You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus: questions to ask and activities to try
You can't take an elephant on the bus! You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus is a hilarious rhyming book full of animals on unsuitable transport.
What age is it for? You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus is best for ages 3–7. Good for: Silly animals on unsuitable transport.
You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus (Patricia Cleveland-Peck and David Tazzyman)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Silly animals on unsuitable transport
Read it with lots of expression and let your child predict the rhymes. Then invent your own silly animal journeys.
What it helps with
- Rhyme and prediction
- Transport words
- Silly humour
- Animals and their sizes
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Why can’t an elephant go on a bus?”
- “Which animal tried a car?”
- “Which was the silliest?”
- “What would go wrong?”
- “Which animal should take a train?”
- “How would you travel with a giraffe?”
5-minute activities to try together
Silly transport
Draw an animal on a vehicle that's far too small for it.
Rhyme it
Make up a rhyme: you can't take a ___ on a ___.
Free printables: You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
Naughty Bus (Jan Oke and Jerry Oke)
- Best for
- Imaginative play with toys
- Age
- 2-5
Aliens Love Underpants (Claire Freedman and Ben Cort)
- Best for
- Pure silliness, rhyme and laughing together
- Age
- 2-6
Oi! Get Off Our Train (John Burningham)
- Best for
- Endangered animals, and making room for others
- Age
- 3-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.