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!

@PieceOfString

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!? 🤞🤞🙏🙏

We are too invested in this, are we normal??

Course we are and Northernlurker , Bitcheeky , Skipthehearts , and Bernardblack couldn't agree more. And that's just the ones we know of. It's the nostalgia factor, to resolve a long remembered childhood moment using only the power of Mumsnet is golden.

There’s a little more information here and some photos of inside pages
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274877758113?&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338304675&toolid=10044&customid=#viTabs_0
Seems a strange choice for a teacher in 1981 but maybe it was a childhood favourite. There was a Disney TV version apparently.

Interestingly that was re-printed in 1971 which would fit...

@PieceOfString

Interestingly that was re-printed in 1971 which would fit...

😂😂😂 oi i'll take half of that medal if it's right 😂

@PieceOfString

Interestingly that was re-printed in 1971 which would fit...

trophy even, not medal ffs 🙄 😂

Very much hoping that is the right book. I love these threads, so satisfying when the book or song/film is found.

oh I do love it when mumsnet solves a mystery! fingers crossed!!

"oi i'll take half of that medal if it's right"

Polishing it for you naturally - this is entirely your win, I'm just cheerleading here.

@PieceOfString

"oi i'll take half of that medal if it's right"

Polishing it for you naturally - this is entirely your win, I'm just cheerleading here.

Ill prepare my winners' speech, shall I?

If I'm wrong, I'm gonna drown my sorrows with wine 😂

True, the suspense could be building this up to something it isn't... OOoooooo. Best a bottle in to chill.

@SirVixofVixHall

Very much hoping that is the right book. I love these threads, so satisfying when the book or song/film is found.

It so is isn't it!

Following on from this emotional ride (I really hope the answer has been found), I've started a thread on trying to find my own partially remembered book/story.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_books/4322021-Help-Identifying-a-vaguely-remembered-childrens-book?watched=1&msgid=109919944#10991994

Short version - paperback from the 1990's, older child, a boy is on an archaeological dig, finds and then hides the golden suit from a mummy, gets on a plane with the golden suit under his clothes, ends up in caves near his home, trying to hide the golden suit from his stepfather possibly an uncle

If you feel you could help, that would be amazing!

Thank you for the links! I've now looked at the opening pages and I'm about 90% sure it is The Boy Who Stole an Elephant as the name 'Gyp' rings a very loud bell! Also the boy living in an old wagon.

So I hereby award a shiny winner's trophy and medal to @santaclawzz with honourable mentions for everyone who chipped in suggestions that helped jog the Mumsnet memory.

I didn't expect any where near many replies on this rather obscure thread - thank you so much for the crossed fingers!

In words reminiscent of a 1950s school story 'Mumsnet Does It Again!"

Yay! Success 😁

Vebrithien I feel bad as everyone was so helpful with my quest, but I'm no good on children's books after about 1990 but I'll join your thread because I too love a mystery book.

@SquirryTheSquirrel

Thank you for the links! I've now looked at the opening pages and I'm about 90% sure it is The Boy Who Stole an Elephant as the name 'Gyp' rings a very loud bell! Also the boy living in an old wagon.

So I hereby award a shiny winner's trophy and medal to @santaclawzz with honourable mentions for everyone who chipped in suggestions that helped jog the Mumsnet memory.

I didn't expect any where near many replies on this rather obscure thread - thank you so much for the crossed fingers!

In words reminiscent of a 1950s school story 'Mumsnet Does It Again!"

WOO I am honoured, i'm gonna do a dramatic bow now. I'd like to thank everyone who was as gripped as I was. And especially @PieceOfString for sticking by me 😭😭😭

so glad we could help and solve it OP 🥰🥰

Oh that's sweet. We'll all sleep tonight now. Hope you've got a decent trophy cabinet Santaclawzz this one rivals the F.A. cup in size and it's very shiny.

My MN ambition is to solve one of these mysteries although nothing will beat the lady (somethingFlower? Flowersomething?) who tracked down a wedding dress for someone. In Austria possibly?

Not to detract from your significant contribution of course santaclawzz.

Have you tried contacting the school, they may have records or recall the book themselves

I'm confident it's solved now, HalzTangz - that's a nice thought and happily the school still exists, but it was so long ago I doubt there'd be a record. Some of my fondest memories are of being read to in primary school - it was such a cosy feeling, the whole class transported together to the world of the story.