THE SECRET ELEPHANT: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY OF FRIENDSHIP, by Ellan Rankin, Random House Studio, April 23, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
The advent of war tests a very special relationship in The Secret Elephant: Inspired by a True Story of Friendship, by Ellan Rankin
While carefree monkeys dangle in trees, powerful lions quietly sunbathe, and majestic giraffes walk back and forth, a terrible war looms on the horizon and changes everything. People stop coming to the zoo and most of the animals huddle together with their mates in their different enclosures– except for one baby elephant that was all alone. As bombs shake the ground and flashes of orange light burn across the sky, the solitary elephant grows more and more afraid and confused. Her keeper understood and spends as much time with her elephant as she can. And when it becomes impossible to stay in the enclosure, the keeper makes the daring choice to bring the elephant home.
But it’s hard to hide an elephant, even a baby one, and it gets even harder as the elephant grows. After a time, the elephant is ordered back to the zoo. Still, the kind-hearted keeper could not abandon her friend, so she sets up house right alongside the elephant for the remainder of the war.
Many years later, when the keeper no longer works at the zoo, she returns to visit her friend. Her friend, much older now as well, remembers the keeper and her brave kindness. —Synopsis provided by Random House Studio
The Secret Elephant was inspired by the true story one of the first female keepers at the Belfast Zoo and Sheila, a baby Asian elephant. But instead of the keeper telling the story, it’s the elephant that recounts what happened.
And it’s a great choice by author/illustrator Ellan Rankin.
Through the story takes place during WWII, it’s not too dark or scary. Rather, it’s full of heart and humor as the baby elephant makes herself at home in her keeper’s “enclosure.” It’s a lovely story with charming illustrations that are full of emotion. Little ones will instantly be drawn to this engaging story.
About the creator:
ELLAN RANKIN is a Northern Irish author-illustrator who earned an MA in children’s book illustration from Cambridge School of Art, and a First-Class Honors degree in illustration from the Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Her picture books combine her love of animals with her experience in animation. She lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Learn more at ellanrankin.com.
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