It's cute but didn't make much sense to me. Why would the kid say "mom and dad will love Phil" and the next second they're all scrambling to hide him? Maybe if they said, "wonder what mom and dad will think about Phil?" it would then be plausible that they tried to hide him?And maybe character expressions weren't expressive enough but I really didn't feel like there was compelling evidence to convince me that mom and dad could change their minds so easily about Phil. I spotted this book on our new book cart and I just couldn't pass up the cuteness of Phil the elephant! Surely the children's mom and dad will be happy to have Phil as a pet, right? Don't be surprised if you find yourself laughing out loud as you read this book to your preschooler. The story is told in voice bubbles which allow the text to stand out from the wonderful illustrations. Those who enjoy Mo Willems and his Pigeon books will surely find this book to be one of their favorites.
Part of a quest to read books with my name in the title. Number two completed.
—khongten
A cute story for younger kids about trying to keep an elephant for a pet.
—calibre
Very cute! Lovely illustrations. May or may not use this for storytime.
—Kateee
Trying to be like Mo Willems, but not succeeding.
—taymoho
Quite a challenge with a big, blue elephant.
—whitsimons
