“This bare-bones story is as mischievous and subversive as all get-out, and it makes me laugh. It’s just what the title tells you: An elephant, who is way into the destruction of public property, learns his lesson when he meets a car salesman who won’t put up with it. The spare crayon drawings and make-no-apologies story of destruction (what toddler doesn’t like to smash things?) is unlike anything else you’ll see this year, most likely—and was quite possibly unlike anything else seen back in 1964.” —Julie Danielson, Kirkus
“What is wonderful about this reissue – the book was first published nearly 50 years ago – is that it plays along merrily with a child’s need to smash, squash and exterminate.” —The Guardian
“From bubble wrap to bugs, the urge to smash and smush seems to be a part of the human condition. Just think of that group of four-year-olds building towers of blocks and then merrily knocking them down. Or those older kids bashing into each other during recess. Here’s a wonderfully subversive little book that captures the joy of that impulse and highlights the results. A perfect read aloud for all ages.” —Monica Edinger, author of Africa Is My Home and proprietor of the blog Educating Alice
“The greatest title in the history of book selling. Plus: a song.” —Tom Nissley, owner of Phinney Books, Seattle
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