May 24, 2004
Now in board book, Keiko Kasza's 1990 picture book When the Elephant Walks describes a chain reaction setting in as animals inadvertently terrifying one another. PW's review noted, "Kasza fills her pictures with amusing details that children will appreciate along with the simple story."
May 1, 1990
PreS-Gr 1-Is it the elephant's fault or the mouse's that all the creatures are startled? "When the Elephant walks," he scares the Bear who in turn scares the next animal; from Crocodile to Wild Hog to Mrs. Raccoon, the panic spreads until it returns to Elephant who is, of course, scared of little Mouse. Al though adults will easily predict the outcome, young children will giggle at the absurdity of the conclusion of this humorous story. It is a testament to the artist's expressive watercolors that so fulfilling a tale-complete with a subtle lesson (even the mighty among us are afraid of something)-can be told in so few words. Kasza's restraint in the amount of detail included in the pic tures is admirable; large amounts of white space draw attention to and frame each animal's fearful yet silly face. Not an original concept, but nev ertheless sure to be a popular choice for preschoolers and beginning readers.- Ellen Fader, Westport Pub. Lib., CT
March 31, 1990
``When the Elephant walks . . . he scares the Bear,'' begins this whimsical chain-reaction story. Bear, who is interrupted as he tries to raid a beehive for honey, runs away from the Elephant. Bear then scares the Crocodile, who is relaxing and reading a newspaper. The Crocodile dives into the water and swims for his life. In turn he frightens the Wild Hog who, with goggles on his head and a tube around his middle, is poised to take a dip. And so on, until a frightened mouse scurries into . . . guess who? The elephant, of course, trembling in terror. Kasza ( The Wolf's Chicken Stew and The Pigs' Picnic ) fills her pictures with amusing details that children will appreciate along with the simple story. Especially entertaining are the expressions on the animals' faces. Ages 3-6.
January 1, 1990
Beginning with 'when the elephant walks ... he scares the bear,' this circular tale recounts a series of encounters which ends with a terrified mouse startling the same ponderous pachyderm who started the chain of events. An unpretentious, engaging book, executed with charm and elan.
(Copyright 1990 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
June 1, 1990
PreS-Gr 1-When the Elephant Walks, he frightens the Bear who in turn scares the next animal; from Crocodile to Wild Hog to Mrs. Raccoon, the panic spreads until it returns to Elephant who is, of course, scared of little Mouse. Although adults will easily predict the outcome, young children will giggle at the absurdity of the conclusion of this humorous story. It is a testament to the artist's expressive watercolors that so fulfilling a tale-complete with a subtle lesson (even the mighty among us are afraid of something)-can be told in so few words. Kasza's restraint in the amount of detail included in the pictures is admirable; large amounts of white space draw attention to and frame each animal's fearful yet silly face. Not an original concept, but nevertheless sure to be a popular choice for preschoolers and beginning readers. -Ellen Fader, Westport Pub . Lib ., CT