The Elephant's Child

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

Funny and adventurous with a clear payoff: the new trunk becomes useful. The tone is playful, so it lands well at bedtime with gentle delivery.

Story Synopsis

In the beginning of the world, the Elephant’s Child is famous for questions. He asks what everyone eats, why everyone does things, and never stops wondering. Then he asks the biggest question: what does the crocodile eat for dinner? No one wants to answer, so he decides to find out himself and travels to the great muddy river. A crocodile smiles sweetly—and suddenly grabs his nose. A tug-of-war begins, stretching his nose longer and longer. Though it hurts, the change turns into a gift: the new trunk helps him eat, drink, and pick things up. Curiosity, he learns, can change you in surprising ways.

Story Excerpt

In the High and Far - Off Times, the Elephant had no trunk. He had only a dark, bulgy nose, about the size of a boot. He could wiggle it from side to side, but he couldn’t pick up anything with it. But there was one young elephant, an Elephant’s Child, who was full of endless curiosity. That means he asked ever so many questions. He lived in Africa, and he filled all of Africa with his questions. He asked his tall aunt, the Ostrich, why her tail - feathers grew just so. His aunt Ostrich gave him a little nudge with her big foot. He asked his tall uncle, the Giraffe, what made his skin so spotty. His uncle Giraffe gave him a little nudge with his hard hoof. And still, he was full of endless curiosity. He asked his wide aunt, the Hippopotamus, why her eyes were red. She gave him a nudge with her wide hoof. He asked his hairy uncle, the Baboon, why melons tasted so sweet. He gave him a nudge with his hairy paw. And still, the Elephant’s Child was full of endless curiosity. He asked questions about everything he saw or heard or smelled, and all his aunts and uncles would give him a little nudge and say, “ Hush! ” One fine morning, this curious Elephant’s Child asked a new question. He asked, “ What does the Crocodile have for dinner? ” Everyone gasped. “ Hush! ” they said in a loud and serious tone, and they all nudged him at once. When they were finished, he found the Kolokolo…

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