Curious Baby Elephant

Judith Baker Wiehan de Jager English Level 2

Everyone knows that the elephant has a verylong nose.

2

But a long time ago, the elephant’s nose wasshort and fat. Like a shoe in the middle of itsface.

3

One day a baby elephant was born. She wascurious about everything. She had a questionfor every animal.

4

She was curious about Giraffe. “Why do you have along neck?” she asked.

5

She was curious about Rhino. “Why does yourhorn have a sharp point?”

6

She was curious about Hippo. “Why do youhave red eyes?” she asked.

7

And she was VERY curious about Crocodile.“What does Crocodile eat for dinner?” sheasked.

8

“Never ask a question like that!” said hermother. Then she walked off, frowning.

9

Quickly Crow flew down to baby elephant.“Follow me to the river. There you will seewhat Crocodile eats for dinner,” squawkedCrow.

10

So the baby elephant followed Crow down tothe river.

11

She pushed through the reeds and stood onthe bank. She looked into the water. Wherewas Crocodile?

12

“Hello,” said a stone near the river bank.“Hello,” said Baby Elephant. “Can you tell mewhat Crocodile eats for dinner?” she asked.

13

“Bend down and I will tell you,” said the stone.“Lower, lower,” said the stone. So BabyElephant bent down lower, and lower.

14

Then suddenly, “Snap!” Baby Elephant’s nosewas caught in Crocodile’s jaws. “Crocodile willeat you for dinner!” squawked Crow, and flewaway.

15

Baby Elephant sat back on her strong legs andpulled. She pulled, and pulled. But Crocodiledid not let go of her nose.

16

Baby Elephant’s nose stretched, andstretched, and stretched. Then, “Thud!” shefell on her back.

17

Crocodile sunk back into the water. He wascross about losing his dinner.

18

Baby Elephant looked at her nose. It wasstretched very long. She could not see whereit ended!

19

Her nose was so long she could pick fruit fromhigh branches.

20

Her nose was so long she could shower herback with water. From that day, all elephantshad long and useful trunks.

21

Storybooks South Africaglobal-asp.github.io/storybooks-southafrica

Curious Baby ElephantWritten by: Judith Baker

Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager

This story originates from the African Storybook ( africanstorybook.org) and isbrought to you by Storybooks South Africa in an effort to provide children’s stories inSouth Africa’s many languages.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.