Elephants: A Book for Children

Product Information

Through the Eyes of Ernest: A Memoir to Honor Elephants- Debbie McFee (2013): A somber but ultimately hopeful tale told from an elephant’s point of view, Through the Eyes of Ernest asks us to consider why we keep such intelligent, social animals in captivity. Despite our differences in size and shape, humans relate so profoundly to elephants. Perhaps it’s their fierce loyalty, their female-forward power structure, long memories or sheer strength. But people who love elephants, really love elephants. And if that’s you, then we have a perfect reading list for you.

I suppose if there were a part of the world in which mastodon still lived, somebody would design a new gun, and men, in their eternal impudence, would hunt mastodon as they now hunt elephant. Impudence seems to be the word. At least David and Goliath were of the same species, but, to an elephant, a man can only be a midge with a deathly sting. This is by no means a complete list of every elephant book, but something to get you started. If you feel like there is an amazing book we missed that needs to be listed, let us know. Please enjoyWe often get asked for recommendations for animal and elephant books. Because education plays such a huge role in a better future for elephants, we are glad to provide a reading list to create an easy reference. Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II An Elephant in the Garden – Michael Morpurgo (2013): (Fiction grades 5-9) Lizzie and Karl’s mother is a zoo keeper; the family has become attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene, who will be destroyed as a precautionary measure so she and the other animals don’t run wild should the zoo be hit by bombs. The family persuades the zoo director to let Marlene stay in their garden instead.

Elephant Talk: The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication – Ann Downer (2011): (grades 3 and up) This book discusses the complex system of communication elephants use- including sounds humans can hear, nonverbal behaviors too low for human ears and what they mean. It is absurd for a man to kill an elephant. It is not brutal, it is not heroic, and certainly it is not easy; it is just one of those preposterous things that men do like putting a dam across a great river, one tenth of whose volume could engulf the whole of mankind without disturbing the domestic life of a single catfish.

Bohemoth: The History of the Elephant in America – Ronald B. Tobias (2013): A chronicle tracing the elephant’s indelible footprint on American culture, and its 200 year history But as with all things in life, we don’t all agree about some of the books. Some people like some that others couldn’t even finish. Just because the book is on the list, doesn’t guarantee you’ll enjoy it. Please read a full review before dipping into the stories. Also remember, if you enjoy a book written by a researcher or conservationist, most have other books as well that you can look for. There is also a category labeled “Other.” This includes books about animals, emotion, and our relationships with them. Please know, while we have personally read many of these books, we have not read all of them. We also went off of recommendations from other “elephant people.” of the profit from the sale of the book will be donated to Born Free Foundation Saving Meru's giants project.

The Elephant’s Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa- Caitlin O’Connell (2008): Catlin O’Connell’s fascinating story of her unexpected discovery of a previously unknown mode of elephant communication These magnificent mammals spend between 12 to 18 hourseating grass, plantsand fruitevery single day! They use their long trunks to smell their food and lift it up into their mouth – yum!translation:- "Hello Alwyn my parcel arrived safely - the book is GORGEOUS!! I am very proud and happy to have participated in this beautiful project thank you" Lawrence Anthony devoted his life to animal conservation, protecting the world’s endangered species. Then he was asked to accept a herd of “rogue” wild elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand. The Elephant Whisperer is a heartwarming, exciting, funny, and sometimes sad memoir of Anthony’s experiences. The remarkable story of James Howard “Billy” Williams. His uncanny rapport with the world’s largest land animals transformed him from a carefree young man into the charismatic war hero known as Elephant Bill Elephants – Rob Laidlaw (2014) : (recommended grades 2-7) 5 Elephants will provide readers with some fascinating elephant facts and figures, as well as introduce some of the serious challenges that wild and captive elephants face. In 5 Elephants, you will read the stories of five famous elephants.

Jumbo Ghosts: The Dangerous Life of Elephants in the Zoo – Michael Schmidt (2002): Jumbo Ghosts is about both the ancient and mysterious bond we have with elephants, and why/how we’ve broken that bond in our modern zoos. Sections examine the human/elephant bond, what makes life so dangerous for elephants living in modern zoos, and new ideas to mend our broken bonds with them.Love, War, and Circuses: The Age-Old Relationship Between Elephants and Humans – Eric Scigliano (2004): In a kaleidoscopic account rich in historic lore, surprising science, and exotic adventure, Eric Scigliano traces an age-old, extraordinary relationship between species and shows how it still haunts and inspires us today. Rattling the Cage- Steven M. Wise (2001): Explains how the failure to recognize the basic legal rights of chimpanzees and bonobos in light of modern scientific findings creates a glaring contradiction in our law while demonstrating the cognitive, emotional, and social capacities of these apes.