Elephants Books

I think my daughter, a teacher, recommended this to me for my little boy - We liked it

Great book. Great story. Great pictures. My son loves all of Syd Hoff's books.

Amazon has this book available through their 4-for-3 promotion. Take advantage of the savings and build your child's book collection.

Like Danny's Dinosaur, Oliver the Elephant is a kindly big fellow with the heart of a child. Naturally, my two young boys loved the idea of playing with an elephant who would let them ride on his back and slide down his trunk.

My sons' bookshelf holds roughly 80-100 books and Syd Hoff has three titles in our collection -- Oliver, Danny and the Dinosaur and Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur.

This is a fun book for children to read. Stronger readers need very little help reading the book.

I have a 1960 edition of Oliver and love to read it with my kids. Oliver the elephant has a simple and friendly conversation with everyone he meets throughout his day. This is one polite elephant. Mr. Hoff's unique use of colors and the light-hearted story will amuse you and make you want to search out more of his books. I have to admit that's why I logged on to Amazon today--and was flabbergasted to find 127 titles pop-up when I did a search on "Syd Hoff". Looks like I've got some work to do!

John's sensitivity and artistic skills wake memories of past personal low-impact trips (on foot, by bike, hitch-hiking, ...), giving them an unsuspected universal and far-reaching spiritual value and dimension. He helps us re-think our priorities and worries, showing how quiet and "soft" courage can transcend social, ethnic and cultural preconceptions/misconceptions.
I have almost finished John's book on a trip to Eastern Europe, and feel somewhat anxious about loosing his warm presence.
A great book.

John is a friend of mine and therefore it'd be hard not to love his book, because this book IS John and he's pretty amazing. Genuine, humorous and inspiring. But I can also tell you I bought quite a few copies and gave them to people who aren't biased. And guess what. They loved it too.

Being a part-time pedestrian and filling my gas tank only every 8-10 weeks, Dr. Francis's book resonated deeply with me.

I've recommended this book to many people and sent another copy to a family member.

I'm so glad to have found this book!

John Francis writes an important story about the quest of a young man to live ethically in our complex world. Young John gives up using any form of gasoline-powered vehicle and deals with the consequences of his decision. He writes gently and movingly about the criticism and misunderstanding he received as a consequence of eschewing the automobile. Though he does not romanticize his decision, he writes lovingly of the quiet and peace of walking. I was inspired by this book.

Witnessing a tragedy has often been the catalyst that changed someone's life and sent them in a direction that would ultimately be a force for good in the world. Such is the case of John Francis, who witnessed an oil spill in San Francisco Bay in 1971. He was so moved by the consequences of the spill that he stopped using all forms of motorized transportation and began a 20+ year odyssey on foot that took him across America. He became a tirelss advocate for the environment and earned a bachelor, masters, and Ph.D. along the way.

The expression "He talks the talk and walks the walk" unequivocally applies to John Francis, Ph.D.

His writing is lyrical, easy to read and expresses his philosophy as well as his strong and continuing commitment to the environment. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a story of adventure, commitment, and beautiful use of the English language.

I wandered through the kid's section of a book store and stumbled upon this book. It was the beautiful imagery on the cover that first caught my eye. I flipped through to see that these wonderful images are carried throughout as well. I turned back to the beginning and read the tale of Ignis as he tries to find himself and his flame and fell in love with this little dragon. His journey to find his flame is fun to read and fitting for the age this book targets (4-8). Simply put, I found the tale endearing and the artwork captivating to explore. Very enjoyable indeed!

I have read this book and really enjoyed it. I have also read this book to a grade 1 class and they really enjoyed it. I feel that this book is great for all ages. I love the story-line and the fabulous illustrations. This will be a great addition to any collection.

One of the most delightful books I have ever come across!

No other book I have ever seen has illustrations that bring dragons to life like this one. As an artist, I had searched everywhere to find examples of expresive, interesting dragons that had a benevolent and inquisitive nature, and at the same time retained their reptilian appearance. The fact that the drawings are accompanied by such a well written story is a bonus!

This is my daughter's most-requested book, and it is so enjoyable I truly don't mind reading it five days in a row. I can't say that for any other book we own. The illustrations are beautiful, the text is very inspired, and I like the theme of perseverance. Ignis's personality seems so real, as does the little girl Cara's. With two children, I've bought or borrowed countless children's books, and this goes at the top of my favorites list. I wish Gina Wilson and P.J. Lynch would team up for another story.

"Ignis" is fabulous dragon book. The inspirational story is all the better due to the enchanting, beautifully drawn illustrations on each page. I love reading this book to my 5-year old son as much as he loves to hear it. This is a must read and must have book for all dragon lovers: both young and old. I highly recommend the purchase.

It was the most intriguing and interesting book, I felt like I was right there at the circus.The stories were so informative and at times very funny. It was hard to put this book down.

This book is a veritable delight! It is all at once humorous, credible and compelling. The authors' use of language creates a visual mind picture that is like an outing with a friend. An easy , interesting look at the thought processes that we can all relate to at one point in life or another. Definitely 5 stars!!!

This book is the genuine experience! The author has an incredible knack for triggering each of the senses as she describes with vivid, page-turning detail the life she actually lived and observed first-hand in the circus. Anyone who remembers attending a classic, tented circus as a youngster will find most compelling her ability to virtually bring you back there again, but this time with the privilege of an extended personal tour that completely bypasses the ticket office. With the close of its last page, you'll feel that you, too, have actually lived the experience, and that you personally know each of the personalities who formed its fabric.

As thoroughly dazzling as this book is, it is NOT fiction, making all the more engaging the author's candid illustration of every facet of circus life. Surprisingly, the author also has a great deal to say about the far broader world at large within which the circus existed, told with a perceptive and poignant honesty and frankness, but also with an acquiescent reverence and humor that's accepting of the persuasions of that era. These observations were as engaging as those of the circus -- like watching vintage film footage of a 1930's baseball game but being just as intrigued by the look and dress of the audience in its stands.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to truly visit, or re-visit, the bona fide circus of yester-year. The author realistically tells of a time and place that you'll want to step back into and hang around in long after you've finished reading it...and as authentically as this author captures it, you'll feel that you easily can.

C. B.

"Spangles, Elephants, Violets and Me" by Victoria Cristiani Rossi her intelligent memoir is the best circus book since "I Love You Honey But the Seasons Over." Victoria Cristiani Rossi born into the Famous Cristiani Riding Family while her family was touring with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. From Ringling a very young Vickie moved with her family to another huge railroad show under the Big Top - Cole Bros. Circus. The Cristiani Family occupied an entire railroad car that was specially built for the family. Victoria takes us not only behind the Big Top but her days attending privates schools away from the circus. Our author spends her late teens on the Cristiani Circus Family Circus. She writes about 1958 tour from Sarasota to L.A. via Chicago and her near fatal Hollywood accident that landed her in the L.A. hospital and romancing her future husband Ben a featured cowboy roper and rider on her families circus. Ben within a short time also had a circus accident and was omitted to the same hospital. The (Ozzie & Harriett) Nelson Brothers Rick and David were regular hospital visitors. This is all great reading that once you pick "Spangles, Elephants, Violets and Me" up you won't put down until completion. This book is about real circus and elephants by someone that actually lived the story...Victoria's book is a significant circus memoir. The book is correspondingly an account of her own search for the "violets" in her life.

I found out about this new circus book on Buckles Blog which is a fantastic information source on the circus.
So I ordered this fantastic book and it was so good I could not put it down until I finished it.
It is about the famous Cristiani circus family who were on many famous circuses and who had at one time the largest tented circus that traveled the United States.
They flipped backwards from horse to horse with four horses going around a circus ring. This feat has not been repeated as they were the best ever.
The author who is a daughter of the famous group takes us step by step up their success ladder.
She was there and was part of this famous circus group and she tells us all about it.
There is a great section of photos that covers the Cristiani's career.
If you are a circus enthusiast like I am, this is a must.
You will really enjoy this great book.
Harry Kingston
Circus Fans of America

When I was little I used to sit and read this book every night. It was the very first book I ever read by myself. This book is a memory that has lasted and held meaning since I was 4. 13 years later I still look at this book and smile, because it was my introduction into a world of literature. It has inspired me to write my own books and to teach.

The story was about a small elephant named Tubby and a kid names Ah Mee. Ah Mee and Tubby made lanterns with Ah Mee's parents. Ah Mee had a birthday and Tubby made him the biggest lantern ever wit the biggest candle ever that said "Happy Birthday Ah Mee." But when he was done it floated away. Ah Mee seen it, thought it was the greatest birthday present ever, and went to help him. He gathered up a lot of little lanterns and went to go save him but the lanterns went out but Tubby got him before he fell. they floated over the seas and oceans when the next morning came the candle went out they floated on a ship and the ship was almost attacked by pirates. They put the Lantern and floated away...
The age level is about 6-8.
The lesson i think is that when everything is bad it will get better.
this is an exemant book because the climax was excellent.

I just absolutely loved this book as a child and my children (twin boys of 6) have loved my reading it to them for a few years now. It is a great book about friendship and the pictures and story are extremely stimulating to the imagination.
I wish you could still get this book new but used is definitely better than nothing!

This book can be counted on as a winner for a bedtime story.
First the book introduces our main characters: An elephant and a boy who live in a little Chinese village making paper lanterns with the boy's parents. The elephant is named Tubby and the boy is named Ah-Mee. When Tubby's idea for a birthday present for Ah Mee gets him in trouble, Ah Mee saves him. Then Tubby saves Ah Mee. Then Tubby and Ah Mee save a whole boat of sailors from some pirates. They come safely home, have a party, and then Ah Mee thinks of a birthday present for Tubby. The book ends with sleep and that's the best way to end a bedtime story! This book not only puts kids to sleep happy, but it teaches them how to make a paper lantern and a bed! The most important thing learned is how to be a good friend.

A baby elephant named Tubby lives with his friend, a little boy named Ah Mee in a village by the river. He gets into a great adventure when he decides to make a birthday present for Ah Mee... and the two embark on quite a journey! I especially like the pictures from this book... the lanterns are really very beautiful against the starry sky... and there is a lot of motion packed into the still drawings!

Vietnam When the Tanks Were Elephants is one of the rare books written by Americans that genuinely attempt to capture some of Vietnam's realities. In this historical novel Tom Barnes shows his sincere desire to see Vietnamese and a tumultuous period of Vietnamese history from a Vietnamese perspective: the challenge was enormous even for Barnes who lived for five years in Vietnam and who married a Vietnamese lady back in 1977.

Even for a Vietnamese scholar steeped in his/her country's culture and history, writing about the Tay Son period represents a frightful challenge: It was a very short period which saw the final decline of the Le Dynasty, the ruin of the dominating yet vulnerable House of the Trinh Lords in the North, and the rapid decay of the House of the Nguyen Lords in the South, the lightning ascent and collapse of the revolutionary House of the Tay Son, and the unification of the country by Nguyen Anh, the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Like many Vietnamese, Barnes has been mesmerized by the men and women, heroes and villains, braves and cowards, victims and victimizers, winners and losers, kings and bandits of those days, all larger than life, who thrust themselves into the scene, said a few words, made a few gestures, then disappeared in the fumes of generalized bloodshed.

I guess what Barnes wanted to achieve was to bring those men and women to life, mold them individually into less evanescent, more solid and more real figures than those we've received from partial and forgetful chroniclers of that time. Whether he succeeded in his attempt is not as important as the attempt itself. Ultimately one can only admire his courage and his integrity in accepting the challenge.


Andre Van Chau, author of The Miracle of Hope and A Liftime in the Eye of the Storm

This is an excellant scholarly history of events in Vietnam not known to many westerners. It describes the clash of the armies of the southern farmers against the forces of the Imperial government in what is known as the Tay Son Rebellion and took place during the same time period as the American revolution. It is as rich in characterization and detail as Tolstoy' War and Peace, but is infinitely more readable. Barnes makes the story interesting by presenting it in a series of descriptions and commentaries by eight narrators, all Vietnamese except for a Spanish missionary priest and a Chinese general. It is very useful to have capsule biographies of narrators and named characters, a glossary of Vietnamese terms and a chronology of the Tay Son Rebellion.

Those interested in military affairs of the period will find much to learn. Some use of muskets and artillery is mentioned but the principal arms were swords, spears and archery. Frequent use was make of elephants in combat and horses were employed, but infrequently as cavalry. Vietnam then (as now) is terrain suited for infantry warfare and the bulk of the struggle between the opposing forces employed those tactics. Because of the many rivers and long seacoast, however, some use was made of naval forces.

The use of deception, bribery and cruelty as elements to achieve success in the power politics practiced in this atmosphere are not unlike those described by Machiavelli in "The Prince." Realistic depictions of these affairs give this work a sobering air of Asian reality, tempered by the humanity of the narrators.

It is rare to find history presented in this fashion, at once readable and informative. I highly recommend this book and caution that it is best not read at one sitting. Take the time necessary to savor its richness and complexity.

Most of us, the stay-at-homes and world travelers alike, seem to have some inborn fascination with things Oriental. That fascination gets a great feeding in Thomas Barnes' "Vietnam when the Tanks were Elephants".

This is the lively story of real events and people in a 31-year war among rivals for the rule of Vietnam, 1771-1802, told through fictionalized narratives by members of the various sides. The narratives join to make a rich tapestry of the war itself and the personalities who shaped it, their intrigues and betrayals, their acts of cruelty and moments of tenderness, their courage, their folly, their greed - and the sometimes inexplicable consequences.

The story is of the Orient, of minds formed by Oriental thought and traditions; but it is also universal. Here is war-time decision-making as it has been throughout world history, plans shaped by leaders' personal foibles or strengths, campaigns undone by the unforeseen event. Here are men who take power and cannot handle it; here is a great man struck down by no fault of his own. Here are tactics similar to those the U.S. learned in Vietnam. And here the elephants are, like tanks, scary and formidable but vulnerable.

It is useful for Western readers, especially Americans, to be jarred into some sense of the wealth of history in the rest of the world. The struggles depicted here started before the American and French Revolutions and continued after them, but how many in the West would have known about them without Mr. Barnes' book?

The book moves fast; it is not dull history. Nor is it a novel; it is fictionalized non-fiction. Some may object to its many changes of point-of-view characters. But such changes are standard fare in movies; and for that matter, the "Iliad" also shifts its focus frequently and to good effect.

I cannot imagine that anyone other than the unique Mr. Barnes could have written this book. He drew on Vietnamese historical studies that he himself translated. Just as "The Name of the Rose" bespoke Umberto Eco's scholarship, so "Vietnam when the Tanks were Elephants" evinces Mr. Barnes' erudition. He has a profound knowledge of Southeast Asia and is fluent in several of its languages. With that expertise he combines a personal experience of life and war in Vietnam (he is a veteran of many dangerous years there as a U.S. Foreign Service officer) that gives the book its extra insights into how things really happen.

This book could and should be made into a terrific mini-series. Meanwhile, it's a great read.

The Tay Son rebellion in Vietnam in the late 1700's was contemporary with the French and our revolutions and equally traumatic. Anyone interested in learning about Vietnam before our involvement will find this well written historical novel by Mr. Barnes to be fascinating.

Mr. Barnes is a thorough Vietnam hand, truly fluent in the language and with extensive experience in the country. He served there in our Foreign Service a number of assignments, almost all of the time outside of Saigon. He also served in Thailand and Laos, doing well with those languages too. His wife is Vietnamese and an able collaborator in his research.

The Tay Son brothers from Central Vietnam led their rebellion first against the Nguyen rulers of the south, killing off all the family except one prince who fled to Thailand. They then marched north to eliminate the Trinh rulers there. The division between the Nguyen and the Trinh was almost the same line as between South and North Vietnam during our war. Both were supposedly serving the Le Dynasty titular rulers of all of Vietnam. The Tay Son brothers after their victories fell out among themselves, and the dynasty collapsed as the surviving Nguyen prince returned to reconquer using Thai and French support. As King Gia Long he founded a renewed Nguyen Dynasty, which in turn was to fall to the French and then ultimately to the Communists.

It is a tangled bit of history, with many actors, much treachery, and copious amounts of blood. Mr. Barnes has followed the real history closely using the tool of a novel with first person narrations by the principal participants, and with descriptions of gruesome (and real) executions and the sex that comes with kings marrying for political reason and also having fun with winsome concubines.

Enjoy a good read and interesting history. You will know Vietnam much better.

The 18th Century Tay Son Rebellion placed southern peasants on Vietnam's imperial throne. The southerners overthrew Vietnamese dynasties and repulsed a massive Chinese invasion. The Tay Son's influence encompassed the entire Indochina Peninsula and extended into China and Siam. Tay Son is as significant an event in modern (i.e., the last half millennium) Vietnamese history as is the Civil War in the U.S. Surprisingly, despite the intensity of American interest in Vietnam since the war to which Americans refer as the "Vietnam War" and Vietnamese as the "American War," Tay Son has received little attention here.

Thomas J. Barnes, a retired American diplomat who spent five years in Vietnam during the war, here corrects that deficiency. In Vietnam - When the Tanks were Elephants, he has produced a scholarly work -- a historical novel on the period of Tay Son. Tom Barnes carries the reader along with the pace of a Tom Clancy adventure. He employs eight principals in the events to tell his tale: protagonists and antagonists in the rebellion - emperors and a queen, lords, Vietnamese and Chinese generals, scribes and a Spanish Dominican missionary. Evoking Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Barnes' narrators present first-person accounts. Each contributes a distinctive and engrossing perspective.

Let the squeamish be forewarned that Barnes' chronicle of deeds and misdeeds, crimes and punishment, is graphic. Votaries of Robert Van Gulik's Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee will recollect his themes in Barnes' similar attention to the full workings of the wheel of justice. Beheadings, drawings and quarterings, and all the grisly like -- barbarisms to modern sensibilities, but commonplace in the context of the age -- are portrayed vividly in all their gruesomeness. Nor are the narrators shy to confess their concupiscence. Episodes of libidinousness are interspersed into accounts of history-making events.

Compressing the epic events of 31 years into eight narratives within the covers of a 321-page book could lead to confusion in the hands of a less attentive author. Barnes, however, assists his readers with appendices comprising casts of characters, a chronology, and glossaries of foreign words and phrases. The last permits the narrators to speak realistically. Vietnamese interlocutors, for example, use exclamations and colloquialisms of their tongue, lending authenticity to their accounts.

Set aside half a day or a long evening for this book because you won't want to put it down. The reading of it is a delight and an education. You will come away from it with an enhanced comprehension of not only a significant slice of history, but an enriched insight into the universality of human nature.

Christine and her sister, Mandy Evans loved to make up games, so when a pink elephant with unusual abilities falls into their pool, it's the beginning of a challenge to protect and keep their new friend.

The girls have a lot of questions, and so will the reader. Where did the elephant come from? Why did he drop in on Christine and Mandy? Will he stay? Will the girls be able to hind him?

Christine Amamiya is a youngster herself, and a very intuitive one with an entertaining imagination. I will predict that Ms. Amamiya will have a good future in children's books if she chooses to follow that path. Just think what she could do with an adult story in another ten years.

Review by Wanda C. Keesey (author Lost In The Mist release May 2008)

Pink Elephant's personality shines throughout this book and caputres the reader's heart. Pink Elephant is polite, kind-hearted, humorous, and just a teeny bit mischievious (though never on purpose!). While on earth he is learning all there is to know about it and is a voracious reader. Along with Pink Elephant, you will learn how he ended up in the Evans' pool and what two young girls do to hide him from their parents until Pink Elephant can find his true home. Enjoyable reading, I look forward to the sequels!

there are many wonderful books in the world, and the Adventures of PInk Elephant is one of the rising stars! A truly wonderful book that will bring your heart out no matter what age. Everyone should have an experience reading this book. It's so funny and enjoyable overall. You can really imagine that you're there. And I think Christine Amamiya will be one of the greatest authors of all time! Can't wait to see the other books!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2D4MSBX2AVVIT

The best part about these stories is that everyone seems to think that a certain one is the best. The official review likes "A Story about a Bomb". I personally preferred "A Tooth for a Tooth" and my brother liked "Mr. Fig and Mr. Pineapple". They're all really great and I may have to buy more than one copy.

I loved this collection of short stories. I bought because it peaked my interest on Israel. Especially with the recent focus on Israel this book gives the Israelis more of a human quality then you see on the news. A must read for everyone! It make you look at Israelis and the human experience in totally different way. On the other hand, it reminded me of Roald Dahl and his hilarious, twisted, but true to life stories. My favorite is the one about the grandmothers, the most twisted one, but the greatest one too.

Israelis are so much the same and yet so different. In this delightful short story collection, the Israeli psyche shines through in a variety people in quite different circumstances. Using mostly scenes of contemporary Israeli life, the author provides a virtual kaleidioscopic display of just how colorful and enchanting Israelis can be.

Here are some of this book's choicest offerings. "Moving business" tells of a young Israeli paratrooper who disappears during a military operation in the Bekaa valley. "Hatikvah" is about the fleeting relationship of kibbutz volunteers Carmi of South Africa and Jota of Argentina. In "The Camel-Hair Coat", Yonathan learns during reserve duty that his old army buddy Yair has become an internet millionaire.

ARAFAT'S ELEPHANT would be particularly appealing to anyone who has lived for any time in Israel. It focuses on how the Israeli has a unique place in the world--easily identified by the social customs of his country. This collection of stories is a definite keeper!

I found this book while perusing one afternoon in Borders ...

I read all of it in one day! I couldn't stop.

My favorite story was the one about Ibrahim Kuttab.

Somehow I found certain similitaries to Gabriel Garcia Marquez "Doce Cuentos Peregrinos" Both books contain tragic & melancholic stories.

Kudos to Mr. Tel.

I really enjoyed this book, both from lessons learned as well as the interesting writing style that is engaging as well as informative. As a woman business owner of a marketing firm who employs mostly women, I find the lessons quite valuable. I especially enjoyed the chapter on management.

I recently finished reading "Can This Elephant Curtsy On Cue? Life Lessons Learned On A Film Set For Women In Business" by Danielle Weinstock and enjoyed it immensely.

"I believe `Can This Elephant Curtsy On Cue?' is the best business management motivational book for women I have read. Danielle's journey as a professional is truly inspirational and her writing skills make the book a fast, highly entertaining read. I am recommending this book to my friends and colleagues. For women who need inspiration to follow their passion and want to be excited about their careers, this is the book for you.

Linda Young
V.P. Human Resources
IntraLase Corp (retired)

With this book, Weinstock reveals a lot. She gives us the true insider's look at how movies and TV shows are made. The streets in Hollywood aren't paved with gold, she says, but with hard work. And you can see that in each interesting, insightful story she tells. But this isn't so much a book about working as a producer but about working in general--about what it's like to have an unreasonable boss or to have to be the one in charge of a difficult (and sometimes dangerous) situation or to learn to deal with difficult people and situations. In revealing so much about her own experiences, difficulties and achievements, Weinstock helps anyone who reads her book to see better how to avoid setbacks and enjoy triumphs. Debra Anne Davis

"Can This Elephant Cursy on Cue" Life Lessons Learned On A Film Set For Women In Business" by Danielle Weinstock is an exciting, inspiring, beautifully written and organized examination of the world of business for all women in business, presented in a highly original and useful manner from the viewpoint of one of the world's most fascinating industries. I Loved it.

Diana Pleva
Executive Vice President and Chief
Creative Officer, Mattel Toys (Ret)"

This was my very favorite book as a child. I have never forgotten it and will never throw my poor tattered copy away. I just love this book.

My mom found this book for me at a yard sale. I think it is a great book! Enormous Elephant works at a grocery store for Responsible Rabbit. He keeps on telling her that she eats 2 times as much as she should be selling. So she has a big sale and everything goes well in the end. I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too!

This is my favorite Sweet Pickles book, both because of the built in business/money lesson and because it is simply HILARIOUS! Teachers will want this book on hand when teaching about money, elephants, economics, or just for a fun read. "Everyone bought one banana so they could get two for nothing, but they didn't buy anything else! What do we do now??" It doesn't get any better than that!

I bought the complete set of sweet pickle books for my children when they first came out. Years later I loaned them to a friend to read to her twin daughters (1990) and she refuses to return these books to me saying her daughters do not want to part with them. I love them and have read all of the books. I would like to know where I can purchase the complete set and if it will every be released again. *****do not lend anyone anything if you do not expect to get it back***** I learned the hard way.