After reading a variety of elephant stories and watching several videos, I have fallen in love with elephants. They are truly amazing creatures. There are two elephant books coming out this fall that are worth picking up.
Katherine Roy is back and this time with a book about elephants instead of sharks. From the birth of a baby elephant to her growth into an adult, Roy takes readers into the lives of elephant families.
How to Be an Elephant by Katherine Roy (September 19th 2017 by David Macaulay Studio)
The illustrations in this book are gorgeous. It feels as if the elephants are coming right off the pages. I love the focus on elephant families and how important they are for the growth of young elephants. There is also general information provided by the author.
Another book coming out this fall is a fictional story about a young elephant that is separated from his herd and nearly drowns when a teen helps to rescue the baby animal igniting a special bond between the two.
The Elephant Keeper: Caring for Orphaned Elephants in Zambia by Margriet Ruurs; Illustrated by Pedro Cova (October 3rd 2017 by Kids Can Press)
The additional power of this story is how Aaron learns to view elephants differently from how he was raised to perceive them. This story is powerful and can spark deep conversations.
The end of this book features nonfiction text about Aaron and Zambezi along with other facts and vocabulary.
Other elephant books...
A Passion for Elephants: The Real Life Adventure of Field Scientist Cynthia Moss by Toni Buzzeo; Illustrated by Holly Berry
Natumi Takes the Lead: The True Story of an Orphan Elephant Who Finds Family by Gerry Ellis; Photographs by Amy Novesky
The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O'Connell, Donna M. Jackson, Timothy Rodwell
A Baby Elephant in the Wild by Caitlin O'Connell; Photographs by Timothy Rodwell
School Library Journal....
For more information about text sets and going beyond leveled reader when reading nonfiction, check out an article written by Mary Ann Scheuer and myself.
Baseball Text Set
A couple of years ago, Mary Ann Scheuer and I started talking about reading nonfiction and text levels. When we see each other in person and also over the phone we have amazing conversations about books, children and nonfiction. Mary Ann got the ball rolling with writing an article for School Library Journal. I am thankful that she included me in the process and excited to share with you the published version. If you want to check it out, click here.
Artwork by Sarah S. Brannen ©2017
Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews...