How to be an Elephant : Growing up in the African Wild by Katherine Roy. 2017

A Big Baby

Inspiration Book: 

How to be an elephant : growing up in the African wild by Roy, Katherine — David Macaulay Studio, Roaring Brook Press, 2017 599.67; Int Lvl: 3-6. This nonfiction picture book follows an elephant's growth from a newborn calf to a full-grown adult in one of the most socially and structurally complex family groups on earth. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com

Rationale: A few years ago, my husband and I went on Safari. We’re always looking for a vacation deal and a Safari in Tanzania and Kenya deal was emailed to my husband. Coincidentally, I had just finished writing a review for Desert Elephants and had written a Books Alive entry for After the Kill and another for the golden eagle. When my husband asked whether I’d like to go on a Safari, he thought I’d say “no” because I’m not much of an outdoors person, but I responded “yes.” He about fell off his chair. So we went. It was spring; time for baby animals. All the animals were fascinating, but the elephants intrigued me most. They are elegant, protective, intelligent. We saw them wallowing in rivers, males fighting for territory, females surrounding newborns. We heard them crash trees and tromp through our tented campground. The whole Safari was eye opening and mouth dropping. You’ll also hear about the Safari in other Books Alive entries.

While How to be an Elephant is an elegant and beautiful picture book, it was not written for the youngest group of students, I have found a way to use it with them, however, and will briefly describe what I have done. The emphasis in this Books Alive entry will be group research for third through sixth graders. I won’t even take credit for the lesson entirely--the idea came from author/illustrator Katerine Roy’s excellent Teacher Guide. I have switched the process to meet the needs of my students. Actually, good teachers will do that with all teacher guides, as I hope you will do with my suggestions. Be creative, adjust, pick and choose.

This Books Alive posting includes the group research project for Grades 3-6 and an adjunct nonfiction story hour about elephants for Grades K-3. In that adjunct lesson I also briefly mention how I use today’s inspiration book How to be an Elephant with younger students. 

Grade 3-6: African Elephants

Background: This lesson is a beginning group research project. I start doing research early in the year with every grade. First we do a whole class project--several times if research is new to the class, then a group project, a partner project and finally individual projects. Most of the research is quick and the whole project short term. I like to work into individual and long term projects to give all the students a feel of success and not be intimidated by the process. Today’s lesson is one that could be done with many animals following the procedure outlined below.

Preparation:

With the teacher’s assistance divide the class into groups of three.

Make three copies of the text from each page in the Inspiration Book, grouping pages by general topic such as birth and baby and family, legs and walking, sense of smell and trunk, sound and hearing, eating and food, body temperature, childhood,  

Markers or colored pencils for color coding.

Place pages and writing tools at tables around the room.

Write the following questions from the author, Katherine Roy’s website at Macmillan https://www.teachingbooks.net/media/pdf/macmillan/KatherineRoy.pdf

1. How many months does it take for a baby elephant to grow before he/she is born?

2. How are African elephant families different from most other species?

3. What physical adaptations make it easy for a baby elephant to walk immediately after birth and for juveniles and adults to walk for many miles?

4. How are elephant bodies adapted for an extraordinary sense of smell? 5. How do elephants communicate with other elephants—near and far? 6. How does an elephant control its body temperature?

7. What do elephants eat at each life stage?

8. In what ways do elephants contribute to the African savanna ecosystem?

Computer with projection capability.

Map of the world.

Introduction: Today we’re traveling to Africa (point to on map), to a habitat called the savannah. The savannah is full of life. You will recognize many of the animals. We’re going to take a close look, however, at just one of them. I’ll let you know which one after the video.

View: 

YOUTube Video of the Savanna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQNRVyI4I0

Which animal do you think we’re going to explore? (When somebody suggest the elephant, show the book.) While I read the Inspiration Book, I’m only going to show you the pictures that the author who is also an illustrator made for the book. As I read, look for the details she writes about in the text. 

Read aloud and after every page or two, stop and ask for a fact that the students saw illustrated in the picture:

How to be an elephant : growing up in the African wild by Roy, Katherine — David Macaulay Studio, Roaring Brook Press, 2017 599.67; Int Lvl: 3-6

(Hold up several pictures and ask students to identify one fact they learned.)

Your teacher and I have chosen working groups. We’ve placed a page or two of the text at tables around the room. There are also markers/colored pencils at each table. With one color marker, underline information about physical features, with another color underline any dangers, and with a third color underline how an elephant overcomes various dangers. Underline at least one fact per category. It shouldn’t take you long to do the underlining. When you are finished each group will share what they think is important.

(Allow about 10 minutes of reading, deciding what’s important, and marking. Then gather in the reading area for discussion.)

Conclusion: 

I’ve written several questions on sentence strips. If your group can answer the question, raise your hand and tell the group what you found in your research to answer that question. (Randomly ask the questions and allow students to answer from their marked pages. Continue while time and/or interest allows.)

Extended Activities:

1. Each group writes a paragraph answering one of the questions they think they can answer best.

2. Each group prepares a short presentation about the topic they had.

3. Each group prepares a short three page PowerPoint illustrating their research.

Teacher Resources:

In this elephants interactive worksheet, students read short passages of information about elephants before answering 10 multiple choice questions. They check their answers and start again if needed.

http://www.english-zone.com/reading/elefants.html

African elephants http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/african-elephant/

Other Outstanding Science Trade Books (2010-2020) plus Notable Social Studies Trade Books (2010-2020) About Elephants Suitable for Upper Elementary Students:

A passion for elephants : the real life adventure of field scientist Cynthia Moss by Buzzeo, Toni — Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 2015 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.8. Cynthia Moss devoted her life to the study of the largest land animal, the African elephant, living among them on the wide-open savannah. NSTA

A baby elephant in the wild by O'Connell, Caitlin  — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2014. 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.6. Text and photographs look at a baby elephant in the wild. NSTA, CCBC

Cao Chong weighs an elephant (Arbordale Collection) by Daemicke, Songju Ma — Arbordale Publishing, 2017 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.7. 2,000 years ago in China, a curious boy named Cao Chong solves the problem of how to weigh an elephant when the prime minister's most trusted and knowledgeable advisors are stumped. Includes activities. NSTA, NSST

An elephant in the garden by Morpurgo, Michael — Square Fish/Feiwel and Friends, 2013 : -Fic-; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 4.9. Lizzie and Karl's mother, Mutti, working at a local zoo in Dresden, Germany, during World War II while their father is away fighting in France, brings home Marlene, a baby elephant that is slated to be destroyed as the Allied bombing grows closer, and when they are forced to flee, Mutti feels they must take Marlene with them, adding even more danger to their journey. NSST

When the whales walked : and other incredible evolutionary journeys by Dixon, Dougal — words & pictures, 2018 591.3; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.9. Step back in time and discover a world where whales once walked, crocodiles were warm-blooded and snakes had legs! Meet terrifying giant birds, and tiny elephants living on islands in this . . . creature guide like no other. Learn how whales once walked on four legs before taking to the oceans; how dinosaurs evolved into birds; and how the first cats were small and lived in trees. Featuring a . . . mix of annotated illustrations, illustrated scenes and family trees, evolution is explained here in a captivating and novel style that will make children look at animals in a whole new way. NSTA

Beyond words : what elephants and whales think and feel by Safina, Carl — Roaring Brook Press, 2019 591.56; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.3. Drawing on decades of field observations of elephants and killer whales, this book offers a view of animal behavior that challenges the boundaries between human and animal psychology. NSTA, CCBC

The elephant whisperer : my life with the herd in the African wild by Anthony, Lawrence  — Henry Holt and Company, 2017 599.67; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.5, The author provides an account of his experiences after he agreed to take a herd of "rogue" wild animals into his game reserve in South Africa that were otherwise going to be exterminated. NSST

Great migrations : whales, wildebeests, butterflies, elephants, and other amazing animals on the move by Carney, Elizabeth — National Geographic, 2010 591.56; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.6. An illustrated guide to animal migrations around the world, tracing the paths of wildebeests, whales, butterflies, elephants, and other animals as they travel long distances. NSTA

Eavesdropping on elephants : how listening helps conservationby Newman, Patricia — Millbrook Press, 2019 599.67; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 7.5. Can understanding how forest elephants communicate help scientists find ways to protect them? Come behind the scenes of Cornell University's Elephant Listening Project to see what's being done to keep these majestic animals safe. NSTA

The elephant scientist (Scientists In The Field (Houghton Mifflin)) by O'Connell, Caitlin — Houghton Mifflin Books, 2011 : 599.67; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 8.4. Photographs and text recount Caitlin O'Connell's experiences observing African elephants in their natural habitat, describing the discoveries she made about elephant communication. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com  NSTA

Related Titles for Display, Browsing, and Check Out:

Elephant journey : the true story of three zoo elephants and their rescue from captivity by Laidlaw, Rob — Pajama Press, 2016 636.967; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1. Elephants were born to move, and their home range can be thousands of square miles. But in the Toronto zoo, Toka, Thika, and Iringa shared a tiny outdoor space of less than an acre of mostly barren, hard earth. Weakened by the cold winters and the lack of physical activity, the elephants were in desperate need of a change; otherwise they could not expect to live beyond middle age. This is the true story of their journey.

Elephants (National Geographic Readers-Level 3) by Marsh, Laura F — National Geographic, 2010 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1. Photographs and text describe how elephants migrate from the furthest corners of the Sahara Desert in search of food and water, and provide information about the physical characteristics and behavior of elephants.

The truth about elephants (Truth About Your Favorite Animals) by Eaton, Maxwell  — Roaring Brook Press, 2018 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.2. A lighthearted nonfiction picture book, filled with useful facts about elephants.

Queenie : one elephant's story by Fenton, Corinne — Candlewick Press, 2013 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.4. The true and tragic story of one of the most famous elephants of all time, Queenie, the gentle Indian elephant. Evoking a time when elephants were giving rides in zoos all around the world, the true story of Queenie follows her from her birth in an Indian jungle to Australia's Melbourne Zoo, where she lived for more than forty years.

A baby elephant in the wild by O'Connell, Caitlin — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2014 : 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.6. Text and photographs look at a baby elephant in the wild.

If elephants disappeared (If Animals Disappeared) by Williams, Lily — Roaring Brook Press, 2019 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.8. A nonfiction picture book tracing the repercussions of what would happen if elephants disappeared from our planet.

Natumi takes the lead : the true story of an orphan elephant who finds family by Ellis, Gerry — National Geographic, 2016 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.2. After losing her mother, shy Natumi is rescued by a team from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an orphanage for baby elephants. At the shelter, Natumi hides behind keepers' legs to watch the other elephants at the shelter. But soon, she meets several other orphans, and the eight of them play together in the surrounding bush. As the babies become closer and more like a real family, they need a leader, someone they can trust. Can Natumi grow into this role?

Why do elephants need the sun? (Wells Of Knowledge Science Series) by Wells, Robert E — Albert Whitman, 2010 523.7; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.5. Looks at why elephants, and all other life on Earth, need the sun to move clouds to places that need rain, warm the air, and help plants grow, and explains how the sun generates energy.

Helping endangered animals (Language Arts Explorer: Save The Planet) by Hirsch, Rebecca E — Cherry Lake Pub., 2010. 591.68; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.5.  Discusses the importance of helping endangered animals, including pandas in China, elephants in Chad, and right whales, and covers the importance of sea ice to polar bears and other topics regarding recovery and conservation.

5 elephants by Laidlaw, Rob — Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2017 599.67; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.2.  Describes elephants, elephant life and adaptations, the challenges of captivity, humans and wild elephants, and more.

Great migrations : whales, wildebeests, butterflies, elephants, and other amazing animals on the move by Carney, Elizabeth — National Geographic, 2010 591.56; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.6. An illustrated guide to animal migrations around the world, tracing the paths of wildebeests, whales, butterflies, elephants, and other animals as they travel long distances.

ADJUNCT LESSON--Grades K-3--Amazing Elephants

Inspiration Books:

Elephants of Africa by Gibbons, Gail - Holiday House, p2008, c2009 --599.67--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.8 Presents facts about the behaviors, habitats, diet, physical characteristics and abilities, socialization, and other aspects of African elephants. NSTA List 2009

AND

Desert elephants by Cowcher, Helen - Farrar Straus Giroux, p2011, c2011 --599.67--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.2 Describes the migration of the desert elephants of Mali, West Africa; and discusses how the Tuareg, Dogon, and Fulani people work together to protect the balance of life in the desert. OP

AND

A baby elephant in the wild by O'Connell, Caitlin  — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2014--599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.6 Text and photographs look at a baby elephant in the wild. NSTA List 2015

Background: This is a story hour lesson that has evolved over the years. Initially it was a fiction-nonfiction lesson with a craft/art project. You will find ideas for crafts in the Teacher Resource segment, but we don’t use them here. Instead we learn about elephant facts and about two surprising activities some elephants have been taught to do. All three Inspiration Books are non-fiction and are perfect for comparison skills and writing  comparison paragraphs. This lesson is a non-fiction story hour (includes poetry and a fable) with facts for those students who want to become elephant “experts.” We ask students to listen for the fact presented to verify statements.

If you would like to include fiction titles as well, pair with Rudyard Kipling’s “The Elephant’s Child” from his Just So Stories. Also read Mo Willem’s Elephants Can’t Dance (and others in the Elephant and Piggie series). Horton Hears a Who and Horton Hatches an Egg by Dr. Seuss add the classic touch. The Steads’ A Sick Day for Amos McGee is also a fiction compliment. However, I have not added fiction titles to the Related Book list.

Preparation:

Write the following facts on sentence strips (I like to use sentence strips because the students can handle them and get a bit of ownership.)

• The elephant is an enormous mammal with a very long nose called a trunk.

• Elephants have curved tusks, huge floppy ears, and four long thick legs.

• Elephants use their trunks to pick up food, drink water, smell, hug or lift things.

• They use their tusks to dig roots.

• Elephants travel in herds eating tons of plants every day.

• Elephants exhibit emotions:  joy, grief, love, compassion.

• African elephants are the largest mammals that live on land.

• Indian or Asian elephants are smaller and can be trained to work with people.

• Elephants are endangered.

Place a cover on the book Seven Blind Mice so students can’t see or read what the book is about from its cover.

Introduction: A long time ago, some blind men were introduced to an animal they had never seen, and, of course, could not see now. Each man was introduced to a part of the animal; each man had an idea what he was touching. Let’s see if we can figure out the animal.

Read aloud:

Seven blind mice by Young, Ed. — Weston Woods , Scholastic, 2007--398.24; Int Lvl: K-3 Retells in verse the Indian fable of the blind men discovering different parts of an elephant and arguing about its appearance. 

(Stop before the narrative tells what the animal is.) Well, what animal do you think they were touching? (Read the answer.)

I’ve written some animal facts on sentence strips. Let’s learn about elephant. (Distribute sentence strips to  pairs of students.) Who would like to read their sentence fact? (Allow time, but don’t discuss.) Are all these facts true? Could I have put a false statement on the sentence strips? How can we find out? Could we read a fact book about elephants? OK, let’s read a non-fiction or fact book. When you hear information that proves your sentence, raise your hand, we’ll double-check with the book. (As facts are proved, collect the sentence strip.)

Read aloud: 

Elephants of Africa by Gibbons, Gail - Holiday House, p2008, c2009 --599.67--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.8 Presents facts about the behaviors, habitats, diet, physical characteristics and abilities, socialization, and other aspects of African elephants. 

Did we prove all the facts on the sentence strips? If we didn’t prove all the facts, what could we do? (If you didn’t, select another book to read from the Inspiration Books or the titles listed in the bibliography although I think you will find the lesson quite complete and an appropriate length without another book.) 

The blind men, touched different parts of the elephant. We’re going to do the Elephant Hokey Pokey and put each of those parts into the center circle. Make a large circle in the story corner, then join me in singing and “dancing.” 

 Elephant Hokey Pokey

 Put your elephant ears in...

You do the elephant pokey 

and you stomp yourself around…

thats what its all about.

Put your elephant trunk in...

Put your elephant tail in...

Put your elephant foot in...

Put your whole self in...

from Elephant story hour II preschool http://www.hcpl.net/cgi-bin/ebranch/story_time/theme.pl?id=434

Teacher Resources:

Gail Gibbons’ website includes two downloadable teacher resource guides each for a year of science lessons, but does not include specific lessons for Elephants of Africa http://www.gailgibbons.com/teaching.html

Paper Cup Elephant: Paper Cup with a hole punched in the middle big enough to fit a finger. Use heart shape die cuts as elephant ears. Cut small trunk shapes to cover the hole. Glue wiggly eyes. Children can put their finger through the hole to move to trunk up and down.

Using a die cut machine and an elephant shape, die cut elephant shapes out of white card stock paper. Let the children color the elephants however they wish then tape a craft stick to the back of the elephant. This makes a quick, easy and fun stick puppet.

Online jigsaw puzzle http://www.first-school.ws/puzzlesonline/animals/elephant.htm

Elephant Theme Preschool Activities and Crafts http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals/wild/elephant.htm

Elephant movement 

The elephant goes like this and that

this and that…this and that

The elephant goes like this and that

Because he's so big and fat!

He has no fingers and no toes.

Has no fingers, has no toes

He has no fingers and no toes.

But goodness, gracious, what a nose. 

from Elephant story hour II preschool http://www.hcpl.net/cgi-bin/ebranch/story_time/theme.pl?id=434

Other Outstanding Science Trade Books (2010-2020) plus Notable Social Studies Trade Books (2010-2020) About Elephants

Meet Miss Fancy by Latham, Irene — G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2019 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.8. Ten-year-old African American boy wants to welcome the circus elephant named Miss Fancy to her new home in a nearby park, but he is disappointed to see a sign that states "No Colored Allowed." NSST

Maggie : Alaska's last elephant (Arbordale Collection) by Curtis, Jennifer Keats  — Arbordale Publishing, 2018 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.2. The story of Maggie, an elephant, and her relocation to a sanctuary after her companion died so she could be part of a new herd. Explains how elephants are social animals and how zoos help to get the best care for the animals even if it isn't in their zoo. NSTA

Elephant in the dark by Javaherbin, Mina  — Scholastic Press, 2015 398.21; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.4. This story, most often recognized as "The Blind Men and the Elephant," is very old. For centuries, variations of this story motif have been told and written in many cultures"--Colophon.;"For her adaptation of the story, Mina Javaherbin used the original thirteenth century Persian text from 'Difference of Opinion/Quarrel Over the Shape of the Elephant' found in The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi"--Colophon. In this version of "The Blind Men and the Elephant" based on a poem by Rumi, Persian villagers try to figure out what strange animal in a dark barn has arrived from India. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com  NSST

A passion for elephants : the real life adventure of field scientist Cynthia Moss by Buzzeo, Toni — Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 2015 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.8. Cynthia Moss devoted her life to the study of the largest land animal, the African elephant, living among them on the wide-open savannah. NSTA

A baby elephant in the wild by O'Connell, Caitlin  — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2014. 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.6. Text and photographs look at a baby elephant in the wild. NSTA, CCBC

Cao Chong weighs an elephant (Arbordale Collection) by Daemicke, Songju Ma — Arbordale Publishing, 2017 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.7. 2,000 years ago in China, a curious boy named Cao Chong solves the problem of how to weigh an elephant when the prime minister's most trusted and knowledgeable advisors are stumped. Includes activities. NSTA, NSST

What if you had animal teeth!? (What If You Had...) by Markle, Sandra — Scholastic, 2013 573.3; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.7. Text and illustrations depict how a child would look and behave with the teeth of various animals, including elephants, tigers, and rattlesnakes. NSTA

Books for Display, Research, and Check-out:

Baby elephant joins the herd. — Sterling Children's Books, 2019 599.6713; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.4. A baby elephant is born in the African savannah. She joins a group of elephants, called a herd. Follow along as the calf experiences eating, playing, and using her trunk during her first years of life.

The elephant by Desmond, Jenni  — Enchanted Lion Books, 2018 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.5. Follows a young boy as he learns about elephants, discussing their anatomy, behaviors, territory, and more.

Thirsty, thirsty elephants by Markle, Sandra — Charlesbridge, 2017 : 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0. During a drought in Tanzania, Little Calf follows her herd and their leader, Grandma Elephant, in search of water. It's hot and dry, and all the animals are thirsty. Will Grandma Elephant find a watering hole for Little Calf and their family.

Tarra & Bella : the elephant and dog who became best friends by Buckley, Carol, 1954-  — G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2009--599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.1 Recounts the true story of Tarra, an elephant who befriended a stray dog named Bella at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. 

Elephant in the dark by Javaherbin, Mina — Scholastic Press, 2015 398.21; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.4. Based on a poem by Rumi.";"This story, most often recognized as "The Blind Men and the Elephant," is very old. For centuries, variations of this story motif have been told and written in many cultures. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com

Elephant journey : the true story of three zoo elephants and their rescue from captivity by Laidlaw, Rob — Pajama Press, 2016 636.967; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1. Elephants were born to move, and their home range can be thousands of square miles. But in the Toronto zoo, Toka, Thika, and Iringa shared a tiny outdoor space of less than an acre of mostly barren, hard earth. Weakened by the cold winters and the lack of physical activity, the elephants were in desperate need of a change; otherwise they could not expect to live beyond middle age. This is the true story of their journey.

Elephants (National Geographic Readers-Level 3) by Marsh, Laura F — National Geographic, 2010 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1. Photographs and text describe how elephants migrate from the furthest corners of the Sahara Desert in search of food and water, and provide information about the physical characteristics and behavior of elephants.

The truth about elephants (Truth About Your Favorite Animals) by Eaton, Maxwell  — Roaring Brook Press, 2018 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.2. A lighthearted nonfiction picture book, filled with useful facts about elephants.

Queenie : one elephant's story by Fenton, Corinne — Candlewick Press, 2013 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.4. The true and tragic story of one of the most famous elephants of all time, Queenie, the gentle Indian elephant. Evoking a time when elephants were giving rides in zoos all around the world, the true story of Queenie follows her from her birth in an Indian jungle to Australia's Melbourne Zoo, where she lived for more than forty years.

A baby elephant in the wild by O'Connell, Caitlin — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2014 : 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.6. Text and photographs look at a baby elephant in the wild.

If elephants disappeared (If Animals Disappeared) by Williams, Lily — Roaring Brook Press, 2019 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.8. A nonfiction picture book tracing the repercussions of what would happen if elephants disappeared from our planet.

Natumi takes the lead : the true story of an orphan elephant who finds family by Ellis, Gerry — National Geographic, 2016 599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.2. After losing her mother, shy Natumi is rescued by a team from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an orphanage for baby elephants. At the shelter, Natumi hides behind keepers' legs to watch the other elephants at the shelter. But soon, she meets several other orphans, and the eight of them play together in the surrounding bush. As the babies become closer and more like a real family, they need a leader, someone they can trust. Can Natumi grow into this role?

Why do elephants need the sun? (Wells Of Knowledge Science Series) by Wells, Robert E — Albert Whitman, 2010 523.7; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.5. Looks at why elephants, and all other life on Earth, need the sun to move clouds to places that need rain, warm the air, and help plants grow, and explains how the sun generates energy.

African elephant : the world's biggest land mammal by Hall, Kirsten  — Bearport Pub., 2007--599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.3 Photographs and simple text profile the African elephant, the world's largest land mammal, describing its physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat. 

Elephants by Riggs, Kate — Creative Paperbacks, 2011--599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.7 Provides a basic exploration of the appearance, behavior, and habitat of elephants, and includes a story from folklore explaining why elephants' trunks are so long. 

Elephants can paint, too! by Arnold, Katya — Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005--599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.8 Contains the story of an artist who teaches Asian elephants to paint and raise funds and awareness for their endangered plight. Presented in simple text with illustrations.

Tarra & Bella : the elephant and dog who became best friends by Buckley, Carol, 1954-  — G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2009--599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.1 Recounts the true story of Tarra, an elephant who befriended a stray dog named Bella at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. 

Baby mammals by Kalman, Bobbie — Crabtree Pub., 2013--591.3; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.7 What is a mammal? -- Kinds of mammals -- Mammal bodies -- Homes of baby mammals -- Mothers and babies -- Babies with hoofs -- Elephant calves -- Rodent babies -- Rabbits, hares, and pikas -- Marsupial joeys -- Sharp teeth -- Smart primates -- Other mammals -- Words to know. Presents an introduction, with photographs and illustrations, to the physical characteristics, behaviors, habitat, and life cycle of mammals. 

Ballet of the elephants by Schubert, Leda  — Roaring Brook Press, 2006--796.8; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.8 Tells the story of how circus owner John Ringling North, choreographer George Balanchine, and composer Igor Stravinsky teamed up to create the "Circus Polka," a ballet for fifty elephants and fifty dancers, and describes the opening night performance in 1942. 

Great migrations. Elephants by Marsh, Laura F  — National Geographic, 2010--599.67; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1 Photographs and text describe how elephants migrate from the furthest corners of the Sahara Desert in search of food and water, and provide information about the physical characteristics and behavior of elephants. 

Cousins of clouds : elephant poems by Zimmer, Tracie Vaughn — Clarion Books, 2011--599.67; Int Lvl: K-3;  Rd Lvl: 6.5 Facts about elephants interspersed with poems. An illustrated collection of poems that showcases the appearance and behavior of elephants.

Seven blind mice by Young, Ed. — Weston Woods , Scholastic, 2007--398.24; Int Lvl: K-3 Retells in verse the Indian fable of the blind men discovering different parts of an elephant and arguing about its appearance. 

Note: Just by chance, if you are wondering why I’m using a 2017 book as the Inspiration Book this week, it’s because my library, at the current time, has no other 2018 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books in the collection. If you remember, one of the reasons I began with 2018 books rather than newer books is because many school libraries do not have the newest books in their collections. I know this from previous experience with a number of acquisition and cataloging departments, for the processes in both departments can be strenuous, circuitous, limiting, and SLOW. Thus, for the remainder of the year, I will be working backwards in 2017 for the science books, but will continue in 2018 for the social studies books where many more are awarded each year.