The Elephant Doctor of India

by Janie Chodosh (Author)

The Elephant Doctor of India
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

"Dramatic, moving, and packed with fascinating elephant facts, young readers will find inspiration and excitement on every page." --Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus and Kakapo Rescue

The true story of the last viable Asian elephant population and the man dedicated to saving them. Early on a January morning in 2015, a young bull elephant touched on a sagging electric line in the Paneri Tea Plantation in the Udalgari District of Assam, India. The elephant's soft-padded feet conducted the current and the animal fell, kicking in the mud. The local veterinarian called to the scene thought the tusker was going to die. The forest department warden called the one person who could help: Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma, India's beloved elephant doctor. The Elephant Doctor of India brings the middle-grade reader into the heart of Assam, a remote land of tea plantations, paddy fields, and ancient forests, to tell the true story of the last viable population of Asian elephants and one man who is dedicated to saving them. Brings Dr. Sarma's incredible story--and the lives of these magnificent animals--to readers in classrooms everywhere

Select format:
Hardcover
$19.99

Kirkus

A charming and informative work of nonfiction. 

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7--Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma, an innovative Indian veterinarian specializing in the care of elephants, is the purported subject of this title, but the Asian elephant takes the lead in this work that combines adventure, biography, and scientist-in-the-field observations. Chodosh illuminates the life of Sarma through episodes involving various elephants and his groundbreaking work to learn how to treat them and how to encourage their conservation. Stories of Sarma working to save captive and wild elephants are vividly described; scientific information is woven throughout. Black-and-white photographs accompany the text. Readers join rescue missions that are exciting, dangerous, and heartwarming. The plight of the Asian elephant is described in detail. The controversies around keeping these creatures in captivity are openly discussed as well as the challenges of environmental changes that manifested because of tea plantations. Sarma's connection to and empathy for these complicated, engaging animals are infectious. Readers who want to make a connection with the Asian elephant will not be disappointed in this absorbing read. VERDICT This engaging narrative, which is part biography, part veterinary science, and a full appreciation of the Asian elephant, aims to honor the wonder of the elephant and the cultures of the people that share their environment.--John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"An inspiring story of compassion and humanity, all in the service of our remarkable planet. Required reading for every person who dreams of making a difference." —Sneed B. Collard III, author of Hopping Ahead of Climate Change: Snowshoe Hares, Science, and Survival
Janie Chodosh
Janie Chodosh is the coauthor of Wild Lives, Leading Conservationists on the Animals and the Planet They Love. A former elementary and middle-school educator, she now teaches ecology and environmental science at Santa Fe Community College. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781641603072
Lexile Measure
980
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Chicago Review Press
Publication date
March 20, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF003270 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Endangered
JNF003070 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Elephants
JNF038020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | Asia
Library of Congress categories
-

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!