Can any brilliant Mumsnetter identify this children's book - pre-1981, very scant details

[SquirryTheSquirrel]

Very long shot but I've been trying to find it for years. It was read to the class in infant school in 1981, but I seem to remember it had an old board cover so it could be much earlier.

It's not a picture book.

The story was about a boy who somehow came by a (baby?) elephant - it might have been a birthday gift. The boy and his elephant got involved/kidnapped by evil-doers (possibly a circus) and the last bit I heard was them being transported away on a train, in a cattle truck.

For some reason the teacher didn't finish reading the book and that's all I can remember (and some of it might be incorrect).

Any suggestions however vague would be very gratefully received!

I think this was the edition I read so it matches your description of a green board cover.

Yes, there is a missing elephant in Galliano's circus - she breaks loose and runs off, and Jimmy finds her and brings her back. She also catches a thief at the end of the book! It isn't Galliano but it might be another Blyton book, it would be the right sort of era.

PetticoatSoldier I remember the Noggin the Nog books fondly. It isn't a Noggin, sadly - it was a much longer book and there was definitely a train in it so the setting was (relatively) modern.

Thanks for your good suggestions.

Still Enid Blyton - Circus of Adventure?

No, it isn't Circus of Adventure, that's another Enid Blyton I still have in my childhood book collection. I loved the 'of Adventure' series. I remember reading 'Circus of Adventure' for the first time at my grandparents' house and sneakily putting the light back on after I'd been sent up to bed to carry on reading it!

A good suggestion, thank you, but not the one.

The Boy Who Stole The Elephant by Julilly H. Kohler? the cover is a board too

and i think was first published in 1952

and the cover is green...

@santaclawzz

and the cover is green...

I'm so invested in this thread, I'm here just to see if you've solved it. I just love it when mumsnetters book knowledge triumphs.

I keep checking back to see if OP has replied if i've solved it 😂🙈

Come on op, is this it!? Has Santaclawzz cracked the case 🧐

@PieceOfString

Come on op, is this it!? Has Santaclawzz cracked the case 🧐

might go and sob in the corner if it's not the one 🥺

I'll wait with you, I think it's a good shout and in with a chance. Let's get the kettle on, I'm sure op will be back soon.

This is gripping!

I need to know the answer to this!

@PieceOfString

I'll wait with you, I think it's a good shout and in with a chance. Let's get the kettle on, I'm sure op will be back soon.

i actually am gonna sit down with tea and hope the OP puts us out of our misery soon 🤣

😂😂😂 me too. 😆

it's been what feels like 500 hours. I've done a wash and hung it out, coloured with the kids and made a chocolate chip banana bread. I'm dying a slow death over here OP 😭😭😂

Ooh! @santaclawzz I'm desperately trying to find a preview of 'The Boy Who Stole the Elephant' because that does look very promising! There are only limited details on GoodReads which is my usual go-to. I'll have another look after I finish work this evening.

I'm visiting my in-laws, we've had 3 games of Articulate, 3 of Monopoly Empire and a film (Croods). I've just broken away from the game of Uno getting racked up to check for an update. Nadda.
It's got to be with the wait though right!? 🤞🤞🙏🙏

cross-post !!!

@SquirryTheSquirrel

Ooh! *@santaclawzz* I'm desperately trying to find a preview of 'The Boy Who Stole the Elephant' because that does look very promising! There are only limited details on GoodReads which is my usual go-to. I'll have another look after I finish work this evening.

Gggaaarrrrgghhhh

Can you pull a sicky op and check now... 😂😂😂

waiting in anticipation

More info about The Boy Who Stole an Elephant here.

archive.org/details/boywhostoleeleph00kohl

OMG I HAVE EVERYTHING CROSSED. that this is it