Posted on by Lynley

Elephants In Children’s Literature

  • Demons and composite elephant, Murshidabad, Bengal, 18th cent
  • Composite elephant, Mughal, reign of Akbar, c. 1590
  • Composite elephant, Mughal, c. 1600
Footwear Salescat one of many characters from Rogue's Gallery, 1969 written and illustrated by Edgar Parker
Footwear Salescat one of many characters from Rogue’s Gallery, 1969 written and illustrated by Edgar Parker
"Successful Hunt" Illustrator Aminadav Kanevsky, 1960s
“Successful Hunt” Illustrator Aminadav Kanevsky, 1960s
Orlando’s Evening Out by Kathleen Hale
Orlando’s Evening Out by Kathleen Hale
from a French book called Les péripéties de l’aviation (Adventures in Aviation) from 1911 and by the Spanish artist J. Xaudaró (in full Joaquín Xaudaró y Echau)
from a French book called Les péripéties de l’aviation (Adventures in Aviation) from 1911 and by the Spanish artist J. Xaudaró (in full Joaquín Xaudaró y Echau)
OLLI, DER KLEINE ELEFANT (1989) Hans de Beer
OLLI, DER KLEINE ELEFANT (1989) Hans de Beer
from What Do Say Dear A Book of Manners for All Occasions, by Sesyle Jolson, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1958
from What Do Say Dear A Book of Manners for All Occasions, by Sesyle Jolson, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1958
JUFFROUW SPITS OP REIS [c. 1948] Piet Broos elephant mouse goodbye
JUFFROUW SPITS OP REIS [c. 1948] Piet Broos
TONY SARG'S BOOK OF ANIMALS (1925) Tony Sarg elephant
TONY SARG’S BOOK OF ANIMALS (1925) Tony Sarg
The 1975 Childcraft Annual elephant
The 1975 Childcraft Annual
Jiří Trnka, 1962 elephants
Jiří Trnka, 1962
Otto Nielsen elephant
Otto Nielsen
Peter Newell, 1902 edition of Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll elephant
Peter Newell, 1902 edition of Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll. Alice sees some unusual pollinators:
“..poking its proboscis into them, `just as if it was a regular bee,’ thought Alice.”
Gustaf Tenggren (1896-1970) The Saggy Baggy Elephant
Gustaf Tenggren (1896-1970) The Saggy Baggy Elephant
Edward Julius Detmold (British painter) 1883 - 1957, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad The Sailor
Edward Julius Detmold (British painter) 1883 – 1957, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad The Sailor
Eddie Elephant written & illustrated by Johnny Gruelle, 1921
Aesop illustrated by Arthur Rackham elephant
Aesop illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Kodomo no kuni (“Children’s Land”), 1922–30 riding elephant giraffe
Kodomo no kuni (“Children’s Land”), 1922–30
  • Art by Anne Anderson (1930's) elephant
    Art by Anne Anderson (1930’s) elephant
  • From Uncle Oojah’s Ostrich Farm, written by Flo Lancaster, illustrated by Thomas Maybank
J.P. Miller (1951) elephant
J.P. Miller (1951)
John Dukes McKee, The Big Show, 1933
John Dukes McKee, The Big Show, 1933
Franklin Booth (1874-1948) elephant
Franklin Booth (1874-1948)
Edward Detmold (1883 - 1957) 1924 illustration The Roc which fed its young on elephants for Arabian Nights
Edward Detmold (1883 – 1957) 1924 illustration The Roc which fed its young on elephants for Arabian Nights
  • Abécédaire de Babar, 1934
History of Babar le little elephant from original edition, 1931
From Brunhoff, Jean, BABAR and his Children, 1953
From Brunhoff, Jean, BABAR and his Children, 1953
Little Dumbo seizes the opportunity to visit his mum, whilst a far-from-perceptive guard snoozes... Rare concept art by Mary Blair. 1941
Little Dumbo seizes the opportunity to visit his mum, whilst a far-from-perceptive guard snoozes… Rare concept art by Mary Blair. 1941