Books published by publisher Laughing Elephant

Apples to Zeppelin A Rockin' ABC for Cool Kids is the coolest board book ABC ever made. For beginning readers, it features over 100 words. The first important words in a babies' life like apple, dog, and socks are illustrated alongside the other essentials for every young rocker, such as; electric guitar, drums and microphone. The illustrations are all in the bright and nostalgic vintage style of the classic rock era. And, as if that isn't enough, every page contains a visual shout out to classic bands, like The Beatles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and, of course, Led Zeppelin. The wide variety of bright and bold illustrations and the fun approach are sure to delight parent and child alike. Apples to Zeppelin is a well made board book that will survive the repeated readings every toddler will demand.

Everyone's favorite babysitting dog is back, and this time he's putting the everybody to bed! In Goodnight, Good Dog Carl, Carl tucks everyone in, makes sure all is well in the house, as a Good Dog should, and then settles down to sleep himself. A suggested lullaby is included at the end. This new board book is the latest title from Alexandra Day, author and illustrator of the best selling Good Dog Carl series of children's picture books. With over six-million 'Carl' books in print, Goodnight, Good Dog Carl is sure to become a bedtime classic for a whole new generation of children.

A Valentine For Everyone is one of our popular collections of die-cut Valentine’s Day cards, which feature charming and whimsical images of animals and children. They were carefully selected and reproduced from Laughing Elephant’s treasure trove of antique paper ephemera. Each of our three Valentine’s Day card packs includes 15 different die-cut cards with decorated envelopes. Each card is approximately 4” x 6”.

Retro Valentines is one of our popular collections of die-cut Valentine’s Day cards, which feature charming and whimsical images of animals and children. They were carefully selected and reproduced from Laughing Elephant’s treasure trove of antique paper ephemera. Each of our three Valentine’s Day card packs includes 15 different die-cut cards with decorated envelopes. Each card is approximately 4” x 6”.

Beloved children's icon Good Dog, Carl has his paws full with a mischievous baby elephant who likes backyard wading pools, playgrounds and fruit stands!Since Good Dog, Carl was published 30 years ago the series has sold well over a million books.The appeal of the series lies in the nearly wordless narrative, the lovable and somewhat mischievous Rottweiler and the little girl he takes on secret adventures. These are all present in this wonderful addition to the series. Day’s painterly skills are superb and her loving portrayal of the gentle dog and his trusting companion are as winning as ever, and this time an enterprising baby elephant joins the pair.This time Carl and Madeleine visit a children’s zoo where the enjoy visiting various baby animals. When they leave for an ice cream cone and a walk around the neighborhood, the little elephant follows them and shares their adventures.

In this lovely book, originally published in 1916, illustrator Margaret Evans Price and author Isabel C. Byrum beautifully tell the Christmas story, from the baby in the manger, surrounded by animals, to the arrival of the three wise men. The story, from the point of view of a child, is sweet and sincere and the accompanying illustrations exquisite. The narrator, Ethel opens the story: “In Bethlehem, I’ve heard them say, Upon a Christmas morn, Within a stable rough and rude, a tiny babe was born.” We continue in this vein as Ethel reflects upon the feelings of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds awakened by angels, the Wise Men following their star and of course Baby Jesus. The style of the interiors and clothing is more 1910s than Biblical, but so lovely and stylish that we are indifferent to the anachronism. A Child’s Christmas Story is a tender introduction to the nativity story for any early reader, and a perfect holiday gift.

In A Field Guide to Well Dressed Animals Author and noted zoologist of animalia vestido, Harold Darling explains the various classes of the dressed animal kingdom, including, Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.The author illustrates the best dressed in a variety of familia and genus, while explaining (using but two examples from many fine points,) the biological underpinnings behind vertebrate and invertebrate preferences in dress, and the various habits in holiday dress among the mammals. This important and seminal book, A Field Guide to Well Dressed Animals is sure to become a valuable tool in the dressed animal spotter’s collection and an indispensable reference work to the aficionado of animal haberdashery and fashion.

The Three Little Kittens is a happy and bright retelling of the classic fairytale about three kittens, who are in danger of displeasing mother and getting no pie! But all comes right in the end. Classic vintage illustrations have been paired with an updated text suitable for beginning readers. In a sturdy board book format suitable for little hands to handle without worry of tears.

The story of the birth of Christ in a manager, the star that stood overhead, the coming of the wise men to worship him, the flight into Egypt - all of us know this story. In truth there is little more to know. Only the Gospels of Matthew and Luke mention these events. We want to know more, and painters and poets have used their imagination to enrich the narrative, to give us more detail and a more vivid reality. This is not a work of theology, but instead a gathering of lovely images and evocative writing on Christ's infancy.

First published in 1988 and now back by popular demand, Good Dog, Carl illustrator Alexandra Day’s Frank and Ernest is the entertaining tale of a bear and an elephant who learn to run a diner. The charming illustrations of the Deco-era diner and the novelty of its animal employees will appeal to children, but the diner slang that Frank and Ernest learn and use will delight parents and children alike. Frank and Ernest will reveal the meaning of “burn one, take it through the garden and pin a rose on it,” “a stack with Vermont and a blonde with sand,” as well as “guess water,” “balloon juice,” and “million on a platter.” As in her popular Carl books Day excels at visual jokes and loving detail, but in Frank and Ernest the text is as delightful as the pictures. In skillfully executed paintings Day depicts a diner that is sure to evoke nostalgia among old-timers. Children should enjoy adding these novelties to their vocabularies, and making the connections that inspired the descriptions is good fun. Kirkus Reviews Clever and original, this playful romp serves up its message with a smile. It’s bound to become standard fare…. School Library Journal Frank, appearing as Elephant, and Ernest, as Bear, answer an ad for someone to run human-shaped Mrs Miller's diner for her. Bibliophiles that they are, the friends research the lingo of the diner restaurant trade, and with grace and aplomb they serve a "bow-wow. . . red" (hot dog with ketchup), "nervous pudding," (Jell-O"), and "white cow" (vanilla milk shake"). Alexandra Day's paintings render a mannerly world of measured language and punctilious decorum. Mrs. Miller returns safely from her trip, and we are enveloped in nostalgia--it was all so recent, so very long ago. Peter F. Neumeyer. - Professor Emeritus University of California, Berkeley. Author and recipient of the Ann Devereaux Jordan Award by The Children's Literature Association.