV Sitcom and find an agent. Of all the screenwriting books I've read, this one is the most straight-forward and to the point. Would be a great textbook, while still being interesting.

If you buy one book to learn how to write sitcoms, this is the book. Sheldon Bull has been a sitcom writer and producer for 30 years. He has turned that experience into a step-by-step guide on how to write sitcoms. His writing style is funny and easy to understand.
What sets this book apart from the rest is Sheldon's method of structuring a story. Having a great story to write about is key and Sheldon does not fail on this element.
Read this book and start writing.

Shashi Tharoor has presented an objective analyses of India by discussing its strengths and weaknesses in a wonderfully endearing manner, that makes this book a great read.

I especially liked the preface where he summarizes the world-view about India as a lumbering elephant that lorded over the jungle in the distant past, but is now superseded by tigers and other animals that were quicker to change.

The preface concludes with an observation that the rest of the jungle now sees the elephant growing stripes and acquiring a spring in its steps.

Only time (or his next book) will tell us whether the transformation of the elephant into the tiger is here to stay or not.

I, for one, am itching to know!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Shashi Tharur's well-rounded analysis of various issues in Modern India. A must-read for non-resident as well as resident Indians !!!

I wanted to know a bit more about Indian culture and Indian history and I love this book. It's so well written. You must have some basic knolwedge of Indian history to understand it though. If you don't know who Nehru was and what the "partition" was you need to read some books before this one.
The book helped me to discover many facets of the Indian culture and society: the importance of secularism (and the current threats), the basic tenets of hinduism, the difference between north and south, the passion for cricket, the odd habit of changing cities' names, the use of the sari (or the lack of use), etc.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing more about India.

The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell Phone, The: The Emerging 21st-
Century Power, Shashi Tharoor - We Indians are often so starved for some
metric -- any metric, really -- of validation that we blindly embrace
Indians of all stripes residing outside India. What else could explain
our head-long rush to claim Bobby Jindal as one of our own while
demonstrating obvious restraint for Mr. Shashi Tharoor? (For those
readers who may not know Mr. Jindal, he is the Indian-American
governor of the US state of Louisiana.) Unarguably, and just as
unfortunately, present the names of Mr. Jindal and Mr. Tharoor to any
Indian in the US and the chances are better than even that they have
pride in Mr. Jindal while drawing blanks when Mr. Tharoor's name is
mentioned. This is an egregious sin, for Mr. Tharoor revels in being an
Indian as much as Mr. Jindal repudiates it. This revelry in all things
Indian is evident in Mr. Tharoor's latest book.

He staunchly believes and defends the Indian notion of secularism, which
he maintains is not the absence of any religion, but the proliferation
of many religions, all equally protected under the constitution (a point
he makes in other books as well, most notably in India: from midnight
to the millennium). Going further, he makes the point that where
else can you find a political landscape so diverse that in the 2004
Indian elections, a Sikh (Manmohan Singh), representing a Congress party
headed by a Catholic (Sonia Gandhi), was sworn in as prime minister by
a Muslim president (A.P.J. Abdul Kalam)! It is certainly hard to argue
against that now, isn't it?

The book is great reading. Besides the weighty issues of politics,
religion, constitution, and culture, Mr. Tharoor also makes detours to
cover the light-hearted issues of ever-changing city names in India
(Bombay becomes Mumbai, etc.), and the desire to add extra consonants
and vowels in soap operas because the producers believe that this extra
letter will certainly and undoubtedly lend an air of success to the
endeavor! Oh, did I mention the fascination that Indians have with
cricket?

Any student of modern India -- be it in the political arena or cultural
one -- can ill afford to eschew the ruminations of Mr. Tharoor. My
advice: if you are Indian and really want to be proud of it, read Mr.
Tharoor and leave Mr. Jindal to his devices.

I adore Tharoor's erudite and amusing writing. This book feels like home with its loving description of all that matters - cricket, family, community, cinema, history, religion and politics - in that order. The author's pet theme is the ostensibly unwieldy yet absurdly functional pluralism fed by a range of coalition memberships - geographies, cricket solidarities and common political antipathies.

I love that Tharoor describes his India as an individual experience rather than an objective concept. Tharoor subtly endorses the thumping progressive new Indians with his metaphor of an elephant who became a tiger - suggesting provocatively that the vulgarly ostentatious 'five star culture' is more authentic than the discreet opulence of the club culture. However, his intense nostalgia quite clear in the subtext of every syllable - the longing for the old names Madras and Bombay, the self-conscious diginity of Nehruvian democracy and the portrayal of St. Stephens as a modern Nalanda of sorts!

Yet, there is nothing fatalistic or too precious about Tharoor - he denounces superstition and horsocopes and doesn't mind writing that as a man he'd like to see women in elegant saris. It's the sort of nice nationalism that warms one without being too jarring or jingoistic.

Elephants of Style, the play on the title of Strunk and White's famous book aside, is an essential for any writer as well as any one who cares about where the English language is headed.

One really can't go wrong with a book from Bill Walsh. I wish I could say at least one thing negatively about this book, but I can't.

If you haven't purchased this book do so soon. There was so much I learned here and even now I'm not following one rule that Walsh suggests, but I am a creature of habit and old habits, as they say, die hard. There I did it. Now, purchase Bill Walsh's book and see what I'm talking about.

See also Walsh's Lapsing Into a Comma : A Curmudgeon's Guide to the Many Things That Can Go Wrong in Print--and How to Avoid Them. You will be glad you did.

Although I don't agree one hundred percent with Mr Walsh--and I am sure he would be glad to know that I don't--his book deserves top marking for its thoroughness. The book is full of witticisms that make it a good read and almost convince us that Bill Walsh is always right, even though his arguments are always very well fundamented. But as for me, I will continue saying that I have "a healthy diet" instead of "a healthful one", and pronouncing "short-lived" with a short "i" instead of a long one.

Visiting the front lines of the grammar and usage wars with Bill Walsh is a pleasure for writers and readers alike. Like his previous work, Lapsing Into a Comma, this entertaining and enlightening book shows Walsh has got a great ear and a great sense of humor.

By Bill Marsano. What a jolly season for word-lovers this is, what with Lynn Truss's "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" and this book by Bill Walsh coming along neck-and-neck and cheek-by-jowl. Walsh, who is the copy chief of the Washington Post, has written a far broader work than Truss's, with punctuation just one of the things covered (and usually very well covered). There's also grammar here and more important there is style.

The author of such a book sets himself up, always. Many readers will assume or claim that he's preaching perfection and will therefore fall upon tiny errors yelling nyah-nyah in spiteful disvalidation of his whole work, of his very right to speak at all. Sorry but, admirable as it may be, prefection eludes and always will (Lynn Truss's first error is in her subtitle!). Mark Twain said, of perfection in English grammar, "the thing just can't be done." So let's be willing to give a little, and even accept the odd contradiction.

That done, we find a pretty useful guide. It's mostly newspaper-oriented, but it's still a help to the ordinary writer and ordinary person struggling to commit a sentence and finding between the opening capital and the closing period a morass of weird plurals, nightmare collectives, number-of-the-verb, stylistic conventions, punctuational deadfalls and a lot of other horrors that make not ending with a preposition a treat (which taboo is, by the way, nonsense, as Walsh neatly explains). Walsh deals with most problems briskly and helpfully, and if you keep this book ever close to your heart it won't be long before you can toss off elegant vanity plates, bumperstickers and ransom notes without so much as a by-your-leave. And you will begin to enjoy doing so, because you won't be scared out of your wits half the time. (Most people dread writing as they dread public speaking.)

I am generally dubious of copy editors; I consider them a species of vermin that should be hunted for sport. But I will go a long way with Walsh because he clearly thinks about the language and tries to make intelligent, workable decisions that help reader and writer alike. (Most copy editors simply trot out their pet peeves and hobby-horses, salt with ignorance and prejudice, and then damage the writer's copy, the hideous effects invisible until the crime appears in print.)

I will unyieldingly dispute with him on two points, however. First, (free-lance) writers should absolutely not waste any time studying client magazines to learn their style. Magazines routinely pay writers poorly and abuse them in general; if they want their stylebooks followed, let the editors do some work for a change. (Editors don't have jobs. They have lunch.) Second, what's this foolishness about a ship being referred to as "it"?

That's an example of what offends me most about copy editors: their char-woman's mentality. Always trying to neaten up; emptying the ashtray every time the ash hits the glass; making you move so they can plump up the pillows. Busy, busy, busy! The net result of all this is damage to a language of which varioty is its chiefest glory. Referring to ships as feminine is a tradition many centuries old: it goes back to the Romans; it is established and understood; it is not to be dismissed by some petty tyrant with an itchy pencil. Maybe it's a question of political correctness. Maybe someone is pained because it excludes an entire sex (the male, I believe). Frankly I'm disinclined to believe that this will cause little boys everywhere to be discouranged from becoming ocean liners, but copy editors might very well fall for that.--Bill Marsano is a professional writer and editor.

Almost nothing is as boring as learning the rules of grammar.
The Elephants of Style, however, makes the subject humorous and easier to both read and learn about. The author uses great(and often funny ) examples to teach students about everything from parts of speech to plagarism. I would recommend this book to college freshman, English teachers, or anyone struggling with grammar.
Of course, grammar may never lose the title of "boringest of them all," but at least there is a little humor at the end of the tunnel.

This book is amazing! It is an emotional story which is portrayed through stunning illustrations. What an essential classroom reference! The story is told beautifully and eloquently - perfect for sharing between a caregiver and child.

Tina Wuehr
Pipsqueak Publishing

A chorus of "Again!" emanating from three grandchildren affirmed the goodness of Jana Laiz's "Elelphants of the Tsunami". With the second reading we searched a world map to locate this event. Embedded in the text of this true story are three words that needed explaining - a great way to increase a child's vocabulary. My grandchildren and I rate this as a very well-written and timely book that is beautifully illustrated.

I was moved to tears when I read this book. The author writes with deep sensitivity and made the story easily accessible for young children and adults alike. The illustrations are vibrant and beautiful, perfectly matching the language of the story. What a wonderful book! I highly recommend it! I am a teacher and I read books everyday. This is a great one!

This sensitive portrayal of the 2004 tsunami is ideal for families and educators. The beautiful illustrations and the rhythm of the language give it a rolling cadence that makes readers feel as if they are being swept away by the story.

The eight elephants from Thailand who rush to save the lives of some 50 people who nearly perished during the sunami are excellent reminders of the innate desire to help those most in need. This book is an excellent nod to loving Planet Earth and gives a different perspective through the elephants. Not only is a plethora of information packed into this book, but it done so in a way that is very accessible.

Kudos to this book, author and illustrator!

The story is gracefully and respectively presented in this wonderfully illustrated book. It's importance goes beyond depicting and reminding us of a tragedy - but also for illuminating us on the wonders of the fabulous creatures with which we share this planet. That elephants have this superb sense of recognizing and realizing wonders of nature that we as humans can not even perceive - gives us much to consider socially, scientifically, and ecologically. Thank you for writing this story in a most accessible format!

The Eye of the Elephant is a wonderful, adventurous journey into the heart and soul of Africa seen through Mark and Delia's eyes. From the very first page you are caught up in their heroic quests to protect the animals they are there to observe. In spite of the unbelievable odds against them, they persevered and put the safety and security of the highly endangered animals FIRST. The elephants in the Luanga Valley are very fortunate to have had Mark and Delia watch over them and be their heroes. I have loved Africa and the African elephant my entire life and I am so grateful for these two selfless, dedicated people who have become the protectors of our most precious wildlife. This is one of my most treasured African stories.

You will immediately be drawn into their story! I was so involved reading this book that I missed my train station stop...you'll feel like you're there with them!

Wildlife researchers and conservationists Delia and Mark Owens have spent much of their lives since 1974 in the African bush, first in the Kalahari Desert from which came their best seller "Cry of the Kalahari" and then in the North Luangwa Valley in Zambia, the setting of this 1992 book.

The Owens' passion leads them to risk their lives routinely. In searching for a suitable camp in North Luangwa they set out in an ancient truck with no radio and inadequate gear. After a grueling trek that would have sent sane mortals packing for home they separate so Mark can fly his Cessna to a site that "would make Cessna's insurance company shudder" while Delia makes the two-day trip alone with the old truck and a trailer over trackless hilly, bushy, gully-filled flood-plain terrain. Tracking animals they are constantly walking smack into a startled lion or buffalo or cornered elephant.

But the real danger comes from people. "The Eye of the Elephant," while filled with wildlife anecdotes and tidbits of information about elephants and lions, is really about the poaching war the Owens conducted on behalf of the besieged North Luangwa elephants.

The poachers are villagers, many armed with AK47s, backed by the local government and assisted by the corrupt and underequipped local game guards. The Owens' weapons are education, cottage industry projects financed by the Owens Foundation for Wildlife Conservation and the Cessna.

The battle starts genially with children exclaiming over magazine pictures and their parents joining sewing circles and carpentry workshops. But it quickly escalates until Mark drives Delia from him with his obsession for highly dangerous and only modestly effective night flights, and the poachers organize an assassination squad to rid themselves of the Owens once and for all.

The book is organized in alternating first-person chapters between Delia and Mark. The tone is brutally honest, touching when one admits to mistakes which endanger the other, disturbing when their frank discussion of anti-poaching tactics veers from the politically correct. The Owens' care more for the animals and the landscape than the people. But since the people are there, their needs must be faced. Their singlemindedness will outrage some, but their strong personalities and sheer stamina will awe almost everyone.

York County Coast Star

This book is laden with fascinating information on African Wildlife and how to survive as human and animal in harsh conditions. Excellent read.

I wish these authors would write more books about their adventures in Africa. Truly riveting page-turners!

We all love Jan Brett books at our house. This one was missing and we had a poster of it, so was very happy to find the book again. Thanks for the quick delivery and great condition.

This is a lovely book about an unlikely friendship between a clever and generous hedgehog, and a childless hen, as they combine efforts to thwart the greedy and hungry tomten. The illustrations are beautiful, and the story is heartwarming.

I liked this book becuase I liked finding out of Henny was gong to get any babies,and finding out if the Tomten was goiong to be tricked or if he was going to eat all of her eggs. It is hard to read the words in the book because of the colored pages. The words are good for 5 to 8 year olds to read. Hedgie has a lot of tricks, and helps Henny.

Poor Henny, all she really wants is to be a mother hen and have a bunch of baby chicks, just like her friend Goosey-Goosey. But that is not to be. For every morning, the Tomten comes and takes her newly laid egg for his breakfast. Enter Hedgie, the hedgehog with a clever idea and a few tricks up his proverbial sleeve. Early each morning, before the rooster crows and wakes the Tomten up, Hedgie takes Henny's egg and substitutes something else for it...first an acorn, then a strawberry, a mushroom and then a potato. And each day, the Tomten is left hungry. He becomes so angry that he threatens to eat Henny if she does not leave him an egg for breakfast the next day. Henny is scared and frantic, but Hedgie still has one last surprise left for that mean Tomten and an even bigger surprise for Henny.....Jan Brett, has written a simple, witty Scandinavian folk tale, starring her wonderful and always endearing, Hedgie. Her text is only outdone by her detailed, expressive artwork, complete with signature needlepoint border and clues, stiched in, of what's to come. Young children will be entranced as they listen to this humorous tale while following the illustrations and guessing at the story plot. Hedgie's Surprise makes a terrific gift and is a great addition to all home libraries.

Henny lays her egg every morning only to have the Tomken eat it for breakfast because he was tired of porridge. Then one day, Henny saw a goose walking with her goslings ~~ that awoken a deep desire in Henny's heart. How she wanted to have little peeps of her own! One day, Hedgie noticed Henny's depression and listened to her friend. Then Hedgie promised to help Henny.

What a clever little story ~~ with Hedgie finding different food for the Tromken to eat! When he threatens to eat Henny if she doesn't lay any more eggs, Hedgie comes up with a not-so-pleasant surprise! And everyone even the Tomken is happy.

The pictures are wonderfully detailed and the story is beautiful. My favorite design of this book is the quilt look of Brett's designs. It's cozy and homey ~~ perfect reading for children of all ages! It is also inspirational as well ~~ her art simply makes you smile.

2-4-04

Its a great action book to read to toddlers. You can could get them to be fully involved in the plot of the book. My four year old could not stop laughing the first time I read him this book. He thoroughly enjoyed it.

Catching an elephant is easy, if you have the right attitude. This is a great, silly story, with just the right amount of goofiness and the right amount of deadpan to leave kids giggling on the floor. Have some raisins and a telescope handy, because they'll probably want to try it for themselves!

Very enjoyable! A laugh out loud book of a perfect length. Itis great for 3-5 year olds who enjoy silly stories. I have to readthis book at least twice a day to my child. END

How do you catch an elephant? Easy...all you need are three cakes, two raisins, one telescope and a pair of tweezers. This is a silly, funny book that will charm your pre-schoolers. The repetitive format makes for easy reading and younger children will be able to "help" you read. The illustrations are simple and colorful. An all around winner. You can't go wrong with this book.

I am a children's librarian at a small public library, and I used this book during my "silly stories" week. The repetitive structure and clear, colorful illustrations make this a good one for sharing with a group.

Fantastic book! It does a great job helping kids to understand that you can look at other ways to solve problems. My daughter really liked the book and she thought the artwork was funny and creative. As a parent, I would recommend this book to any other parent.

There are some ideas out there that are tailor made subject matter for kids' books. Penguins. The story of Pale Male. Dust bunnies. There are also ideas out there that SEEM tailor made for kids' books... and aren't. Art, for example. It is monumentally difficult to explain the importance of art or the artistic process without losing kids somewhere along the way. You usually end up with books like Seen Art? that are far more amusing to adult purchasers than to child readers. A good kid's art book simplifies the process in such a way that it remains interesting without ever becoming simplistic. Holbrook: A Lizard's Tale was able to do this, but that was more of a chapter book. So it was that I was delighted to find that "Hugo and Miles in I've Painted Everything!" is just what the doctor ordered tot-wise. Balancing neatly between a fun child-friendly plot and some rather grand but easy to understand ideas, author/illustrator Scott Magoon knows how to make a concept as radical as a myriad of artistic styles fresh and fun.

Hugo is in a rut. In the town of Cornville this resident painter has found that when it comes to ideas he's somehow run completely out. After voicing his concerns to his pal Miles, the two happen upon a plan. Miles needs to travel to Paris to try out his newest invention. What if Hugo were to come along? Not entirely convinced, the young elephant still goes along with the idea and sure as shooting he sees all kinds of new things right off the bat. From museums to parks to cool angles to nighttime views, Hugo suddenly realizes all sorts of new ways to paint. Fired up he returns home and begins to use everything from new perspectives, colors, and tones to variable sizes, techniques, and subjects. With such a variety of ways to create art, you might think that a person would never quit being inspired. Hugo never is.

Magoon's style is a flexible thing. It changes according to his needs. In the case of this particular book, the artist has opted for pencil outlines and digitally colored insides. Coulda fooled me. Looking at it, these colors have a distinctly watercolorish aspect to them. The way they dip lightly outside the lines and shift from one color to another is remarkable. And while I don't think that Magoon wrote this book as an artistic how-to, but there are times when it seems as if he's introducing concepts with easy to understand words. When Hugo speculates about various kinds of painting, Miles replies with some plays on his friend's name. Painting everything in a solid color? "Hue-Go." Painting with light? "Hu-glow." And painting in an impressionistic style? "Van Hugo" (though I would have amended this to "Hu Gogh", given the chance).

I actually do get a fair amount of parents in my library with small children who are about to go to a large city (Paris, Tokyo, London, etc.) and would like a picture book to get their kids involved. Until now I only ever had one title in mind to hand to them (Adele & Simon by Barbara McClintock, of course). Now I'll have something a little more artistic to place in their hands as well. It's a soft and lovely little story and one that I am certain many parents, librarians, and art teachers will find infinitely useful. A title that knows how to pluck the essence from a concept and render it child-friendly and smart. Great stuff.

Scott Magoon's HUGO & MILES IN I'VE PAINTED EVERYTHING! tells of a creative artist elephant who can't find anything further to paint. A whirlwind trip to Paris seems to offer few solutions - until Hugo discovers he has plenty to paint if only he begins to see things in a different light.

This book is a real treat. I wanted to read it as soon as I saw the cover. Hugo is a blue elephant. The cover photo shows Hugo looking crestfallen, in a paint-spattered smock, standing in front of a picture of an ordinary wall outlet. He looks like someone the reader would want to help. And he does need help. You see, Hugo is in "an elephunk". He's an artist, a painter, living in a small town. One day he realizes that he has (gasp!) run out of ideas. He's painted everything.

Fortunately, Hugo's best friend Miles knows just what to do. Miles whisks Hugo off to Paris, where they explore the whole city, visiting the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, and the gorgeous parks. At the top of the Eiffel Tower, Hugo has an epiphany, one which gets his creative juices flowing again. He realizes that a change in perspective will keep him from ever running out of ideas again. Words to live by for all of us.

The entire story is filled with humor that, while kid friendly, offers an extra nod to adult readers. For instance, when Hugo considers painting in an impressionist style, Miles says that he'll be "Van Hugo." If he paints a large painting, clearly it will be "Hugo-mongous." And so on.

The pencil illustrations (digitally colored) provide many other jokes for readers. The airline that Miles and Hugo fly to Paris is called "Get There Air", while their return flight is on "Been There Air". They hang out at the "Same Day Cafe". A suspicious raccoon character lurks in one of the Museum scenes, having clearly just stolen a painting. In another scene, we see the raccoon escorted by a police officer, though he's never actually mentioned in the text. In the last scene, we see Hugo balanced on his head, painting upside down.

But the humor is only part of what makes this book so wonderful. The other part is the humanity of Hugo and Miles. Hugo's nervousness when he's on the plane, his dejection when he's out of ideas, his wonder in Paris, and his enthusiasm when ideas visit him again will help kids everywhere to relate to him. Miles' joie de vivre shines through, as does his pride in helping his friend, and his pleasure in his eventual success. This may be a trite thing to say about a picture book, but Hugo and Miles are adorable. I know that I want to spend more time with them, and I hope very much that this is the first of a long series of titles.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on May 20, 2007.

Love the book, the story and the illustrations! A great read with the little ones, but with some tongue-in-cheek for the adult. Brings famous Paris landmarks down to their level. A must see for the aspiring artist in every child. Teaches them to always keep their eyes and mind wide open!

On January 28, 1999 I wrote the review of Laura Charlotte, and more than a year later it is still a favorite bedtime story of my, now almost 7 year old, daughter. It is one that my husband and I never tire of reading to her, and as any parent of a small child knows, THAT is a great recommendation in itself!

My daughters and I love this story, it is so full of love! It is getting more and more rare to find good childrens books that mix words, cadence & quality illustration. This is one that ranks up there with the best. It is simple and innocent, and the illustrations add to the drama of the story wonderfully.
I highly recommend this - it is one that you will enjoy reading again and again!

I bought this book for my daughter because her name is Charlotte and at the time, her best friend was Laura. How often is it that you find a beautiful story whose heroine is a red-headed, brown-eyed little girl named Charlotte! (just like mine!) This book is sweet, it makes you feel all warm and cozy inside, as it talks about the importance of a multi-generational family and the important family heirloom that stems from a birthday gift, a gift that was made with love from a Grandma to her granddaughter.

Laura Charlotte is an amazing children's story about the love of a family throughout generations. Laura's mother tells her about her favorite childhood memory and the history of her stuffed elephant, Charlotte. This book has been a favorite in my family and gives a sense of love to the reader.

Amber Campsen Clemson University Student

In Laura Charlotte, Laura is having trouble going to sleep and asks her mother to tell her the story of Laura Charlotte. Even though she has heard it a million times, she enjoys learning where her name comes from. To her surprise, this same elephant was her mother's and had received the name "Charlotte" because of the beauty of the name. This stuffed elephant, Charlotte, grows to be Laura's security object, which can sometimes, states Maria Nikolajeva, have a deeper context and meaning. Many of the words and illustrations also affect the way that the reader sees the main character as an innocent child who grows to need the elephant. She is a child who needs the elephant to help calm her fears and to be a friend, rather than a child who used the elephant as a play toy. Floyd Cooper, the illustrator of Laura Charlotte, makes it easy to understand the drawings in the story. Cooper draws with pastels and soft colors to represent pictures of children innocently. When seeing these illustrations, readers can understand the story from a child's standpoint. Cooper also places many of the shadows and dark colors away from Laura so that the reader can focus on her feelings. One point in the story, Laura loses Charlotte, and the reader can see the darkness outside the window. Laura looks out into the trees and says that she wants to find Charlotte because she knows that Charlotte is afraid. Laura tells this story in first person point of view, which makes a more personable story, than if the narrator had told it. Notably, the dialogue is written in small black print. This font does detract from the illustrations but still sustains the importance of the plot, due to its size. Maria Nikolajeva's 1998 article, "Exit Children's Literature?" states that the presence of one object can easily be seen as the representation of something else. "If we regard these figures as metaphorical representations of the weak and the oppressed or as the child's projections of his or her own desires, we should not be misled by the outer form" (222). According to Nikolajeva, children often use inanimate objects to help cover fears and hidden secrets. Like many children, Laura uses a stuffed animal as a security object. Laura uses Charlotte as an excuse for herself, when she speaks of the elephant as being afraid of the dark. She makes sure that she has the elephant with her at all times. Just as Nikolajeva says, Laura may be afraid of the night, and attributing the fear to Charlotte helps Laura over come her fear, since they are there for each other. The reader can see that Laura is using the elephant as an excuse. Seeing the attachment that Laura feels, through the text and illustrations, toward Charlotte, the reader can see how much she understands the importance of the elephant. Laura's grandmother wanted to name the elephant Charlotte because of the beauty of the name. It meant a lot when Laura knew she had been named "Laura Charlotte" because her grandmother had said it was the most beautiful name she had ever heard. Looking from the perspective of the reader makes it easier to understand this remarkable children's story in its entirety, coming from Laura Charlotte's standpoint as a child. Bibliography Gailbraith, Kathryn. Laura Charlotte. New York: Penguin Putnam Books, 1990. Nikolajeva, Maria. "Exit Children's Literature?". The Lion and the Unicorn 22.2(1998): 221-236.

I bought this book for my nephew and was fortunate enough to have a talented friend that made "Lumpy" to accompany the book. What a great gift! The story line in the book is wonderful - the lessons taught are sure to make an impression on the little ones. It's great that some authors are still not only telling a beautiful story but teaching children some important life lessons as well. I highly recommend this book for any child that enjoys being read to and loves to follow along.

my daughter is 4yrs old and likes to read this book every night and even knows the words when I turn the page to the book overall Great book!!!

This delightfully written and illustrated book shows children how one's differences can actually be their strengths. An outsider among the toys, Lumpy the Elephant becomes the hero rescuing a friend in need. This classical story is sure to become a child's favorite.

Our family loves the book and loves the lessons learned from the book. Very cute elephant!

Lumpy the Elephant is a fun and inspiring story for children aged 3-8.

The book's brightly colored illustrations bring its endearing characters to life. The book is easy to read for first and second graders and perfect for reading to the younger set.