"Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!"

by Patricia Thomas

Illustrated by Wallace Tripp

Dear Friends,

I'm going to break some sort of unwritten rule by staring this post off by talking about a book besides our book of the week. And that book is No Flying in the House. It doesn't seem like many people know about it but those who are devotees. I got it in the last Scholastic book order of the school year and remember being completely engrossed reading it in my book nook, which was comprised of my own bookshelves, a lamp and a little bean bag chair. 

Going forward several years, I read "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!" to my kindergarten class, not realizing that the illustrations so beloved by my kindergartners were done by the same illustrator who had brought my beloved Gloria and Annabel to life. They loved the language and rhythm of "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!", but it was the richly detailed illustrations that truly captivated their imaginations. 

Although "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!" is a bit longer than our usual picks, it is so fun and entertaining that it will hold your young reader's attention. We hope you enjoy this selection and if you weren't familiar with it before, the work of Wallace Tripp. 

Shelli

In this Issue

• Elephant Nose
• Jungle Crumble Bars

 Elephant Nose

Bring the story to life with an elephant nose that will curl and uncurl, powered by your young reader!

Elephant Nose

Supplies

• Bathroom tissue roll
• Gray or silver tissue paper
• Tape
• Scissors
• White paper for tusks

1.  Cut a piece of tissue paper wide enough to fit around cardboard tube, and roughly twice the length. Wrap the tissue paper around the tube and secure with tape. Place another piece of tape halfway down the length of tissue paper to keep it closed. 
2. Fold the end of the length of tissue paper closed and secure with tape. 
3. Cut two tusks from white paper and tape to each side of the tissue covered tube. 

To use: Have your young reader hold the tube over their mouth and blow out to make an elephant sneeze, and breathe in through their mouth to make the elephant nose curl back up. 

  

Jungle Crumble Bars

Almost all the animals in "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!" are represented in this fun to make recipe. This is all about the process of making this story-related recipe, so have fun making it together with your young reader. 

Jungle Crumble Bars

Makes 16. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup animal crackers
• 1 cup leopard spots (chocolate Cheerios)
• 1/2 cup graham goldfish (for the fish and crocodile)
• 1/2 cup snakes (unsalted sesame sticks)
• 1/2 cup dried banana slices (for the monkeys)
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds (for the mouse)
• 1/4 cup bird feathers (unsweetened coconut)
• 1/4 cup honey (for the bees and bear)
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (for the elephant)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons chocolate chips (to make zebra stripes)

1. Heat oven to 350. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. 
2. In a large bowl, measure and mix together all ingredients except the peanut butter, honey, oil, and chocolate chips. 
3. In a separate bowl, stir together the honey, peanut butter, and vegetable oil until smooth. Pour over cereal mixture and stir until evenly coated. 
4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool completely. 
5. Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over bars to make stripes. Once chocolate is set, cut into 16 bars. Enjoy!

 

One Year Ago: A Home for Bird by Philip Stead, My Garden by Kevin Henkes, and Anatole by Eve Titus, illustrated by Paul Galdone.

Two Years Ago: Make Way for Ducklings by Robet McCloskey, We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni.