The Elephant and the Bad Baby
What’s inside...
The story follows an elephant and a 'bad baby' who go on a rambunctious adventure through the town. As they proceed, they help themselves to snacks from various vendors without saying 'please,' leading to a humorous chase when the vendors demand politeness. The Elephant and the Bad Baby is the classic story from Elfrida Vipont and Raymond Briggs. The Elephant takes the Bad Baby for a ride and they go 'rumpeta, rumpeta, rumpeta down the road.' They help themselves to ice creams, pies, buns, crisps, biscuits, lollipops, and apples, and the shopkeepers follow them down the road shouting and waving. All ends well as the Bad Baby learns to say 'Please' and his mother makes pancakes for everyone. Elfrida Vipont worked as a teacher, singer, and writer. She wrote over 30 books and won the Carnegie Medal in 1950 for Lark on the Wing. Raymond Briggs has produced wonderful children's books including the classic titles The Snowman, Father Christmas, and When the Wind Blows - all made into immensely successful films. Raymond lives in Sussex. Look out for these other titles by Raymond Briggs: The Snowman; The Elephant and the Bad Baby; Father Christmas; Fungus the Bogeyman; Raymond Briggs's Christmas Little Library; The Father Christmas it's a Bloomin' Terrible Joke Book; Jim and the Beanstalk; Father Christmas Goes on Holiday
Age
2-4
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Elephant
The Bad Baby
Discussion points
Why do you think the Elephant decided to take the Bad Baby for a ride?
What can we learn from how the Elephant and the Bad Baby asked for the buns?
How did the shopkeepers feel when the Elephant and the Bad Baby took things without asking?
What changes did you notice in the Bad Baby's behavior by the end of the story?
How do you think the story would have been different if the Bad Baby had asked politely from the start?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child how they felt about the characters' actions and guide the conversation towards the importance of asking for things politely and considering other people’s feelings. Highlight the value of taking responsibility for one’s actions, as shown by the Bad Baby later in the story. Encourage your child to think about different outcomes based on behavior changes, enhancing their ability to predict and analyze situations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of manners
Explanation: Throughout the story, the bad baby forgets to say 'please', which leads to various consequences. Only when manners are used correctly do situations improve.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of politeness and good manners in everyday interactions which makes for smoother and more respectful exchanges.
Example Lesson: Consequences of actions
Explanation: The baby’s choice to not use manners while taking things during their adventure with the elephant leads to upset among those they encounter. This highlights how choices directly affect others.
Real-World Application: It teaches children that their actions impact others, encouraging them to think before acting and understand the potential outcomes of their choices.
Example Lesson: Learning from mistakes
Explanation: After seeing the negative outcomes of his actions, the bad baby learns to correct his behavior by saying 'please.'
Real-World Application: Children learn that everyone makes mistakes, but it’s important to learn and grow from them. This encourages personal development and making better choices in the future.
Example Lesson: Sharing with others
Explanation: The story showcases sharing, as the bad baby and the elephant share their adventure and snacks with others only after learning the importance of manners.
Real-World Application: This illustrates the joy and community feeling derived from sharing with others, teaching kids the benefits of generosity and cooperation.