A whole elephant costume would be nice but may not be a practical costume to wear while performing on stage. Having a person dress in all gray and then giving her an elephant's head as a mask is more comfortable and convenient for her to wear. Since the elephant's trunk grows during the story, it is a good idea to create two detachable trunks, so they can be easily switched at the end of the story.
In "The Elephant's Child," the crocodile is one of the main characters, so it is imperative he stands out amongst the crowd. You can easily purchase a pre-made costume that resembles a crocodile, or you can create one yourself by painting your face to resemble a crocodile (see Resources) and then wearing a green outfit. Create a tail by sewing together pieces of green felt stuffed with poly fiber and attaching them to the costume.
Another character the elephant encounters in the story is the Python-Rock-Snake. While it may not be easy to create this type of snake, you can make a simple snake costume to go along with the story. Use green and yellow face paint to design the look of the snake (see Resources); this adds character to the rest of the costume. For the outfit, wear a silky green leotard that fits like a glove. Pre-made snake costumes are not commonly found in stores so you need to use your creativity with this one.
In "The Elephant's Child," the elephant encounters many animals along the way and asks them a variety of questions. Many of these animals' costumes can be created using a little face paint and everyday attire. For example, to create a monkey, wear brown clothing and attach a tail and ears made of brown felt filled with poly fiber. You can also cut out a yellow oval and glue it in the center of the brown clothing so the costume resembles a monkey more. Painting your face to look like a detailed monkey (see Resources) takes time, but the finished look is worth it. Use face paint to look like a giraffe, then wear a brown and yellow leotard to complete the look. Since giraffes are tall, you can easily use higher shoes to make your character appear taller.