Strictly No Elephants

A young boy has a tiny elephant as a pet. On Pet Club Day, he and his elephant head to the meeting place with excitement. The boy encounters an unexpected situation at Pet Club that leads him to meet a girl with a skunk. Together they embark on a mission to create something new for themselves and others. This picture book uses simple text and illustrations to explore friendship, inclusion, and standing up for what's right. Through gentle storytelling, it shows children how to respond to exclusion by building communities where everyone belongs.

Readers appreciate the book's messages about inclusion, friendship, and standing up for others who are different. Parents and teachers report using it to discuss discrimination and acceptance with young children. The gentle illustrations and sweet relationship between the boy and his tiny elephant resonate with many readers. Common praise: - Helps kids understand exclusion in a relatable way - Creates natural discussions about prejudice - Memorable artwork, especially the rainy scenes Common criticisms: - Plot feels basic and predictable - Message delivered too directly - Some find it preachy Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (2,900+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.8/5 (190+ ratings) "Perfect for teaching empathy to preschoolers" - Elementary librarian review "My 4-year-old asks for this nightly" - Parent reviewer "Heavy-handed moral, but the art saves it" - Book blogger review

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts A boy who cannot afford the trendy shoes his classmates wear learns about friendship, generosity, and what matters most.

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell A girl discovers the power of imagination and empathy when she doubts a classmate's claim about owning a horse.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson A student learns the impact of excluding others when her classmate moves away before she can make amends.

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig A quiet student finds connection through small acts of kindness and inclusion from a new classmate.

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates An umbrella that stretches to shelter everyone who needs space demonstrates the limitless nature of inclusion.

🐘 Author Lisa Mantchev was inspired to write this story after seeing a "No Pets Allowed" sign and imagining what it would be like to have an unusual animal companion. 🐘 The book's illustrator, Taeeun Yoo, used pencil, linoleum block print, and digital techniques to create the warm, whimsical artwork. 🐘 Though tiny elephants don't exist in real life, the pygmy elephant of Borneo is the smallest wild elephant species, standing about 8 feet tall at the shoulder. 🐘 The book has been translated into multiple languages and is used in many schools to teach lessons about inclusion, friendship, and standing up against discrimination. 🐘 Despite their size in real life, elephants are one of the few mammals that can't jump – just like the tiny elephant in the story who needs help getting over cracks in the sidewalk.