How Many Elephants?: A Lift-the-Flap Counting Book
What’s inside...
While looking through the contents of a young boy's closet, strange clues of visiting elephants can be seen, in an amusing counting book with lift-the-flaps and bright illustrations. Pay no attention to the elephants dancing behind you! The running visual joke in this lift-the-flap counting book will provoke more giggles with every new number. Let's count things. How many elephants are in your closet? Well, as every child knows, that's a silly question! See, no elephants in here! Zero! Let's get on to more reasonable things to count: shoes behind the curtain, markers in the box, toy dinosaurs in the drawer. And no, there are still no elephants in the closet -- though someone seems to have left a trail of peanut shells in there. And why are ten pachyderms partying outside the window?
Age
2-5
Length
20 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How many elephants did you find under each flap? Did you expect to see that many?
What do you think elephants like to do for fun?
How do you think the elephants feel being different sizes?
If you could give a name to one of the elephants, what would it be and why?
Can you imagine a new place to hide an elephant in the book? Where?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage counting along together with each flap, reinforcing number recognition and counting skills.
Discuss the sizes and colors of the elephants, asking your child to describe each one they see.
Create an interactive game by guessing how many elephants might be under the next flap before lifting it.
Praise your child’s efforts to count and engage with the book, whether they get the exact number right or not, to build confidence.
Ask your child to think creatively about where else an elephant might hide in our surroundings, fostering imagination.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding numbers and counting
Explanation: Through interactive lift-the-flap features, children practice counting the elephants hidden on each page.
Real-World Application: This skill helps children in everyday activities like dividing snacks evenly or counting steps while climbing stairs.
Example Lesson: Importance of curiosity and exploration
Explanation: The book engages children to explore what’s behind each flap, sparking their curiosity.
Real-World Application: Curiosity drives children to explore and learn about the world around them, whether it’s trying new foods, asking questions, or exploring nature.
Example Lesson: Developing fine motor skills
Explanation: Lifting flaps and turning pages require precise movements that enhance children's fine motor skills.
Real-World Application: These skills are crucial for other daily tasks such as tying shoelaces, writing, and using utensils.