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Elmer and the White Bear

May23
Elmer and the White Bear

Elmer and the White Bear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elmer and the White Bear

David McKee

Marysia Milewski

Andersen Press, 2026

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781839134807

For decades one of the earliest go-to reads that I shared with my just-starting-out-on-reading students was Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Like Elmer, I loved to shout BOO and startle them just as Elmer startled the other elephants in his herd. As well as being an entertaining story that led them to clamour for others in the series, it also led to their first investigative project as we asked, “What did this story teach us about elephants?”  and “What do we need to check?” and “What more can we find out?” They loved becoming their own version of David Attenborough and going on the discovery trail.

Now, many books later, and celebrating Elmer Day 2026,  we are blessed to have one more story that author David McKee was working on before he died in 2022, this one completed by his friend Marysia Milewski.  The manuscript and early sketches for the book, plus a further title to come in future, were discovered  by his children amongst David’s effects after his death in 2022, and they have dedicated the book to their “Dad and Grandad: The Story Teller. “

These notes and manuscript were found alongside rough thumbnail illustrations for the books, but no colour artwork had been started.

These notes and manuscript were found alongside rough thumbnail illustrations for the books, but no colour artwork had been started. Andersen Press

And just like that first one that gently explored the theme of diversity, this one also has an underlying message – that of the world’s warming because of climate change.  The last thing Elmer and Wilbur expect to find in their warm African jungle is a white polar bear! But when they listen to the bear’s story of how he arrived there and now just wants to return home, they know they have to help him.  They can take him as far as the snowline – although that’s a little higher these days – and then the birds will take over as far as they can… But as Elmer and Wilbur reflect on their meeting, Wilbur asks, “But what do you think about the world getting warmer?”  To which Elmer replies, “That, dear, Wilbur, is something we must seriously talk about,” opening the door to further conversations and investigations by the rapt listeners…  McKee himself felt that it was important to start conversations about environmental issues with young children, “without patronising or trying to offer a particular solution.” and this book certainly does that. 

So celebrate Elmer’s special day with this new book for those who have already met him, or go back to the beginning and binge-share all the stories throughout the day. Follow the theme – GO ALL IN!

The Hullabaloo about Elephant Poo

Jan17
The Hullabaloo about Elephant Poo

The Hullabaloo about Elephant Poo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hullabaloo about Elephant Poo

Dee White

Christopher Nielsen

HarperCollins, 2024

24pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

 9781460766194

There’s a hullabaloo about elephant poo —
what can you do with that beasty brew?
A hundred kilos daily from you-know-where.
That’s the same body weight as a panda bear!

Where I live, kangaroos are daily visitors and two old bucks, in particular, have made our house their home, obviously relishing the fresh green grass that we maintain as part of our fire management plan because we are surrounded by bushland. So, almost on a daily basis, Hubby has to get the pooper scooper out and collects a small bucketload each time, continually muttering about putting nappies on the culprits. 

Our resident roos

A couple of our resident roos

But having read the amazing facts about the amount of poo an elephant produces in this clever, funny rhyming book, I think he should be grateful that he is only having to deal with a couple of kangaroos!  Together, Dee White and Christopher Nielsen have created one of the most intriguing picture books that is not only going to appeal to many because its subject matter is one that fascinates young readers as anything about bodily functions does, but also demonstrates just what a valuable commodity such waste can be.  Who knew that a pile of poo could hold so much value and the uses it can be put to? From nuggets being ground into coffee, to making paper for books and even bricks for houses, its uses seem endless.

The fun in both the rhyme and the illustrations will engage readers endlessly, but the more serious undertones will also entice them to think about the use of poo from all sorts of creatures, including humans, perhaps investigating what happens when they, themselves, flush the loo. More mature readers might want to explore the meaning of the old adage of “One man’s trash is another’s treasure” while everyone will enjoy playing the very clever game that form the back endpages.  

Teachers’ notes that span a variety of activities from examining the rhyming structure to creating an advertisement to sell elephant poo to investigating the nature and purpose of narrative non fiction and, indeed, zoos themselves, exploit the value of this book in any library collection.  

 

Herd

Sep8
Herd

Herd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Herd

Stephen Hogtun

Bloomsbury, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781526610737

As Little Elephant wanders through the long grass of the savannah, treading in the footsteps of the rest of the herd, he begins to wonder why they are always on the move.  Why isn’t there one place that feels like home where they can stay and be settled?  It’s not in the shade of the trees – he’s too little to reach their fruit, although his mother leans against the tree so it bends for him to reach .  It’s not near the waterhole because he’s too little to play in the deep water, although his sister shows him where it is shallow enough for him. It’s not the open plains – they feel too big and empty especially at night, although his grandmother promises to protect him.  It seems that wherever he is, it just doesn’t feel right, so as dusk falls and the herd sleeps, he wanders off to find the right place for him…

Set against stunning artwork that captures both the landscape and the changing day as the elephants travel through it, this is a warm-hearted story about what it means to discover the true meaning of the saying “home is where the heart is”, and understand that it is the little things that those who care for us do for us that change a house from a home, wherever that may be and what it might look like.  

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Apart from being a charming story in itself, it also offers an opportunity to talk about the things that others do for us, or we do for them, that shows we belong, we fit in and we care about each other.  It’s not about fancy houses and expensive gifts – there is more to family than those.  

An ideal addition to the mindfulness program to help little ones understand the things that really matter. 

How to Move a Zoo

Jun10
How to Move a Zoo

How to Move a Zoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Move a Zoo

Kate Simpson

Owen Swan

A & U Children’s, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781761180309

Here’s a problem for your students to solve… it’s 1916 and you need to move a zoo from its old home in Moore Park, Sydney. to its new home on the other side of the harbour.  The Sydney Harbour Bridge hasn’t been built, and the road trip is long and involves crossing five different bridges.  It’s been okay for a lot of the animals because they could be put in crates and cages and loaded onto the back of trucks, but how do you move an elephant that is too large for even the largest truck of the time?

This is the fascinating story of how Jessie the Asian elephant, a hugely popular attraction at the old venue where she had lived for 30 years,  made her way along Flinders Street, through Taylor Square to the Domain to Fort Macquarie and on to her new home at Taronga Park Zoological Gardens on Bradley’s Head, a journey that would take about 20 minutes today but so much longer back then.  In the early hours of a Sunday morning in a Sydney very different from today, anyone who was up and about, like the milkman with his horse and cart, would have been startled to see a man leading an elephant through the quiet streets and as gentle and as tame as Jessie was, it was not an easy journey for the streets, sights, sounds and smells were unfamiliar to her and she could have panicked at any time.  Crossing the harbour on a ferry was an unknown but when there is a bond between animal and human as there was between Jessie and Mr Miller, who knows what’s possible. 

While the role of elephants in today’s modern zoos is so much more important than providing amusement for a penny a ride, Jessie’s story is one that is well documented both in articles and photographs, and this beautifully illustrated narrative non fiction version is the perfect starting point for not only learning about that remarkable cross-city journey, but also delving more deeply into these fascinating creatures whose future is uncertain.  

Seree’s Story

Apr25
Seree's Story

Seree’s Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seree’s Story

Irma Gold

Wayne Harris

Walker Books, 2022

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781925126990

When they came, the herd scattered in fright, their trumpeting calls shattering the morning. Seree and her mother were cornered. Life in the jungle was good for young Seree and her mother until the day poachers come. Separated from her mother and the life she knows, Seree is taken to work in a circus. Forced to perform every day and spend each night in chains, Seree longs to be with the herd and reunited with her mother. Will she ever be free? 

This is another picture book that, on the surface, looks like it is for young readers, but which would be really useful with older students aware of animal conservation and the plight of many creatures. 

In 1992, 30 years ago, the ACT introduced ground-breaking legislation that banned the use of exotic animals in circuses and by April this year, 45 countries had imposed similar bans. Reminiscent of Elizabeth Stanley’s The Deliverance of Dancing Bears it can open up discussions about how animals are used and treated, and whether there is ever a place for their being in captivity but also how attitudes have changed and it is the voice of the people calling for that change that has made the difference. So while the focus of the book may seem anachronistic, its importance in continuing to shine a spotlight on the welfare and treatment of animals in general, and elephants in particular, will sadly, always be necessary.  There are always those willing to exploit our wild creatures for any reason that makes them money and while it may no longer be for circuses,  there are other heinous issues that must be wiped out, before the elephants themselves are gone. The author is an ambassador for Save Elephant Foundation and offers more information about their plight and what can be done in the final page. 

 

Star the Elephant

Apr21
Star the Elephant

Star the Elephant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Star the Elephant

Surviving the Wild

Remy Lai

A & U Children’s, 2022

112pp., graphic novel, RRP $A14.99

9781760526849

There isn’t enough food left on the island to sustain Star’s Asian elephant family -no more teak tree bark, bamboo shoots, bananas or even palatable grasses because their natural jungle is being cleared for palm oil plantations. So Star’s herd has to split up to find other food sources if they are to survive at all, and Star finds himself swimming in the ocean under the stars for what seems like the longest time ever. But the world out there is so big!  Despite Aunty’s constant warnings about not going where his mum can’t see him,  soon Star finds himself lost and alone, facing giant “spiders “and a big, wild ocean and the scariest thing of all … humans! Will he ever be reunited with his family?

The second in a new graphic novel series called Surviving the Wild designed to make young readers more aware of the environment by viewing it through the lenses of those creatures that live in it, this story is loosely based on a true story when, in 1990, three bull elephants swam across the Johor Strait from Malaysia to Singapore, landing on an island where there was a military base and the soldiers tracked the elephants so they could be safely rehomed in a nearby sanctuary,  the focus of this story is the impact of deforestation on the natural inhabitants of these places, from creatures as large and as visible as the elephants and orangutans, to the not-so-obvious like the fiddler crabs.  Thus, even our youngest readers can become aware of the devastation that humans can inflict on the environment and, in their own small way, begin to make changes which can have far-reaching effects.  Even looking at the labels on the food their parents purchase and encouraging them to look for those without palm oil or with the symbols of either the Rainforest Alliance or Forest Stewardship Council can make a difference.

Teachers’ notes focusing on helping young readers read and interpret the graphic novel format are available. 

My First Elmer Christmas

Dec15

 

 

 

 

My First Elmer Christmas

My First Elmer Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My First Elmer Christmas

David McKee

Andersen Press, 2021

10pp., board book, RRP $A18.99

9781839130540

It’s two days before Christmas Eve, the night Papa Red visits, and the young elephants are very excited. This year Elmer has a special treat in store for the young elephants, if they can keep quiet and out of sight… 

Elmer the patchwork elephant is an enduring favourite with our youngest readers and this  specially abridged version of the original is shaped like a Christmas tree and designed for little fingers that will add to the anticipation of THE night!  Who knew that elephants and their friends celebrated this special time just like we do?

A classic for the Christmas Countdown collection that will open up a whole world of Elmer stories, activities and fun for a new generation. 

 

Noa and the Little Elephant

Jun24
Noa and the Little Elephant

Noa and the Little Elephant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noa and the Little Elephant

Michael Foreman

HarperCollins, 2021

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780008413279

Noa loves to watch the elephants play in the water near his small village in East Africa. One day tragedy strikes and the baby is left all alone, his mother killed by poachers.  When Noa and his village adopt the lonely orphan, a beautiful friendship is born. Until one stormy night when Noa may need his friend to save him too…

Who doesn’t love a story about baby elephants?  In this one, in association with Tusk, the African wildlife conservation charity, the plight of elephants is highlighted as, despite the efforts of government rangers and the global ban on trading ivory, their tusks make them prized targets of poachers.  Foreman’s sensitive text and gentle illustrations make this a compelling story to read and share and give hope that there will still be elephants for our little ones to see in the future.

And just for your ooh-aah enjoyment…

 

Ernest the Elephant

May16
Ernest the Elephant

Ernest the Elephant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ernest the Elephant

Anthony Browne

Walker, 2021

32pp., hbk., RRP $A27.99

9781406395099

Ernest the elephant lives with his mum and the rest of the herd and most of the time he is happy to follow them, and eat and drink, then sleep at night.  But when they wander past a jungle, his curiosity gets the better of him and he wanders off.  Soon he is lost and has no idea how to find his mother again. But, when he asks the jungle’s residents – the gorilla, the lion, the hippo and the crocodile – none of them is interested in helping him.

However, a little mouse says he knows the way and even though Ernest is not sure that a little mouse can help a big elephant, it’s better to be lost with someone than lost alone.

There is something about baby elephants that draws us all in and, combined with our imaginations, this charming story comes to life as we picture Ernest wandering off as though he were real.  Maybe you’re even old enough to also “hear” that iconic tune by Henry Mancini. So as well as being an engaging story, it lends itself to all sorts of dramatic activities – moving like Ernest; moving in time to the music; moving like the adult elephants; observing the differences between children and adults moving; being the gorilla, the lion, the hippo, the crocodile and the mouse and imitating their voices and actions – all bringing the story to life in a way that will show children how one print text can open up a world of entertainment. 

 

Elephant Me

Jul7
Elephant Me

Elephant Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elephant Me

Giles Andreae

Guy Parker-Rees

Orchard Books, 2020

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781408356524 

Each year the baby elephants present themselves to Elephant Mighty who demands they perform unique feats that will suggest their new name. And so he watches elephants on stilts, on their heads, standing on one leg, swinging on vines … Nina pulls out a tree by its roots with her trunk so becomes Elephant Strong, while Norcus bellows so loud that even the vultures take flight so he is dubbed Elephant Noisy. 

But when Num Num has no special skills or tricks, Elephant Mighty calls him Elephant Nothing-At-All, humiliating Num Num so much he feels compelled to leave the herd and find another waterhole. But there he makes friends with a lot of other creatures and learns that not only does he have a special talent but he also has the courage to return to confront Elephant Mighty – with surprising results.

Using his signature rhyming style and accompanied by the most glorious illustrations, this is a story that reaffirms for youngsters that who they are is enough, that it is not about what you can do or what you have or what you look like. Particularly pertinent at a time when its target audience is negotiating the wider world of school and navigating social boundaries within that, Num Num shows that you do not have to conform to a particular stereotype to fit in but that it can take a lot of strength and support to be yourself, a message that needs to be reinforced over and over, even with adults as Elephant Mighty learns.