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 Errol and His Extraordinary Nose
Written by David Conway
Illustrated by Roberta Angaramo
Publisher: Holiday House
ISBN: 0823422623
Ages: 4-8
Talent shows can be fun …especially, if you have a talent. But if you are “talentless” as Daisy mentioned in the KIDDLE review, then a talent show can make youlose sleep. It can definitely be stressful. When the principal announced a school-wide talent show, Errol was at a loss. What could an elephant do for a talent? His classmates hopped right in to choose their talents. It was easy for the chameleon. Changing colors and blending into the environment is pretty neat. Birds just naturally sing and, of course, singing is a great talent. Errol tried many things. He tried to juggle and to dance, but both of those talents were not suited to Errol. Can you even picture an elephant dancing …or juggling for that matter? There is something to the adage – What doesn’t beat you, makes you stronger. Errol did not let being “talentless” get him down. He would not be defeated. Errol set out to find a talent. And find one, he did! Just perfect for an elephant like Errol.
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: acritique group
“There once was an animal named Errol,” said Tala.
“Errol is an Elephant,” said Colin.
“One day Errol’s school announced a talent show,” said Daisy.
“The principal announced it,” announced Lucy.
“All the animals in the school had a talent,” explained Colin.
“Except forErrol,” reminded Daisy.
“Then it was recess and everybody was bragging about what they could do,” Tala said.
“Except forErrol,” Daisy said again.
“I think Errol’s class mates were too braggy,” stated Colin with dislike.
Callie nodded andsaid, “Errol was glum because he didn’t have any talent.”
“That means sad,” explained Abby.
“Errol was terrified, too,” said Colleen.
“So, he tried to find a talent for the talent show,” said Brayden.
“But he could not find it," said Abby.
“It was awful,” Kiko said.
“He tried juggling,” said Jimmy, “but his nose was in the way.”
“Everyone teased Errol,” said Colleen.
“Because they thought he was ‘talentless,’” exclaimed Daisy.
“And all the animals thought that Errol’s nose was silly,” said Kiko.
“That made Errol very, very sad,” said Abby. As an afterthought she said, “When I was in a talent show, I was nervous.”
“If I were in a talent show, I would ride my bike,” said Michelle.
“My best talent would be playing my violin or maybe singing a song that I made up,”decided Callie.
Lucy began to laugh.“If I were in a contest, I would be … flabbergasted,” she said.
“Flabbergasted!” Mikaela repeated with a laugh.
“I like the way the author makes the words sound excited,” said Colin.
Then Mikaela flipped through the pages and pointed at the word. “I think the book about Errol uses very interesting language,” she said, “… like flabbergasted.”
Colin laughed, too, and then said, “When Errol went home his dad gave him a book … a book called Elephants.”
“His dad told him that everybody has a talent,” said Caden.
“So Errol read the book all about elephants,” said Tala.
“And he learned facts like an elephant can live to a long age, his nose can reach far, and it can even spray,” said Abby.
“Errol noticed that his trunk was extraordinary,” said Lucy.
Daisy’s head bobbed up and down. “The most interesting part was about the nose of an elephant,” she said. “Errol found out that his nose was very versatile. Versatile means really useful,” she explained.
“That night he felt better,” said Jimmy with a smile.
“Then he drifted to sleep … along with his black cloud,” said Caden.
Colin was smiling, too. “Because Errol found out what he could do,” he said.
“That’s why the dark cloud moved away,” said Caden and seemed relieved.
“Then it was the day of the talent show,” said Kiko.
“At last it was Errol’s turn,” said Jimmy.
“When Errol went on stage, everybody loved him,” said Tala.
“And the cloud over Errol was gone,” said Colleen. “All gone!” She was smiling. “Errol found out his nose was handy.”
“Errol surprised everyone,” said Brayden, “because he did have a talent. He had a nose like no other.”
“The crowd went wild,” said Lucy. “Errol won and it was obvious that he was the best.”
“First place!” said Caden.
“I think his dad was proud of him,” said Brayden.
“I’m sure he was happy that Errol took his advice and showed everyone how talented he was,” explained Callie.
“I bet you Errol was proud of himself, too,” said Brayden.
“He was happy,” Mikaela said with a nod, “because he discovered he had lots of talents.”
Lucy started to giggle. “I wish I were an elephant,” she said. Everyone giggled with her.
TEACHER TALK
Everyone Loves Elephants: Language Arts/Writing/Science
Everyone loves elephants.They are amazing creatures. They are fascinating to watch at the zoo.I expect they would be even more interesting to watch in their native habitat. Though they are large, cumbersome animals, their size is deceiving. Elephants are fast and very, very smart. After visiting several of the fact sites included below, have your class list as many elephant facts on paper. They can work individually, in teams,or in small groups. When they have gathered enough facts, have them meet as a group to consolidate and record as many elephant facts on chart paper as possible.
Give each child a paper with the letters E L E P H A N T listed vertically. (one letter per line) Have them list an elephant fact that begins with the initial letter one each line to make an acrostic poem.
E_________________
L_________________
E_________________
P_________________
H_________________
A_________________
N_________________
T_________________
Ex.:
Eat grass, branches and bark from trees
Live in the grasslands of Africa
Elongated nose searches for food.
Poaching hunters endangers elephants
Herd- a group of about ten or more elephants
Always protect their young from danger
Natural foods like bark and branches are its diet
Tusks and teeth are very strong
Everyone Has a Talent! Language Arts/Self-Esteem
Kids love to act out and I don’t mean in a naughty way. When I was a kid I loved to build a tent stage with chairs and blankets. It was fun to perform all kinds of silly antics for my parents. I called it acting. I’m not sure what they called it, but at least they laughed in the funny places.
Have a talent show in your own classroom. Ask the children to think about what they may be good at. Some will know immediately – the precocious, outgoing kids. It may take some urging for the shyer bunch. And you may have some children who will be like Errol and insist that they have no talent. But everyone has talent. I had one child in my class, who was also a KIDDLE CRITer at one time; who could stick his tongue out so far it reached the tip of his tongue. True! I made him do it lots of times. Now that’s a talent! Encourage the children to think about their special attributes. Then set up some chairs in the front of your room, drape them with a blanket, and you have your own special stage. Break A Leg!
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined thesewebsites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at yourown discretion.)
African Elephants: Photos,Video, Facts, E-card, Map …
Science Kids: Elephant Facts – African, Asian, Wild, Food, Interesting Information
Facts About Elephants
Kids Talent Show Ideas
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
Ella Sets the Stage by Carmela and Steven D’Amico
Chicken Dance written by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Dan Santat
The Scrambled States of America written and illustrated by Laurie Keller
Elephants of Africa written by Gail Gibbons
Baby Elephants written by Bobbie Kalman
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I AM IN LOVE WITH MICHELLE KNUDSEN'S NEW BOOK!
Katie Davis