The elephant and the boat

Bys: French, Vivian and Huang, Xiaoqiang

A beautifully illustrated bilingual English-Chinese picture book, inspired by the classic Chinese story of weighing the elephant.

How can you weigh an elephant when no scale is big enough?

When a huge elephant arrives, everyone is amazed by its size. But one question puzzles them all: how can such a giant animal be weighed? Adults struggle to find an answer, but a clever child looks carefully, thinks differently, and discovers a simple solution using a boat, water, and stones.

The Elephant and the Boat is a modern retelling of a classic Chinese wisdom story, often associated with Cao Chong weighing the elephant. Through an engaging and accessible story, young readers are introduced to problem-solving, observation, creativity, and the power of thinking beyond the obvious.

Presented in both English and Chinese, this bilingual picture book is ideal for children, families, schools, and language learners. With beautiful illustrations and a clear, memorable storyline, it offers a gentle introduction to Chinese culture, traditional wisdom, and early STEM thinking.

Perfect for children aged 4-8, this book encourages young readers to ask questions, use their imagination, and discover that even the biggest problems can sometimes be solved with a clever idea.

一本精美插图的英文-中文双语图画书，改编自中国经典智慧故事"曹冲称象"。

如果没有足够大的秤，怎样才能称出一头大象的重量？

当一头巨大的大象出现时，大家都被它的体形惊呆了。可是，一个问题难住了所有人：这么大的大象，到底该怎么称重呢？大人们想不出办法，一个聪明的孩子却通过仔细观察和不同的思考方式，利用船、水和石头，找到了简单而巧妙的答案。

《The Elephant and the Boat》是对中国经典故事"曹冲称象"的现代改编。通过一个生动易懂的故事，本书向孩子展示了解决问题、细心观察、创造性思维和跳出常规思考的重要性。

本书以英文和中文双语呈现，非常适合家庭亲子阅读、学校教学，以及对语言学习、中国文化故事和传统智慧感兴趣的小读者。

这是一个关于智慧、观察力和创造性解决问题的经典故事，鼓励孩子勇敢提问，认真思考，并相信小小的头脑也能想出大大的办法。

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1917324294
• ISBN13: 9781917324298
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Little Frog Books Limited
• Length: 58 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 11.0" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3