 How the elephant got its trunk, written by Robert James, and illustrated by Gary Falia, left theory. Long ago, the elephant had a short nose. It wasn't long, it was short. Baby elephant was always asking questions. Who? Why? What? How? One day, he asked, what does crocodile eat for dinner? Nobody would tell him. So baby elephant asked bird, go to the river and find out, replied bird. There, baby elephant saw an animal that looked like a log. Are you crocodile? he asked. Yes, said crocodile. Baby elephant asked crocodile, what do you eat for dinner? Crocodile said, come closer and I'll tell you. Crocodile bit baby elephant's short nose, cried baby elephant. Baby elephant pulled and pulled. His nose got longer and longer, and that is how the elephant got its long trunk.