Bernard was an elephant who lived in India, and he decided that he wanted a baby more than anything else in the whole world. He asked his grandma if he could have one, and she said he’d just have to see.
When he went to the park with Grandma, he saw a little baby who was spitting up. He didn’t think he wanted one that did that, and he told Grandma so.
He also didn’t want a baby sister. He wanted a baby brother, and he wanted to name him Max. Oh, and while he’s at it, he really doesn’t want one that cries, and he sticks by that decision, even when Grandma tells him that most babies do cry.
The next day, Bernard’s mother went to the hospital, and his father told him that he’d bring her home soon. There were two surprises for Bernard. He could hardly wait. He had a dream that baby Max had arrived and brought him two giant presents.
Soon Daddy brought baby Max home and handed him to Bernard. Bernard thought he was the most perfect baby in the whole world. Then it was time for the surprises.
Daddy brought out two more babies! One was named Sadie, and the other was named Sue. Bernard really didn’t know what to think of these little girl babies –he was perfectly happy with just Max.
Plus, they cried, and they spit up. They also made their diapers messy! This whole baby thing just wasn’t going how Bernard had planned. It took a lot of adjustment, and some growing up on Bernard’s part, but soon they were all happily adjusted, and when the babies got a little bit bigger, Bernard even got to teach them how to play ball.
(This book was published in 2004 by Boyds Mills Press and was illustrated by Dominic Catalano.)
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