From the Publisher
James loves his stuffed elephant, Harry, and brings h, m everywhere. But on
the first day of kindergarten, Harry must stay at home. James is awfully
worried about his old friend; its hard to be apart. Perhaps, thinks James,
Harry should come to school for a visit. That would make them both feel a lot
better. With her lovely pencil drawings as a backdrop, Kim Lewis tells a gentle
story with grace and understanding.

Childrens Literature
James takes his cherished stuffed elephant with him everywhere, sharing his
adventures and his quiet moments with him. All this love and attention takes
its toll on Harry, and with time he grows a bit worn and rumpled. But James
just loves him all the more. James is growing older, too, and soon its time
for him to go to school. On the first day, he leaves Harry at home. The next
day, he decides to take his pal along-just until Harry gets used to being on
his own. This is a sweet story about a childs attachment to his favorite
stuffed animal and the bittersweet process of beginning to relinquish that
attachment as the child moves from toddler to school age. Lewiss gentle prose
and soft color drawings make for an enjoyable reading experience.

Childrens Literature
Like every child with a well-loved stuffed animal, James takes Harry the
elephant everywhere with him from playing in the fields by day to sleeping in
his bed by night. Soon Harry gets worn and floppy from wear, and James gets
older and must go to school. On his first day of school, James reluctantly
leaves Harry behind with his mother. Later that night, James tells Harry about
his day and proceeds to transfer his feelings about missing Harry onto the
stuffed elephant. Consequently, James takes Harry to school the next day and
says, Just once until you get used to being on your own. The soft colored
pencil drawings lend a comforting, soothing air to the book.

School Library Journal
PreS-K-From the time Harry, a fuzzy toy elephant, first meets James, he
becomes the little boys treasured companion, going everywhere on the family
farm, hearing endless bedtime stories, and traveling to the seaside. Over time
he suffers many mishaps, endures many baths, and becomes rather limp and
shabby. Nevertheless, he remains Jamess dearest friend. They even start school
together, but just until the elephant can get used to being on [his] own.
Meticulously done, softly realistic colored-pencil illustrations in tawny
colors cozily enfold the large, clear typeface. James is a sturdy, exuberant
blond child living in a comfortable stone farmhouse; Harry, endearingly shaggy,
has amazingly expressive black button eyes. The words, theme, and plot are
simple, warm, and satisfying. Harry is never actually anthropomorphized, always
remaining quiet, but in Jamess eyes he is a loyal, lovable playmate. A winning
treatment of the favorite-toy theme.-Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First
Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA