Trash!
Product description A baby elephant is lost and alone in the forest, when a herd of buffalo comes along and takes him into their fold...so what is he now - elephant or buffalo? Inspired by a true story, this is a joyous tale that touches lightly on the themes of loss, adoption and integration. From Booklist “It was quiet in the jungle / When a sudden storm came. / Craack! Flash! Boom! / There was thunder, lightening, rain!” The storm separates a young elephant from his herd, and the terrified calf is welcomed by a herd of water buffalo. After bonding with the buffalo, he crosses paths with other elephants, whose beckoning calls place him in a difficult position. From the irrelevant title (the book has little to do with forgetting) to the calf’s all-or-nothing decision to reject the elephants, there is much in this spare story that will leave young children perplexed and even troubled. Still, the chanting, onomatopoeic verse by children’s poet Ravishankar will energize storytimes, where listeners will likewise appreciate the lively design (key sounds, such as trumpeting “TOOOTs,” often fill an entire spread). There’s also a lot to love about Pieper’s striking, digitally created artwork, in a limited palette in black, periwinkle, and cream, which suggests influences of both Asian brush-painting and picture-book classics. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Jennifer Mattson Review "An elegant verse-work, beautifully illustrated with old-fashioned woodcuts ... inventive typography adds impact too." --The Independent on Sunday (UK) July 2007