Elephants Books

This larger book is perfect for Grandparents who wish to read the classic tales of Beatrix Potter to their grandchildren. Easy to read typeface and large pictures make this perfect for failing eyesight. A delight for children and their family.

Please do not waste your money buying The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit with illustrations by Charles Santore. Beatrix Potter would have been heartbroken at the sight of these illustrations and the changes in text and format. If you want to instill memories in your children, do it with ONLY a copy that includes Beatrix Potter's beautiful art and prose. Seek out a copy of Beatrix's that includes HER ART. These illustrations have not a shred of the beauty and form that were originally intended.
It's sad that even one tree was wasted to produce this book.

My dad read this title to me when I was very young. Some of my best memories with him are sitting in his lap early in the morning before anyone else was up. I was not always as healthy as I am now; I was always sick with something. I would creep into his lap while he was reading. I remember he'd pull out the "Rabbit book" or the "frog book", depending on the mood I was in. And then he'd read aloud to me while I stared at the beautiful pictures.

There are few books I can say the same for. But this book will make standing memories for children. These were dad's and my stories, and I'll never forget the mornings we spent reading them.

This edition of the classic has large pages with beautiful drawings of the rabbits and other creatures. What is especially nice about the text is that it introduces higher-level vocabulary words in an exciting adventure story suitable to listeners as young as 3 or 4.

The text in this book differs slightly from the original, and is condensed onto large pages with less pictures. In effect, when reading this book to my child, he wanted to "see the picture", but there was none. We have returned to using the original version which illustrates much more of the action.

OK book for over, say, 13. Not a great book for kids. I enjoyed it though, but will keep it a few years before giving it to the grandson.

I bought this for my teenage daughter. She has been enjoying it as she has others in the Imponderables series.

Seems like they ran out of good ideas a few books ago. Most of the answers went around in circles and never really got to the point.

This wonderful book is one of David Feldman's Imponderables Books, in which he raises questions that few have ever asked before, and then goes out and finds the answers. Among the questions asked are "When does a bill become a beak on a bird?" "Why do pianos have 88 keys?" And "Do identical twins have identical fingerprints and DNA?"

Yep, this book has 98 such questions, if I counted correctly. Each one is surprisingly interesting, and makes for quite a fascinating read. I really am glad that this book fell into my hands, and highly recommend it to anyone who dares to ask questions of the world around them.

I have only one complaint about David Feldman, one of
my favorite authors: he doesn't come out with a new book
more often!

His latest--DO ELEPHANTS JUMP?--is just out . . . it is
the tenth in the Imponderable Series, a collection of answers
to questions (raised in other titles) such as: WHY DO CLOCKS
RUN CLOCKWISE? HOW DOES ASPIRIN FIND A HEADACHE?
WHEN DO FISH SLEEP? DO PENGUINS HAVE KNEES?

Feldman has made it his life's work to answer questions that
just pop into his head . . . he also gets suggestions from his many fans, of which I'm proud to admit that I am one.

Many of his answers will make you laugh, such as his response
to this question:

What letters does Campbell's include in alphabet soup in countries that don't use our alphabet (e.g., Greece, Israel, Egypt)?

His response: And what about France? Does Campbell's include
an accent mark over the e?

He then went on to give the following answer:
The media representatives at Campbell's aren't exactly inundated
with his question, but they researched it for us and graciously
responded with the disappointing answer: Campbell's Alphabet
Soup is sold only North America. We urge reconsideration.
Contemplate the potential of Campbell's Cyrillic Soup!

Other questions are ones that I've thought about, often
more than once . . . such as:
Why do we see "stars" when we bump our head?
Why do you sometimes find ice in the urinals in men's bathrooms?
Why are some parts of our bodies more ticklish than others?

To find out the answers, you'll just have to read the book . . . if you do, you'll also enjoy the illustrations of longtime collaborator Kassie Schwan.

DO ELEPHANTS JUMP? will make a great Chankuah/Christmas/Kwanzaa
gift for just about anybody.

I am a progressive, and I hated this book. I have no intention of reading it again, and if it wasn't for the fact that this book is required reading for my English class, I would have never read it. You are probably asking yourself, if I hate this book so much, why did I give this book the grade I did? Well, for a simple reason. While I hated this book, it accomplished what it set out to do. It showed me better ways to convince people to my side of the argument (which is why my English teacher assigned it for his Critical Thinking class). That is the entire purpose of the book, to teach other people how to present an argument, and how to convince people to your side of the argument. Read it if you want to have a better idea of how to present an argument. Don't bother reading it if you want to learn more about the Progressive agenda, the book is way too biased, and you'll end up thinking all conservatives are evil, and that everything is one giant conspiracy made by the conservatives.

Package arrived within a week of order, the two items shrink-wrapped together and in perfect condition.

the book is as interesting as I heard it was, but the dvd is a waste of money. Save the extra 7 bucks and just get the book.

Several friends recommended this book to me to help me understand the incredible success that conservatives have had in "framing" the debates. In particular, the neocons have caused us to abandon the term liberal, label the Dems as "tax & spend" and sucessfully install the rhetorical title of policy issues without regard to their accuracy. For example, "death tax", "Leave no Children Behind", "Clean Air", Healthy Forests", etc., have almost the exact opposite effect of their titles.

Also, they seem to be successfull in getting even Democrats to believe their propaganda disinformation war. For example, Dems believe we "have no policy", "nominated two ne'er-do-wells" for president, and that we are "hopelessly devided" and too "politically correct" to ever win anything but dogcatcher.

Whew! Do you need a purgative to expell the toxic reality we have swallowed from these sophisticated marketing masters of spin? I certainly did. And thank goodness George Lakehoff has given us just that in his book about these fixed mental paradigms. Read it! Pass it on! We must learn the nature of Karl Rove, et al, and their win at all cost strategies.

I have purchased multiple copies for family and friends. All report finding the book to be helpful and heartening, reminding us that Democrats are the party of people who care about the welfare of others. Get the blindfols off and start working with the simple truths Mr. Lakoff has given us. I am hopeful that all the people can't be fooled all the time - but it obviously takes each of us to work for understanding and then fight against demogoguery.

Thank you Mr. Lakeoff!

P.S. Watch out for you-know-who tricksters who will write reviews to damn the book through faint praise. Sadly, supporters of this administration are not above dirty tricks.

George Lakoff's thin book cleared away the fog and let me see why Republian words that confuse ME are appealing to so many voters. Why FACTS don't win elections. And showed me ways to "REFRAME" my ideas and present them with effective, value-based wording. One of the most important books I personaly have ever encountered. I found the DVD a valuable addition -- it clearly summarizes the book, reminds me of the primary points, and is a great way to present these core ideas to others. This great tool will help progressives compete more effectively in upcoming elections.

This ahrd-reading book is really THE FULL STORY OF THE VIETNAM WAR. IT's detailed and very well researched. The author had access to a lot pf previously unseen documents, due to the Freedom Of Information Act.

But a detail amazed terrifically. In page 114, Morrison makes the following statement, about JFK murder:

"Later that day, during a motorcade through the streets of Dallas, President Kennedy was assassinated by a professed communist and former United States Marine - Lee Harvey Oswald"

I almost choked with desbilief. Does Morrison, such an accomplished and veteran writer, really believes in that? Does he really believe in the Warren COmission report that Oswald acted alone??!! I could not believe this. At least he could have written "...was SUPPOSEDLY assassinated by..."

Oh boy, this is heavy reading. The book deals about everything in the Vitnam War. The funny thing is that Morrison is consiedered to be a great military AVIATION writer, but this book delaing with a much more complex subject is very entertaining, objective and complete.

Great read, albeit a hard one.

This book was published before Robert S. McNamara started churning out books about Nam. There had been a lot of books about Nam up to that point, and what struck me was how much had been left out of all of them. Since this book called itself the complete story, and listed the author's home town and zip code, I wrote to the author, asking if he could send me any funny Nam bits for MY VIETNAM WAR JOKE BOOK. It was difficult for me to believe that Wilbur Morrison was smart enough to know how much of his book I hadn't read and still write to tell me that Nam had no humor, the American forces in Vietnam entirely lacked anything to joke about, and I should do more reading. Thinking `What does he know?' I then wrote to Robert S. McNamara, promising to give him full credit for any funny Nam bits he could send me, though MY VIETNAM WAR JOKE BOOK wasn't really that kind of joke book, it was more about things that a 19-year-old grunt might say that would never find its way between the covers of any book more historical than DISPATCHES by Michael Herr. I even remembered a joke that I hadn't heard in Nam: What do you call a guy with no arms and no legs when he's swimming? Bob, of course, though you might not call him Bob to his face if he were the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America. Did Bob even know what Nixon was saying when the White House Transcripts book said, "That was national security, because it had to do with the (expletive deleted) Vietnam war" ? (President to John Dean, March, 1973, when a cancer on the presidency was all the rage).

There is a point in THE ELEPHANT AND THE TIGER when I definitely thought that something was left out, possibly because those who supplied the official information thought it was necessary to sanitize it. In November, 1946, something happened in Haiphong which does not get mentioned, but by December, Morrison reports that the Viet Minh were retaliating for something by engaging in open warfare against French troops. If this book was really complete, every reader would be informed what the Vietnamese thought they were retaliating against, and would not be surprised, not even as surprised as some Americans were by the ceasefire Tet offensive in 1968, which was designed to show that if anyone in Nam didn't know what was going to happen, it was sure to be the Americans. That might not be funny in America, but by 1968, I'll bet the French were able to laugh, and they might still be laughing.

Altough the book does not use a complex language, you must bear in mind, when going for it, that it's really a HUGE book. It's about 638 pages with SMALL type lyrics, believe me!!

Of course Morrison does his costumary excellent job. If you have only one shot at figuring out what Vietnam was all about, this is the book to get. But remember: be patient while reading it! I can take a long time...

The Elephant And The Tiger: The Full Story Of The Vietnam War by Wilber Morrison is a stark, comprehensive, straightforward evaluation of the Vietnam War, its military battles and its aftermath. Meticulous and sparing no details, it covers the beginnings of the war with a brief overview of ancient Vietnamese history to the treatment America's Vietnam veterans received upon their return home. The Elephant And The Tiger is a very highly recommended reference about a grave conflict that forever changed nations and a welcome addition to the growing library of American military history in general, and American involvement in the Vietnam conflict in particular.

British writers, writing about India are of two types. One are genuine humanists who look at today's India from an objective albeit sometimes sympathetic point of view. Mark Shand falls in the other category- ruminating nostalgically about the Raj, although, the present story is somewhat melodramatic and about an elephant.
One good test to distinguish between the two is to ask the question, what would the person be if the 'Raj' was still alive. I am positive, Mark Shand would fall into the class of people who would live secluded in "McCluskeygunge" (a closed gate communty of Anglophiles) and sneer at the poor natives with an upturned nose!
Unfortunately, fair skin on its own merit(?) still attracts salutes in India. The three hundrend years of oppressive british tyrrany has been hard to shake off. Shand lives by the power of his white skin and rules with his green currency and day dreams about the serenity and glory (for the english) of the Raj.
I have yet to come across a genuine expression of guilt or shame in a britisher about their colonial sins. To take the case of India, the richest coutry on the planet, sucking it dry of all its resources and riches, and leaving it to fend for itself. And now Shand returns to satisfy his whim of travelling on an elephant and revel in touristic sightseeing of the poverty and the overwhelming deterioration! Utterly disgusting!!

This book gripped me from the start. Mark Shand's matter-of-fact writing style and unshamedly romantic account of a trip across India on his elephant Tara, will make you curious about India and fall in love with this beautiful creature that became a grown man's best friend. A beautiful story for readers of all ages. I loved it and am about to read it again!

The British seem to be particularly adept at coming up with whimsical ideas, making them happen, and then writing about them (cf. comedian Tony Hawk's Round Ireland With A Fridge, and Playing the Moldovans At Tennis or journalist Andrew Marshall's The Trouser People to mention just a few recent examples). Shand continues the tradition, concocting a scheme to buy an elephant and march around India on its back. This quick-reading book is an account of his adventure in India, where he purchases an emaciated 30-year old elephant ... from a pair of saddhus (mystic holy men) in the province of Orissa (a few hundred kilometers SW of Calcutta). His goal is to walk her from the coast to the great elephant market on the banks of the Ganges at Sonepur Mela, some 1000 kilometers north, in Bihar, where he would sell her.

However, as he soon discovers, elephants have a lot of personality, and he quickly falls in love with his. The pleasure of the book is not its travelogue description of the sights and sounds along the way (although these do break things up), but the mischievous antics of the elephant and the discovery of its personality as a loving and lovable creature. Tara, the elephant, displays remarkable intelligence and wit over the course of the journey, although at times Shand does veer into anthropomorphizing her. While he doesn't go deep into the role of the elephant in Indian and Hindu culture, it's clear from his travels that they are widely revered as symbols of Ganesh, as bystanders often often small prayers and alms to Tara.

Shand's own lessons in becoming a "mahoot", one who is versed in the ways of elephants and able to ride/guide one, is an equally fascinating and touching story. An older and younger mahoot are along to train him, as is a photographer friend and two rascally drivers with a support Jeep. It's a fun adventure, with a suspiciously fortuitous climax at the market, when Shand discovers he can't bear to sell his elephant for use as a moneymaking curiosity. It's a touching book in many ways, although some readers may be put off by the notion of a Westerner traipsing around a poor country on an elephant, especially given India's colonial past. Still whatever one may think of that, Shand's love for the animal is clearly genuine. He's written a followup book (Queen of the Elephants), that's apparently not as good.

A remarkable story about one of the few Europeans to enter the mystical, beautiful, dangerous, austere and disappearing world of the Indian Mahoot. Shand writes honestly and insightfully about his experiences on an elephant Trek through India which makes the book all the more refreshing. An easy afternoon read by the fire with your map of India on your lap.

I have read all of Mark's books and this is my favourite. Full of humour, you can't help but fall in love with Tara and the magic of India. The sequel Queen Of The Elephants is also worth reading; this film of QotE is shown regulary on Discovery/Animal Planet.

To scatter her brother's ashes over the Narmada River, Fabienne leaves France for the fabled India of her childhood dreams. Soon, as she awakens to a newfound spirituality, unexpected visions of a former life during the Raj stir ancient yearnings for a long lost passion. Mukunda, the palace architect Fabienne loved in another life a century and a half earlier, lives again as an American engineer and works on the local dam project. But, in this karmic land of the blue gods, the Kali worshiper who murdered the two lovers in a faraway past also awaits. Ashes For The Elephant God is a striking and highly recommended metaphysical novel about love, reincarnation, spiritual awakenings, suspense -- all set against the twin backdrops of modern and ancient India.

Vijaya Schartz paints a vivid picture. Reading her book truly transports you to India. It's both descriptive and emotive. The reason I rank it as 3 stars is that it is not a complex story or a challenging "read." It is fun and offers an armchair vacation. I enjoyed it, I just wasn't challenged and didn't read/ learn anything new. Don't let that stop you from getting it. This is the perfect book to read on the beach, while commuting or on a rainy day.

It is rare to find an author so dedicated to her craft as Vijaya Schartz. The setting is beautiful, characters believable. The book is carefully plotted to keep the reader wanting more. I highly reccommend this book.

In France, Seventeen year old Jean-Francois died of AIDS. His last wish was for his sister, Fabienne Beranger, to take his ashes to India and scatter them over the Narmada River. Once done, Fabienne found she wanted to stay awhile. There, she learned that she had been reincarnated. Back in 1849, she had been known as Lakshmi. She had been a commoner. (Her fiancé had been Mukunda.) Lakshmi had been murdered, trampled under an elephant, by a Kali worshiper. Princess Korana had wanted Mukunda in her bed. When told of Lakshmi's death, Mukunda directed his anger at the princess, knowing she had somehow been responsible. He died, never seeing his beloved again.

Mukunda was reincarnated as an American. He was called "Sahib" by all, but had the honor of being renamed by a swami named Baba. He was renamed, amazingly, Mukunda. He was the chief engineer of the dam project in India. The project had about ten more months of work to be completed. He met Kora, who worked in the beauty shop. She had an Australian accent in today's world. (But you guessed it, she was the Princess Korana from the past!) She, again, wanted Mukunda as her own.

Once again, Mukunda and Fabienne were reunited in love. Yet, once again, Kora would try to tear them apart!

* Author, Vijaya Schartz, succeeded in making Princess Korana the type of villain that everyone loves to hate! That alone shows major talent! The story was slow to start off, but once done (and it did not take too long) I was hooked! The book blended the past and present so well that, while reading, I was not sure which time intrigued me more, 1849 or present date. In fact, I'm still not sure! The characters were well developed. By the ending, I even saw Kora in a different light. An extremely satisfying read! *

I have used this as a supplement to a textbook in a class on industrial organization psychology. Just about every student finds it helpful and sees it as a fresh perspective on diversity. It sets a tone for thoughtful discussions on diversity through the semester.

Cheers to Dr. Thomas for providing a book that is one of the first -- in my opinion -- to present a clear picture of the need to address workforce, workplace and marketplace diversity. I came away understanding that to address one or two of these components without addressing the third is like commissioning a two to three mile dig, when all the geological reports tell you that oil is six miles down. Half and quarter steps will not lead to success. In the most simple straight-forward way, starting with a powerful parable, Dr. Thomas drives home the point that for true strategic benefits organizations need to make a balance commitment to the all three components.

Another great take-away from this book is Dr. Thomas's model for identifying and differentiating between business requirements and preferences.

All in all this is an extremely powerful book that should be in every manager's library. Thank you Dr. Thomas.

Joe Santana
Co-author of Manage I.T.

Using a short fable as metaphor and a springboard, shows how managing diversity relies upon building skills and changing mindsets. Most of the book presents case studies of how people who face diversity challenges on the job address them. Closing chapters provide some general guidelines for individuals and organizations for achieving diversity maturity-knowledge about and comfort with the dynamics of diversity-and diversity effectiveness-the ability to deal with people distinctly diverse from you. An interesting work that is nearly on a par with the author's most outstanding contribution, "Beyond Race and Gender." Reviewed by Yvette Borcia, co-founder, Stern & Associates, co-author of Stern's Sourcefinder: The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder.

I anxiously looked forward to reading this book. Given the titles of Thomas's previous books, Redefining Diversity and Beyond Race and Gender, and the title of this one I expected more than passing reference to the disability community. I was disappointed.

We are told (p.84) that "I'm becoming more aware of sexual preference and physical ability diversity as well." Although I'm not one to get hung up on word choice, others are, and those locutions aren't popular in gay, lesbian, or disability-preference communities. In the latter are millions of people with ADHD and psychiatric disabilities, and for these millions to be excluded from a "house for diversity" would make it a "house divided against itself."

A tipoff for readers is the Personal Diversity Maturity Index. The reader is asked "What is the most important reason to respond to diversity?" The preferred answer has nothing to do with justice and social change, or even with building a house that will include your neighbors, your parents, your kids, and possibly you. It's "The diversity-mature manager recognizes that diversity is good for business."

"THERE'S AN ANGEL IN THE CHIMNEY!"

Mrs. O'Callaghan had come up with some pretty farfetched notions; but when she came running to Mr. White with this announcement, he was convinced she'd lost all touch with reality. Yet when the sensible English writer - whose only mistake had been to set up his workshop on the O'Callaghan's rundown Irish farm - ventured into the kitchen to see what had so upset his landlady, he was shocked to discover that the Archangel Michael had come down the chimney and was hovering there, waiting to pass on a message of deep significance: there was going to be a Flood, and it was up to the O'Callaghans and Mr. White to build an Ark just the way Noah had. Well, maybe not exactly the way Noah had. After all, Mr. White didn't have the same kind of help to work with. Still, he'd find a way to manage, and a way to start the world again too - even though he'd always been a confirmed bachelor. He'd do it all - as long as he didn't have to save the elephants and the kangaroos!

The concept of this book was interesting. The Archangel Michael relays the coming of the second flood to Mr. White and his not-so-bright companions. Mr. White sets out to build a 20th century Ark out of an overturned barn.
While there are some good points to this book, they are quickly overshadowed by pages and pages and pages of lists. The author goes on long winded tangents about what items are in a room, and what has been packed into the makeshift Ark. People in one small town, thinking that Mr. White is some kind of savior, attempt to follow him in makeshift boats. A 313 word sentence is used to describe the various people, their appearances, professions, and other stuff I could care less about. By the time I got near the end of this book, I was just ready for it to be over.
If there had been more periods in this book, and less commas, I would have liked it enough to give it 3 stars.

Believe it or not, I discovered this book on my own shelf. After reading Once and Future King for the 3rd time, I notice that among my collection of old decorator books was this delightful item. I read it that night. The characters are charming simple minded people you can't help laughing out loud over. I just love how the innocent traveler (and narrator) stumbles into this bizarre episode of Ma and Pa meet the book of Revelations, and becomes as convinced as the rest of his doom. If you can find this book take a moment and enjoy the "boat" ride.

In this 1947 black comedy about the Irish, a farmer, his wife, and their English lodger believe they have met with Michael the Archangel and been instructed to build an ark to preserve against an impending flood.

They do so with comical events and consequences. Mostly, the acerbic wit of author T. H. White is in evidence as he ridicules all manner of traditions and beliefs. There in neither elephant nor kangaroo in this story. He refers to the lodger and farm wife as 'he the elephant and she the kangaroo' in explaining their repetitive disagreements about things philosophical. Possibly this refers to some known fable or legend which I have not so far been able to discover.

A funny book but not an elephant book.

'Elephant Winter' is about a young woman who returns home to Canada to look after her ailing mother. Her mother is dying of cancer but is determined to continue to do things she would normally do. The daughter, tired of being inside the house with artwork and bugies, soon becomes friends with Jo, the keeper of the elephants. He's a quiet, shallow man who worms his way into Sophie's effections.
A novel about love, lust, family and elephants, it is amazing to see the sameness that mammels and humans have. I loved Saba, Keiaz and Lear, the elephants. The elephants were not protrayed as animals but as humans with feelings and understandings.
It would be so lovely to be an owner of an elephant and feel the fingers of the trunk on your skin. To become to understand this great beast of nature.
The majestic creatures were interpreted by Echlin through sounds and songs. I particularly enjoyed the dictionary that she provided so that we could learn along with her. Although we will never be able to understand an elephant, it was interesting to learn nonetheless.
The relationship between Jo and Sophie was incredible, rich with agony and love. Nearly pure love.
Read this tale for yourself and you too will fall in love with Echlin and elephants.

I anticipated loving this book. I love Canada and I love winter, and I love good fiction. But I didn't love this book. I think the idea behind it is precious, but I was not satisfied by the content. The elephant dictionary was painful. The autopsy was shocking and dark, but not dark enough. The prose was not haunting or lyrical. So much more could have been described with the budgies and the artwork. The mute character was not developed to be dark until the end of the book. I was not suspicious of him in the least. The love interest Jo, what a shallow character. I would have omitted the dictionary and developed all the characters and visuals more. Rather than tell me what happened, I would have loved to have been able to feel the cold and taste the smells.

A fine story, wonderfully told, by a truly accomplished writer. Deeply moving tale seems more real than fiction. About a young woman who returns home to help her mother go through the last dying stages of cancer and herself becomes involved with a small herd of captive elephants living nearby at a private tourist attraction. I won't give away the details but urge you to read this book if you enjoy elephants and experiencing emotions.

How could any reader fail to be impressed by the originality and beauty of Ms. Eichlin's novel? A friend who has devoted his life to elephants gave me the book in Botswana's Okavango. I was immediately captivated by the author's almost mystical feeling for elephants. Her dictionary of elephant sounds is a triumph which several people who have spent their lives around elephants attest to. Altogether, this is a breathtaking opening act for a talent who will be around for a long long time.

This is a very special picture book. There are few books that can capture the expressiveness, simplicity and magic that this book has. I disagree very much with the first reviewer. I'm a children's librarian and have shared this book with success with many children. It's a great opportunity for children to see picture books that offer a different perspective, technique (strong black outlined illustrations and odd color pallette), or story. Not all picture books need to be of lively color and busy illustration. This is a book that offers a child something different and very interesting.

Brilliant illustration - my three year old loves this book. Spare story line but unlike some who apparently need every single thought, movement, and emotion described, this book leaves it for the child to imagine. The book is quite enchanting.

I disagree! My youngster and I enjoyed reading this book. I believe the illustrations overpower the strength of the words, but the overall fantasy-theme of the main character searching Africa over for her elephant friend is intriguing enough. The book indeed is veiled by sadness ... but I'm sick to death of the "atta boy, cotton-candy, happy ending" books for children these days. Let's face it ... the world isn't all sugar and spice. Not even close. Our animal kingdoms are fast disappearing (e.g.,less than 2,000 Grevi's zebras in the world and fast declining). And, generally speaking, the moms and dads, grandpas and grandmas today aren't exactly getting off their leather sofas in their Potlatch-sold wilderness, luxury cabins and condos to do anything about it. It may take a "stiffer-than-usual, more-honest-than-ever" message to our children to get this point across. "Save the world," doesn't mean tomorrow--it means today! I encourage readers to take several looks at this complex, yet entertaining story for children. Kudos to the publisher for taking the risk. Sally forth with the message!

A girl follows an elephant released from a zoo in this grim, strange book that fails to deliver on its promised convincing portrayal of friendship. It is not a surreal book; rather, it is severe and gloomy, as the girl traipses through a zoo filled with sad (or angry) animals in small cages and empty landscapes. Importantly, neither the girl nor the narrator presents a point of view about, for example, the depressed apes (they look away from the front of their barren enclosure, faces down). Instead, the girl, seen only from a distance throughout the book, visits and plays just with her elephant friend.

After the elephant is inexplicably released to Africa, the girl sends a swift to discover it (this impersonal book never reveals the elephant's gender). The swift locates it, and the girl (in an impressive display of illustrations, more on that later) travels by boat and plane until she arrives. Once in Africa, she asks a bird and a primate about the elephant's location, and then she finally finds it a few pages later. Author and illustrator Nicole de Cock, in a coda to the games played back at the zoo, tells us:

And the whole winter long, they play girl games.
And they play elephant games.

And then, the book stops, abruptly.

Adults interested in graphic design will find the poster-like illustrative style appealing; children probably won't. Many of the watercolor and black ink pictures (done primarily in orange, black, and white) have a stylized power and drama somewhat similar to manga (the adult neo-comic books); however, children will probably find both the story and the pictures unappealing. In an incredibly nervy move, the sales- minded publishers (on the front flyleaf) write, "A new classic for fans of `The Giving Tree' and `The Little Prince,' this book assures readers that the bonds of friendship last forever." If anything, the book functions as an exercise in "agit-prop" (agitation-propaganda), showing the ugly side of the zoo. Not recommended.