Mrs Bibi's Elephant

The children in Mrs Bibi's town love Mrs Bibi and her pet elephant; when she and her pet go out in the morning, kids use the pachyderm as a playground. Dalvand (What Could That Be?) paints tiny figures cavorting on the elephant's head as the gigantic creature showers them gently. Mrs Bibi cares tenderly for her pet at home, too: at night, she "told her elephant stories so that he would have nice dreams." But the adults in town have other ideas about him. Dalvand depicts a grouchy crowd admonishing her: "They said that instead of talking to an elephant, Mrs Bibi should read the newspaper, check the stock market and keep up to date with economics!" They sentence her elephant to the zoo, but their attempt ends in town-wide distress. Delicate lines, pastel colors, and finely worked patterns give coziness to Dalvand's spreads. His didactic portrayal of the tension between the eccentric pet owner and her neighbors make it clear where his sympathies lie as Mrs Bibi's neighbors discover that quality of life can exist outside mundane concerns. Ages 3-5. (Apr.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--The enchanting embossed cover of Mrs. Bibi sitting on her elephant's trunk amid a garden of flowers, plants, and birds belies the town residents' consternation regarding her choice of a pet. Mrs. Bibi always has a lovely time walking, eating, and talking with her elephant. But no matter--he's just too different to be accepted into the community. The residents don't want their children to get any crazy ideas about owning pets. They want the elephant gone, and the town judge requests him to be moved to the zoo. Mrs. Bibi and her pet leave their home in the middle of the night to the befuddlement of those who come to collect the elephant the next day. Sadness engulfs everyone in the town as they realize something is now missing. Children are eventually allowed to own pets, even elephants, to regain the happiness that Mrs. Bibi's elephant brought to the town. Dalvand, an Iranian author/illustrator, explores the feelings and reactions that surround anxiety about diversity through a global symbol of unity--an elephant. A range of emotions--from fury to felicity--is expressed through intricate illustrations rendered in vivid pinks, reds, and yellows interspersed among muted grays, greens, and blues. Mrs. Bibi is white, the residents are depicted in a variety of colors, and the elephant is gray. VERDICT Pair with Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young for a thematic read-aloud that introduces children to the concepts of diverse perspectives, social acceptance, and communal harmony.--Rita Christensen, Orem Public Library, UT

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Delicate lines, pastel colors, and finely worked patterns give coziness to Dalvand's spreads. His didactic portrayal of the tension between the eccentric pet owner and her neighbors make it clear where his sympathies lie as Mrs Bibi's neighbors discover that quality of life can exist outside mundane concerns.
—Publishers Weekly

"The story achieves the elegant simplicity of a fable—or, perhaps, a lost chapter of The Little Prince. Many readers will feel liberated by the ending, in which every child gets a new pet, but the real appeal is in the impossible details. A house is covered—like a quilt—with an elaborate floral pattern. The capital R in the type even resembles a tiny elephant. No matter how often children open this book, they'll always discover something new."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Dalvand, an Iranian author/illustrator, explores the feelings and reactions that surround anxiety about diversity through a global symbol of unity—an elephant. A range of emotions—from fury to felicity—is expressed through intricate illustrations rendered in vivid pinks, reds, and yellows interspersed among muted grays, greens, and blues."
—School Library Journal

"It is beautifully illustrated [...] It's a book of love and acceptance and it is positively lovely."
—Book Nerd Mommy

"Mrs. Bibi and her elephant decide to leave town because they're not valued in the community, and because the others in town prefer stock markets and fancy chandeliers over friendships and pets. When she and her elephant leave, the children are sad and eventually the town does realize that having pets and forming meaningful community connections are better than material objects."
—The Tiny Activist