The Elephant and the Bad Baby

This is one of the few books I remember from childhood, and now that I am a parent I had to get it for my kids too!

This book was one of the first books i ever read. I was 6 years old then, now i'm 35. I loved the elephant's "rumpita, rumpita, rumpita"ing all through the town. I have shared this book with my three children who love it just as i did. It is a bit dated now, but so are most books that are this old. Times change. I still can recite it almost word for word from my memory. This is a classic and hopefully i can share this book with my grandchildren one day.

What a fantastic book! This is one of our perennial read-aloud favourites. As a previous reviewer points out, it IS a little strange; in our house, that's what makes it stand out from the run of the mill. You never know exactly WHY the baby is called a "bad baby" even before the story begins -- but that makes it even more intriguing for kids.And of course, the art does look dated and peculiar, and the words ("crisps," "sweet shop") are all kind of funny to my kids. Also, because we're Jewish, when I read it, I say "meat store man" instead of "pork butcher," so as not to offend my kids' kosher sensibilities! But all of these quirks just make it more fun to read and -- judging from their reactions -- all the more fun to listen to.The story is straightforward and fun -- a baby and its kleptomaniac elephant friend go out for a romp on the town, a romp which culminates when the elephant decides that the baby is not polite enough and must be brought home for pancakes. That's the basic plot, but it is thrillingly executed in a classic style.We have been taking this book out of the library regularly for years, and my only fear is that we and other fans of this book will eventually wear out their single copy -- leaving us without this one-of-a-kind gem!!!

The very joy in reading this book to young children is the outrageous silliness - it is indeed absurd that a baby would be bad or that an elephant would shoplift with abandon, but my own children literally loved this book to pieces, and now they want to 'rumpeta' through the pages with their own kids.

This is a wonderful book which I have had since I was very young. I always loved it being read to me and is now a firm favourite with children I babysit for.The baby doesn't say please whenever the Elephant asks if he wants anything from the various exciting looking shops they pass. The shopkeeper from each shop they take food from chases the Elephant and the bad baby down the street. Eventually, the Elephant realises that the baby has never once said please and takes the baby off his back. The shopkeepers all bump into the Elephant and end up in a heap on the floor with spectacles, shoes, aprons etc. everywhere! The baby is sat on the floor with all the pieces of half eaten food around him. The baby is sad and says "I want to go home to my Mummy - Please" The Elephant takes the baby home and the shopkeepers, Elephant and the bad baby all have pancakes at the bad baby's house. The bad baby goes to bed and the Elephant goes rumpeta, rumpeta, rumpeta back home with the shopkeepers in tow.A wonderful book well worth reading!