Is it too early to mention the ‘C’ word? Well if it is, I can only apologise because that Elephant is back and this time he’s got his eye on Santa’s sleigh!

“Chaos at Christmas! Join a whole host of animals in silly situations as they try to celebrate the festive season.

You can’t let an elephant pull Santa’s sleigh,
if you want your presents on Christmas Day . . .
He’ll do his best to tug it up to the sky
but the sad fact is – elephants can’t fly!

Raccoons decorating your Christmas tree? Pulling crackers with alpacas? Kissing a buffalo under the mistletoe? Oh no . . . that just won’t do! A festive romp featuring all sorts of animals in all sorts of madcap situations, from the bestselling creators of the You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus series.”

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‘The inspiration behind You Can’t Let an Elephant Pull Santa’s Sleigh’
by Patricia Cleveland-Peck

I think it was the giraffe which first alerted me to the possibilities of a Christmassy Elephant book. Once I had the mental image of the length that a giraffe’s Christmas stocking would be, I was off. Added to this was the gift of the rhyme:

‘Something you might find rather shocking

is the size of the giraffe’s Christmas stocking…’ 

David Tazzyman interpreted this brilliantly and drew a group of children gazing up in amazement (including, I was pleased to see, a girl with a prosthetic leg. I’d been asking for a disabled child to be included in the books for some while).

So, sometimes a spread was built around a good rhyme – for example ‘cracker – alpaca’ in which David’s illustration of the cracker-pulling also contains a splendid assortment of his oddball human characters. Sometimes it was the tradition itself which inspired me – and there are plenty of traditions linked to Christmas. The baubles on the Christmas tree seemed too good a temptation for the gang of racoons and the debris of wrapping paper for the omnivorous goat. Children relish mess and chaos so the idea of squirting the walls with ink while supposedly making Christmas cards,has a certain appeal. Similarly, we all know about the perils of putting up Christmas lights and so imagining an elephant seal trying to do so outdoors is a funny scene.

Kisses under the mistletoe? Well, who hasn’t shuddered when the experience involved say, an auntie with stinky breath or an uncle with bristly lips? Substituting ‘buffalo’for such a human, together with ‘mistletoe’ provides another good rhyme. Sometimes, as with the omnivorous goat, I like to incorporate something of the animals’ actual attributes. Penguins do look delightful, but they also make a very harsh squawky, growly, braying noise and their carol singing would not, shall we say, hit the right note.

So, my inspiration came from situations, rhymes and knowing a bit about my gang of silly animals who always want to please but, like so many of us, often don’t quite make it. Still, I think this time their idea for the finale worked and their pantomime was enjoyed by all.

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If you’re looking for a picture book which is guaranteed to have young readers roaring with laughter, it’s one from ‘That Elephant Series.’ The rhymes are truly glorious and Tazzyman’s illustrations perfectly capture the anarchic fun which ensues when Elephant and the gang get up to their usual tricks. Tie all that up with a festive bow and you have an ideal Christmas gift!

Jo.