Customer Reviews
Wonderful descriptive book that kids LOVE! 
2008-01-27
I read and LOVED this book as a child. Now, I read and LOVE this book as an adult. It's a silly, descriptive, story that children really enjoy. I have a three-year old nephew who adores this book and asks his parents to read it to him every night (even though he's already memorized it!). I just bought it for my twin baby nieces and know that as soon as they can talk, they'll be following suit! It's the kind of book that you won't mind hearing 940382094 times and that you'll keep forever. Buy the book now and enjoy it for a lifetime!
Perfect Preschool Purchase! 2007-08-02
This was a childhood favorite that I was lucky enough to read forward to my two kiddos. It was read to me at the laundromat on Saturdays as that's where the only copy I knew of was. Later I purchased as a young adult for when the time came to read it to my own. Alos, this book is a must have for any Pre-K classroom or child of the same age. Wonderful artwork...clever dialogue...and a surprise ending! My preschool class LOVED it when I read this one.
Very Engaging Book 2007-04-27
I bought this book for my 4 1/2 year old son, and he begged me to read it just after he opened it. It's a very engaging book and held his attention pretty well. The only gripe I would have is that it is very repetitious. Over and over again it describes the animals reasons for the elephant not to sneeze. But he still enjoyed it, and he would say the last line of just about every page, "Please Don't Sneeze". I would not recommend this book for children much younger than him, due to the chance of them getting board by the repetition. But I would definately recommend that any child 4 or over read this book. The illustrations are very bright and lively, and quite silly on some.
childhood favorite 2007-03-08
this is a childhood favorite of mine that is also my daughter's favorite!!
One of the best books to read aloud to children! 2007-01-09
This purchase is a second one for my younger son's children. His older brother will not part with the original one bought back in the 80's! For years, until younger's eighth birthday, the reading of this book was a featured event at every party attended by young children. It was even requested for parties outside the family.
Your child will love the language, the drama and the humor of this story. There are many voices to act out in the reading. By using animal puppets and toys, the story can be dramatized by the child while listening to the reader read. My children and grandchildren have gotten many wonderful hours of enjoyment from this great book. Folkmanis even sells a set of puppets to go with this book.
Older children in the 9 - 11 group choose the book for reading to the little kids 2008-07-12
Stand back,- said the elephant, -I'm going to sneeze!
I hate to alarm you, But I don't wish to harm you.
My friends, I fear, Its clear, Oh, dear,
You'd better stand back, I'm going to sneeze.-
The tale begins with a representation of an massive elephant standing on his rear legs
The opening page sets up the story line. Instantly each of elephant's neighbors begins to tell elephant precisely why they do not want him to sneeze. The reader meets many of the elephant's friends who are most apprehensive to hear that the elephant is needing to sneeze.
The critters begin to converse, confer, talk about and remind the elephant using child friendly rhythm and rhyme, that he just really must NOT sneeze. "The zebra yelled, "Yipes, You'll blow off my stripes, Plus lots and lots, Of the leopard's spots, And all of the snakes will be tied up in knots!"
Oh no. Not again. The elephant is going to sneeze.
Catastrophe is at hand, the jungle is in pandemonium.
The last time he sneezed; it was dreadful, just dreadful. Why elephant blew all the stripes off the zebra, and all the fur from the bear. He turned the crocodile's nose inside out and blew the stings right off the bees. They had to made due with rose thorns and glue. He even blew all the scales from the fish, and the monkeys out of the trees. Featherless birds were forced to walk south and not fly.
An alligator, and a buffalo, bees, and bear, crocodile, fish, giraffe, and hippopotamus, leopard, mouse, parrot, and snakes, and even the zebra are worried. It is going to be mayhem; if the elephant sneezes.
-Oh, please, Not a sneeze,- Said the bear. -Thats not fair. I declare.
The last time he sneezed he blew off all my hair,
And left me so bare I spent the whole winter in long underwear-
Nothing is so sad as a bear that is bare.-
Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze! was a much loved favorite of both of my own children when they were young as well as for the K - 1 classes I taught in California.
Sad to say, not too many people have even heard of the book. The premise and rhyme are amusing, words flow in cadenced, and lovely tempo that children adore. Images are a brilliant addition to the account.
For years the first book I read to my students, on the first day of the new school term, is Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!
I read it in part because, I just plain like the book. I read it too because; in spite of my being a small person, I have a sneeze that will rattle the windows in the next classroom.
I read the book, and the children and I talk about the absurdity of the tale, and I assure the kids they need not fear ... when I sneeze I will try not to blow off their stripes.
I get pleasure from reading the book as much as the kids enjoy listening to it being read to them. The book is very repetitious leading to children being drawn right into the fun as they talk nineteen to the dozen along with the reader.
Synonyms like bare and bear, and fun observations like 'Bee's Knees are sprinkled into the text.
Following elephant's pronouncement a tiny gray mouse sets about to save the day. Rising up to full height he demands that the sneezing must stop. And within moments the elephant begins to giggle.
Even before turning the page; you just know there must be a consequence when an begins elephant laugh. And so there is. The unexpected ending always has my first graders animated, giggling and ready to talk.
And, they are mesmerized to learn that elephants really do not care for mice!
Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze! is a -read to- book for the 3 - 6 year old set and a -read with help- for 6 -8 -8. The book is written well, holds children's interest and is just plain fun to read. I particularly like the illustrations, they are child friendly, my first grade likes them very much
I have always enjoy the read, happy to recommend for the target audience. Stand Back," Said the Elephant is a must for the 3 to 8 set, the home, classroom, school and public libraries. Older children in the 9 - 11 group choose the book for reading to the little kids.
Molly Martin
Reviewer
LOVE this book! 2008-06-16
I grew up having this book read to me, and now I can share it with my daughter. I just love the illustrations and the story is so funny - my daughter laughs out loud when I read certain parts. I highly recommend this book.
fun rhymes 
2008-04-14
Though it is a little wordy and long for a 2 year olds attention span, the rhymes are funny and entertaining; a key for a mom who reads each book many, MANY times!
stand back i'm gonna sneeze-- 2008-03-12
A wonderful book to read aloud to kids. It is one of our favorite family books.
One of My Favorites! 2008-02-13
This is one of my favorite children's books ever, one that I remember reading when I was a child (probably twenty years ago!). It's told in a rhyming format (like a Dr. Seuss book) and full of cute, silly conversation among jungle animals regarding an elephant who is about to sneeze. This is silly fun that's great for kids who are being read to (plenty of opportunity for voices during storytelling) or for children who are just past the beginning stages of being able to read themselves.
