The Circus Elephant by David Cory

Name: The Circus Elephant
Author: David Cory

In a vibrant forest, the animals excitedly recount their experiences at a recent circus. Among them, Little Jack Rabbit encounters the weary Circus Elephant, who has traveled a long distance. They share a moment, with Jack offering treats from his knapsack, and the Elephant, feeling rejuvenated, suggests visiting Jack's mother, who is baking. As they journey together, they encounter Old Man Weasel, who poses a threat, but the Elephant's presence provides reassurance. They continue to the Old Bramble Patch, where Jack's mother is baking angel cake. However, when Jack goes back for more cake, he is captured by Hungry Hawk. The Circus Elephant, alerted by Jack's cries, rushes to the rescue. Remembering a lasso in his pocket, he attempts to ensnare the hawk but fails as the crafty bird escapes with Jack. The story unfolds with themes of friendship, bravery, and the challenges faced in the animal kingdom, highlighting the bond between the characters and their adventures.

By David Cory · First published 1980 · Genre: Children's Literature, Adventure, Animal Fiction · 1,984 words

First lines

For days nobody talked of anything but the Circus party. From bush and tree in the Shady Forest, from hollow and hill in the Sunny Meadow, the Little Feathered and Fourfooted Folk were telling over and over again the wonderful things they had seen at the circus.

"Gracious me," chuckled the Big Brown Bear, "that cousin of mine certainly can roller skate."

What this Textopian page supports

The Circus Elephant is listed on Textopian as a short story by David Cory, dated 1980 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: David Cory
Date: 1980 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Adventure, Animal Fiction, Fantasy
Length: 1,984 words
Structure: 1 section, 57 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Circus Elephant by David Cory
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Circus Elephant?
How does this short story by David Cory fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The book, written by David Cory, features a circus elephant, a plot device frequently used in children's literature to convey messages. Both the language and plot of the book are designed to be understood by children.
Adventure — The protagonist, the Circus Elephant, undergoes various adventures and challenges typical of adventure genre literature.
Animal Fiction — The story revolves around a circus elephant, making it fall into the category of animal fiction.
Fantasy — The concept of a circus elephant engaging in human-like behaviors and conversations is fantastical and hence, the book falls under the fantasy genre.