How Elegant the Elephant: Poems about Animals and Insects

A rollicking collection of poems about the enchanting world of animals and insects, from former children's poet laureate and New York Times bestselling author Mary Ann Hoberman and Caldecott Honoree illustrator Marla Frazee.

So many kinds of animals
So many shapes and sizes
So many funny spots and dots
So many strange disguises

With her signature wordplay and wit, former children's poet laureate Mary Ann Hoberman celebrates the magnificence, ingenuity, and quirky qualities of creatures big and small. This thoughtfully crafted collection features sixty of Mary Ann's personal favorite poems curated from her sixty-five-year body of work, as well as eight new poems.

From a fine fat pig and backward running porcupines to a beastly card game and a yoga class for agile animals, this memorable menagerie is cunningly brought to life by three-time Caldecott Honoree Marla Frazee, in an imaginary world where the characters meet and tell an entertaining tale all their own.

A tour de force collection of poems and pictures by two legendary talents, this book creates a world that readers will never want to leave.

Author: Mary Ann Hoberman
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 03/11/2025
Pages: 88
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.50lbs
Size: 11.70h x 8.70w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780316417129
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 10/01/2024 pg. 93
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2025
Booklist 01/01/2025 pg. 51
Shelf Awareness 03/08/2025
Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2025 pg. 104
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2025 - Outstanding, Noteworthy In Style

About the Author
Mary Ann Hoberman (1930-2023) was a New York Times bestselling author, former children's poet laureate, and winner of the National Book Award who wrote more than fifty books. How Elegant the Elephant reflects three of Mary Ann's lifelong passions: a love of animals, respect for the natural world, and the joy of wordplay. Her many notable works include the classic picture book A House Is a House for Me; the poetry collections Away with Words!, Forget-Me-Nots, and The Llama Who Had No Pajama; and the You Read to Me, I'll Read to You series. For more information about Mary Ann and her work, you may visit maryannhoberman.com.

Marla Frazee has written and illustrated many acclaimed books for children, including the Caldecott Honor Books In Every Life, All the World (written by Liz Garton Scanlon), and A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. Her picture book The Boss Baby is the inspiration for two DreamWorks animated feature films and a TV series. She's thrilled to be illustrating another book by Mary Ann Hoberman after their collaboration on The Seven Silly Eaters, a book that has delighted many families over the years. Marla has three grown sons, two grandsons, a Little Free Library in her front yard, and a studio under an avocado tree in her backyard in Pasadena, California. She invites you to visit her at marlafrazee.com.