The Horn Book Guide

PRESCHOOL

DeBord, Tina Ballon

Smell My Elephant

32 pp. | Sleeping Bear | April, 2017 | Trade ISBN 978-1-58536-992-8 $16.99

(4) PS Illustrated by Kim Jackson DeBord. When young Fletcher gets a whiff of his stuffed elephant, it smells...different. He canvasses his loved ones for their impressions (e.g., Mom smells dirty socks). Finally, Fletcher's friend nails it: Elephant smells like Fletcher and his family--and ultimately like hugs. It's a sweet, original, and (it must be said) weird story with simple line and wash illustrations occasionally overwhelmed by their white backdrops.

Reviewer: Nell Beram