Elephants Books

Hughes, Pat. Seeing the Elephant: A Story Of The Civil War. Pictures by Ken Stark. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2007.

A thoughtful story about a ten year old boy named Iz whose two older brothers go off to fight on the Yankee side during the Civil War; one brother Cal is raring to fight, "I'm off to see the elephant" ("Seeing the Elephant" is a euphuism for "going into battle for the first time") but gets typhoid and has to come home before fighting a battle. Iz has no doubts that the Yankees have to fight to bring the Rebels back to the Union. His Aunt Bell is a nurse and she takes Iz back with her to Washington, DC. There he meets President Lincoln at a reception; however, he also meets a rebel soldier who is in a hospital and learns that fighting a war is not just a simple issue of right and wrong. Realistic paintings full of expression and historical setting enhance the quiet strength of this story

I was eager to read a novel about Helena Blavatsky and Henry Olcott, the now-revered founders of Theosophy, but thought the author did better with Henry Olcott (Ben in the novel) than with Blavatsky (Irinia in the novel). Too often, Irinia is the comic butt of Ben's good sense and serious spiritual quest. I liked the descriptions of India; I loved the supposed excerpts from Blavatsky's tales and Olcott's journals; but SHADOWS & ELEPHANTS makes Blavatsky/Irinia almost wholly a neurotic fraud, giving no explanation of the spiritual power she exerts over followers even today.

This is a post-mortem edition and almost the only book of this author that's easy to find. Even though it's always interesting to read her books, this one in particular seems to be untidy, not all so well written. Sickness, medicines, the novel refers to the life of an old lady full of memories and sometimes it turns to be difficult to follow the plot. A novel that's not as good as her short stories.

The book does contain nice clear drawings of the relevant meridians and a good introduction to chi kung, but I think it would take a determined person to perform the described practices from the text. The author does state clearly that it is not his intention that people be able to practice from this book without other instruction, however through no fault of the authors that information is not presented on the amazon.com page with the book description.
I think this would be very useful as a reference to someone who has taken classes and seen the techniques, otherwise I would not recommend it.

Great insight on Sumo wrestling. Probably for younger readers (12+) Tells about the major facts of the game. Good for most information, but lacks some important facts.

I love the old fashioned illustrations of this book, but I just don't care for "big bear, medium-sized bear, etc." I would much prefer Mama, Papa and baby bear. When I read it to my 2 year old, I change the wording.

this isn't even a story.

looks like it was slapped together in an afternoon.

3rd rate. not a real Babar book.

Not a book I'd probably have picked up under normal circumstances, but I met Mr. de Brunhoff at a booksigning recently and I remembered how much enjoyment the Babar books brought me as a child. Mr. de Brunhoff seemed like a very kind man and his newest book is as delightful as I recall the ones read to me as a child. I recommend it to you whether or not you have kids.

In the first pages, Babar and his family visit Italy, Germany, Russia, India, Japan, Thailand... where they eat new foods, speak phrases in Italian, etc. At one point, Isabelle notes difference in language and asks "What's wrong with our words?" Celeste explains that "People in different places say things differently. They do things differently, too. They build different kinds of buildings." Note the reference to people, of the present day.

Now, I call your attention to this text:

____________

When everyone was rested, they went to Angkor in Cambodia, the ancient city of the Khmers. In Mexico, they climbed a pyramid built by the Aztecs. In both places, the original settlers were gone but tourists abounded.

"Will everyone move out of Celesteville one day, too?" Pom asked.

"Never," said Babar. "But apart from us, it happens a lot, as you'll see."

______________

The "as you'll see" refers to the places they visit next, which are "the cliff houses of the Anasazi in the high desert of the American Southwest, "the Inca Trail, on the same stones that the Incas had walked..." and "... to the remains of the city of Machu Picchu hidden in the Andes Mountains."

How nice for the Babar family and other tourists, that the "original settlers" were gone! How nice that they had, presumably, moved out, leaving these wonderful places for the tourists! And how good it is of Babar to assure Pom that the inhabitants of Celesteville will never move out of Celesteville!

Reviewers of the book failed to note these passages and the messages they impart to the reader. School Library Journal's reviewer finds it lacking because it doesn't have the same adventure and excitement in Jean de Brunhoff's Travels of Babar (which has highly problematic illustrations of "cannibals"). Perhaps if they'd actually come across "savages" (aka "original settlers) she might have given it a favorable review.

The review in Booklist is more favorable: "Though children listening to the story will get only a glimpse or two of each country before moving on to the next, this colorful picture book provides an inkling of the diversity of places and cultures in the world. A pleasant excursion, recommended especially for those who already know and love Babar and his family."

Perhaps, but I wonder about children of all those "original settlers"?!

There is a great deal wrong with this book. It is very useful for a high school or college classroom, but as a read-aloud for young children? No. It doesn't even deserve one star.

Does not have the flavour or ambiance of the Babar books written by the original author.

The warm family values of the Barbar series shine through, but this reader found the jumps from one famous place to another quite befuddling. It's fine, however, for those whose ignorance of world geography is total. Coming back to Celesteville at the end is a distinct relief for both Barbar's children and the reader.

I think it sad that the previous Reviewers focus their attention on the SIZE of this gem, and not the QUALITY of what is inside this amazing work. Take one look through the photographs, and you will find incredible images of man-animal interaction, which is photographed with incredible skill by Colbert. These little "post-card" books are intended as "reminders" of this incredible Exhibition. If you really want larger images, then purchase the Exhibition Catalogues (either the Santa Monica or New York Exhibitions). These books make PERFECT gifts from a one-of-a-kind Exhibition, that once seen, is never forgotten.

This is like getting a collection of postcard, although the pictures are really nice, packaged in a really fancy, handmade paper holder. The pictures are also reproduced way too small to really appreciate them.

I just received shipment of this "book" about 15 minutes ago and I must say, I'm VERY disappointed. I couldn't believe I paid $30.00 plus S&H for it!! This "book", and I use the term lightly, is more of an envelope, containing 15 postcard-sized photos. Looking at it on Colbert's site makes it look like a true (much thicker) book. I actually measured it: it's only a quarter-inch thick! Sure the photos are OK, but I could just as well look at them on Colbert's site.

I'm a multi-media artist, and I'm all for supporting my fellow artists, but I would feel guilty putting together a "book" such as this and charging $30.00 for it; apparently, Colbert isn't feeling any guilt.

The exotic, handmade paper the photos are enveloped in is nice, and is most likely what you're paying for (perhaps I'll use the paper in my artwork). I'd return it, but it's not worth the shipping and handling, besides I don't want to invest anymore money into it.

So, my advice is this....don't buy "Ashes and Snow". If you want to view Colbert's photos, go to his site; it's really a nice one...and it's free. What a terrible rip-off.

I didn't want to give it a star at all, but this site wouldn't let me continue unless I gave it a rating.

I think Tyler will excel with his new party affiliation. He seems to know almost as much about politics as he does about Christianity. I think he explains his position very accurately in the paragraph that exalts a scientific study that seems to summarize what he believes. It was something to the effect that dumb and dumber people make better choices and his latest choices seem just right for him, if this scientific study is valid.

Tyler Arthur is no wordsmith. I have never purchased and read a book so utterly full of grammatical and spelling errors. Did the author not bother to use the spellcheck feature on his PC let alone hire an editor? Don't insult me by printing a book that you haven't even taken the time to proofread. It was pathetic. Grammar and spelling aside, the content is nothing more than a a series of poorly written rant that should not be elevated beyond blogs. His thoughts are poorly articulated and the points are not well supported or documented. As for Arthur being a D.C. insider, I know as much based on the fact that I grew up in Northern Virginia. He was a Capital Hill staffer like thousands of others in their 20's that flock to D.C. annually. The title is very catchy and I truly hoped to learn from his experiences working with the GOP and as an evangelical and so little of what he writes is fresh, factual or impactful. I'll donate the book to the Denver library system...check it out; don't waste your money.

Interesting book and the author writes well and expands on the whole Republicans are equated with God theme. I also agree with the authors that we should register as Independents. I personally supported Ron Paul because he was the most Constitutional minded of all the candidates from all political groups.

I would have liked to have read that we need to get back to the representation the founding fathers had, where those in Congress/Senate office, would work part time and not see their position as a full time job.

Because I think if they had to spend more time in their home areas, they would be in better tune with the voter. As it is they spend more time with lobbyists than the one person one vote folk back at home.

There are so many wonderful children's books available, i'm not sure why anyone would pick this one for their child. Pom, Flora and Alexander find a Wully-Wully, "an animal that is seldom seen" and take it home with them. One day on a picnic, it is kidnapped by Rataxes the rhinoceros. In the end, the Wully-Wully is recovered, but I am not sure why any parent would choose to introduce fear of kidnapping into our children when we could be reading them fun, educational stories that teach them about love and peace.

This is a really terrific story. By capturing and then befriending the charming little Wully Wully, the elephants learn some good lessons about respect and kindness. After some adventures, the young elephants and the Wully Wully do what Babar couldn't - establishing peace with the Rhinos! This book has a nice blend of tension, adventure, and all sorts of little lessons to take away from it.