This book featured adorable illustrations, fantastic commentary, and a funny and incredibly engaging way to introduce information to children. The book was full of good information about elephants but was also super fun to read. Students would adore this book! A prime example of non-fiction done WELL. The only hesitation I have is that this book shares the evolutionary worldview, which is something that as a Christian I have a really hard time standing behind and explicitly teaching in my classroom. This would be a great addition to a classroom library for 1st-3rd, though! ( )

This engaging book definitely tells the "truth" about elephants and does so in a clever way! I love the graphics -- there are comic-style illustrations that are full of interesting facts. I really enjoyed the small pull-out boxes that share additional facts. The addition of a small white bird on every spread was fun to track; his expressions are hilarious. I think students will love following his journey throughout the book, along with a hyrax that is introduced as one of the elephants' closest living relatives and plays the sax in different parts of the book. I learned some new facts while reading this book, even though I know quite a bit about elephants. I didn't realize, for example, that elephants make deep, (gargantuan) cat-like purrs that humans can't hear! Most of this book gives characteristics and interesting tidbits about elephants. Toward the end, the author shares threats -- tigers, crocodiles, lions and hyenas -- to elephants, with two pages dedicated to the largest threat, one that "wears shoes." Four ways that humans affect elephant populations and habitats are given in an appropriate and thought-provoking way. It is then followed with a "call to action," encouraging students to read about elephants, teach others, and speak out. I really appreciate how the author handled this; it's important and appropriate for elementary-aged children. I appreciate the "Elephant File" (which looks like an open manila file folder) that has graphics with a synthesis of elephant facts, along with a sidebar list of resources for "Further Research." The addition of emotion in an informational book is refreshing; students will remember what they read because of the personalities that shine. Anytime humor is injected into information-loading is a win with elementary students!

I love elephants and this book is a fantastic introduction to the largest land animal. the illustrations are comic book-like, but contain information and humor. Excellent! I want to read the other books in this series! ( )