How To Find An Elephant, written by Kate Banks and illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Farras Straus Giroux, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2017. $23.99 ages 4 and up

"When you get thirsty, stop at a watering hole for a drink. While you are there, you can take a dip. and don't forget that elephants are fine swimmers. If you come to a house, knock on the door and politely say,
"Has anyone seen an elephant?" And if no one has, then go deeper into the jungle."

If you look very closely at the cover of this book, you will realize the fun you are going to have while sharing it. The intrepid explorer is on the lookout for an elephant. Keen eyes will note the tree and its branches are camouflaging the object of that adventurer's search.

Instructions are clearly given by an unseen narrator. The child is looking for something worthy of time and attention. The narrator is willing to provide guidance and advice. Provisions collected, with binoculars in hand, the quest begins.

With every turn of the page, another suggestion is made for best practice and assured success. Of course, those who are sharing this story can easily see the many hidden creatures while the explorer cannot. The fountain at the water hole, the surrounding white space at the house where no one answers harbor images of just what is being hunted. Every turn of the page is a new discovery. The child does not notice.  A refreshing drink, shelter from the rain, and a vine swing all come thanks to the efforts of a hidden pachyderm - even, if you can imagine, a place of rest!

Turns out the child is not the only one looking for something!

What a collaboration between two masters of storytelling this is for kids who love adventure, and books filled with delight. Go carefully as there is much to see for those who take the time to enjoy the game. Once read, a return trek will have young ones noticing even more the second time it is shared.