• Home
  • Style Guides
  • Blog
  • Author Index
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
READING STYLE GUIDE

Old Friends

11/2/2017

0 Comments

 

Elephants Walk Together by Cheryl Lawton Malone ill by Bistra Masseva

Picture
Elephants Walk Together tells the story of Asian elephants Precious and Baba, young calves who grew up as playmates in the forest. While still very young, they were captured by hunters and impressed into becoming circus performers. Both remained with the same touring group, entertaining audiences across the country. They learned to balance on small balls, ride bicycles, and parade single file. They endured all of this under the blinding light and constant commotion of the circus tent. Malone descriptions of the less-than-humane treatment of these pachyderms are not overly graphic.

Eventually it is decided that Precious is not suited to circus life. She is sent to a zoo and finally to an animal sanctuary where she can be properly cared for. In the intervening years. Baba remains with the circus. After decades of performing, she arrives at the animal sanctuary. The two friends remember each other and are overjoyed to renew their friendship. Neither the passage time nor change of surroundings can dimmish this friendship.This fictionalized account depicts the remarkable ability of these intelligent animals to form lasting caring friendships.
Bistra Masseva renders the illustrations in a soft color pallette. The stately elephants are unquestionably the dominant feature on each page. While the style is realistic, it also conveys the warm and depth of emotional attachment between these two friends. It is clear that they are more than massively impressive mammals. The elephants display genuine affection for one another.
​
Picture
Back matter includes basic information on Asian and African elephants, why both wild and captive elephants are in danger, and suggests actions that readers can take to help protect individual elephants and elephant herds.

Gypsy and Wanda

Elephants Walk Together is inspired by the life-long friendship of Asian elephants Gypsy and Wanda. Records document the relationship of these two circus performers. Historical videos show the animals with chains on their legs, bobbing and swaying on command. It’s difficult to view these noble animals subjected to this treatment. Watching the videos of two reunited friends freely roaming and communicating with each other is heartwarming.

Online Resources

Learn more about protecting elephants. This author-suggested list of online resources is a good place to start.
International Elephant Foundation
Los Angeles Zoo: Elephants of Asia
Performing Animal Welfare Society
US Fish and Wildlife Service: Wildlife Without Borders
World Elephant Day
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author/Illustrator Index
    Get the latest updates delivered directly to you inbox:

    powered by TinyLetter

    Category

    All
    Activity Books
    Adventure
    Alphabet Books
    Animals
    Anthology
    Art
    Asian
    Audiobook
    Author-interview
    Author-profile
    Awards
    Bilingual
    Biography
    Board Books
    Book Awards
    Book-club
    Book Stores
    Book Trailers
    Classroom Connections
    Comics
    Coming Of Age
    Cosplay
    Creativity
    Diversity
    Early Readers
    Fairy Tale
    Family
    Fantasy
    Food
    Friendship
    Girls
    Grahic Novel
    Halloween
    Historical Fiction
    Horror
    Humor
    Immigration
    Informational Books
    Latinx
    LGBTQ
    Library Activities
    Literacy
    Magical Realism
    Maker
    Math
    Memoir
    Middle Grade
    Music
    Mystery
    Mythology
    Nonfiction
    Own Voices
    Picture Book
    Poetry
    Prose-and-comic
    Read Aloud
    Reading
    Reading Writing Connection
    Realistic Fiction
    Romance
    Self Acceptance
    Series
    Social Issues
    Sports
    STEM
    Storytelling
    Texas Connection
    The Margin Project
    Wordless
    YA Lit

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

    Professional Reader
    Picture
    Frequently Auto-Approved

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.