What We Look for in a Book
We use five key criteria to select the titles we send. They reflect our beliefs about great reading and are designed to ensure each monthly delivery Is special and unique.
What We Look for in a Book
We use five key criteria to select the titles we send. They reflect our beliefs about great reading and are designed to ensure each monthly delivery Is special and unique.
Focus on New or Recently Published Books Rather Than the “Classics.”
We love the classics as much as anyone, but there are so many wonderful new books being published every year that we intentionally stick to books released in the last 2-3 years–titles we’re pretty sure aren’t already on your shelves but should be.
⇩Meet our books!
⇩Meet our books!
Focus on New or Recently Published Books Rather Than the “Classics.”
We love the classics as much as anyone, but there are so many wonderful new books being published every year that we intentionally stick to books released in the last 2-3 years–titles we’re pretty sure aren’t already on your shelves but should be.
⇩Meet our books!
Identify Titles That Are Truly Original and Literary…
Not Movie Tie-Ins or
Re-Purposed Characters.
We like the imagination required to create a new character, set a scene, or introduce a child to an entirely new world. As such, we don’t do movie tie-ins, series, and characters that have been re-purposed from television or other media. There are plenty of places to find these. We want to focus on the books that stand on their own with a real literary or learning intent.
⇩Meet our books!
Identify Titles That Are Truly Original and Literary…
Not Movie Tie-Ins or
Re-Purposed Characters
We like the imagination required to create a new character, set a scene, or introduce a child to an entirely new world. As such, we don’t do movie tie-ins, series, and characters that have been re-purposed from television or other media. There are plenty of places to find these. We want to focus on the books that stand on their own with a real literary or learning intent.
Seek out “Undiscovered Treasures.” Selections That Deserve Introduction to a Wider Audience.
We stay away from the bestseller lists because there are so many new and unusual finds just waiting to be discovered off the beaten path. Some of them may eventually become the new classics but for now we think of them as hidden gems, and we try our best to introduce them to our readers as they deserve a wider audience.
⇩Meet our books!
⇩Meet our books!
Seek out “Undiscovered Treasures.” Selections That Deserve Introduction to a Wider Audience.
We stay away from the bestseller lists because there are so many new and unusual finds just waiting to be discovered off the beaten path. Some of them may eventually become the new classics but for now we think of them as hidden gems, and we try our best to introduce them to our readers as they deserve a wider audience.
⇩Meet our books!
Emphasize Variety…This Is a Time for Encouraging New Interests and Exposure to New Ideas.
Kids need exposure to as many different subjects, styles, and types of books as possible…especially as they’re picking up their reading habits for life. Variety is key and we intentionally try to build diverse subjects and different themes into our selections.
⇩Meet our books!
Emphasize Variety…This Is a Time for Encouraging New Interests and Exposure to New Ideas.
Kids need exposure to as many different subjects, styles, and types of books as possible…especially as they’re picking up their reading habits for life. Variety is key and we intentionally try to build diverse subjects and different themes into our selections.
Ask the Experts! The Opinions of Parents, Teachers, Authors, and Kids All Inform Our Choices.
We don’t have a monopoly on insight and so we consult widely with a variety of different types of people we consider to be experts:
Parents. We ask moms and dads what their kids enjoy reading and get their view on the titles we pick.
Educators. Teachers mean a lot, and the perspectives they’ve learned from engaging kids with stories and reading are invaluable. We rely on a group of educators with 30+ years of collective experience to run our books by and get their input.
Authors. We’re lucky enough to be in contact with several children’s authors and bring their perspective into our discussions and decision-making.
Children. Kids are ultimate customers and sometimes our most critical reviewers. We listen to kids and what they think about the books they love and the books they’d like to get.
⇩Meet our books!
⇩Meet our books!
Ask the Experts! The Opinions of Parents, Teachers, Authors, and Kids All Inform Our Choices.
We don’t have a monopoly on insight and so we consult widely with a variety of different types of people we consider to be experts:
Parents. We ask moms and dads what their kids enjoy reading and get their view on the titles we pick.
Educators. Teachers mean a lot, and the perspectives they’ve learned from engaging kids with stories and reading are invaluable. We rely on a group of educators with 30+ years of collective experience to run our books by and get their input.
Authors. We’re lucky enough to be in contact with several children’s authors and bring their perspective into our discussions and decision-making.
Children. Kids are ultimate customers and sometimes our most critical reviewers. We listen to kids and what they think about the books they love and the books they’d like to get
Elephant Books is my go-to baby gift…something I can easily send to friends and clients alike. The way they select the books means you know you’re sending something of quality that will really be enjoyed.”
Chandler W.
Nashville, TN
Elephant Books is my go-to baby gift…something I can easily send to friends and clients alike. The way they select the books means you know you’re sending something of quality that will really be enjoyed.”
Chandler W.
Nashville, TN
Strictly No Elephants
CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK
Strictly No Elephants
CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK
A young boy discovers that having a tiny pet elephant makes it hard to fit in since no one else has one. In fact, The Pet Club allows dogs, cats and fish, but the sign on the door is clear, “Strictly No Elephants.” Undaunted and loyal to his pet friend, the young boy finds other friends with different pets to form their own pet club. Celebrating diversity and inclusion, this lovely book captures the magic of all kinds of friendships.
WHY I’M A FAN?
I love a book that offers a teachable moment in a fun, relatable story for children. When a Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, it’s a boy and his elephant that will capture the hearts of all readers with the sweet tale of how friendship includes everyone.
Trudy Nicolay-Deutz
Co-Founder, Elephant Books
Landmarks
CATEGORY: BOARD BOOK
Landmarks
CATEGORY: BOARD BOOK
What better way to teach children about historically significant landmarks than with child-like drawings of some of the most famous ones? With camels roaming a desert below a blazing sun to highlight the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt to traditional Italian architecture as the setting for the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, each destination is a lovely glimpse into a important places around the world.
WHY I’M A FAN?
Learning while having fun reading with small children is a win-win. Landmarks hits the mark by offering not only one-of-a-kind drawings illustrating important monuments, but includes tactile features on the drawings to encourage interaction. Little fingers can easily trace the structure of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Russia or the Sydney Opera House in Australia, making the reading experience both fun and memorable.
Valerie Friedholm
Co-Founder, Elephant Books
I Am the Mountain Mouse
CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK
I Am the Mountain Mouse
CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK
A great story about a brave and undaunted little mouse who loves to show-off his zest for adventure, little readers will be charmed by the crazy antics Mountain Mouse and his friends encounter. The book outlines each mouse escapade separately to especially highlight the humor. For example, when Mountain Mouse decides to bring bathing suits for all his mouse friends and convince them to swim in the ocean, it’s those same friends who point out the shark swimming nearby. Silly and full of warmth, I am the Mountain Mouse will entertain readers over and over.
WHY I’M A FAN?
The author, Gianna Marino, has written and illustrated a number of fantastic children’s books. All feature her inspiring and thoughtful writing, along with her always stunning artwork. I am the Mountain Mouse is an especially fun book to read aloud as the storyline is funny, silly and is perfect for readers who love to use voice inflections to make a book come alive.
Stephen Murray
Co-Founder, Elephant Books
Hopper and Wilson
CATEGORY: BOARD BOOK
Hopper and Wilson
CATEGORY: BOARD BOOK
Two lovable stuffed animals sit on a pier overlooking the ocean and muse about what it’s like at the end of the world. Fanciful ideas of endless lemonade and a staircase to the moon convince the two to embark on a boat to find out. Although a storm leaves Hopper alone in the boat, the little mouse is relentless in searching for his missing friend. Reunited, the two stuffed animals are overjoyed to find themselves back where they started and exactly where they wanted to be: home.
WHY I’M A FAN?
Who doesn’t love a children’s book that celebrates the joy of finding love, friendship and happiness right in your own backyard? A cuddly blue elephant and a petite yellow mouse make for not only perfect companions, but also perfect symbols to teach young readers about the importance of friends dreaming together and sticking together.
Stephen Murray
Co-Founder, Elephant Books
Catching Kisses
CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK
Catching Kisses
CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK
Get ready to have fun introducing or sharing personal memories of such famous destinations as New York City’s Time Square, the Washington Monument in D.C., and Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Kisses travel everywhere and this book showcases popular landmarks to explain just how far and how different they might be.
WHY I’M A FAN?
I love books that offer an opportunity to teach and interact with a young reader. Catching Kisses is the perfect book to introduce children to famous landmarks throughout the United States. The book lends itself to opening dialogues about travel, history and maybe even some family memories of past visits to some of these sites.
Trudy Nicolay-Deutz
Co-Founder, Elephant Books
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