The Secret Elephant: Inspired by a True Story of Friendship

by Ellan Rankin (Author)

The Secret Elephant: Inspired by a True Story of Friendship
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A remarkable friendship between a baby elephant and her keeper shows that kindness is never forgotten. Inspired by a true story, this uplifting picture book is a perfect read for animal lovers of all ages.

While carefree monkeys dangle in trees, powerful lions quietly sunbathe, and majestic giraffes walk back and forth, a terrible war looms on the horizon and changes everything. People stop coming to the zoo and most of the animals huddle together with their mates in their different enclosures-- except for one baby elephant that was all alone.

As bombs shake the ground and flashes of orange light burn across the sky, the solitary elephant grows more and more afraid and confused. Her keeper understood and spends as much time with her elephant as she can. And when it becomes impossible to stay in the enclosure, the keeper makes the daring choice to bring the elephant home.

But it's hard to hide an elephant, even a baby one, and it gets even harder as the elephant grows. After a time, the elephant is ordered back to the zoo. Still, the kind-hearted keeper could not abandon her friend, so she sets up house right alongside the elephant for the remainder of the war. Many years later, when the keeper no longer works at the zoo, she returns to visit her friend. Her friend, much older now as well, remembers the keeper and her brave kindness.

Inspired by a remarkable true story at the Belfast Zoo during WWII perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan and the award-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers.

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

ALA/Booklist

Rankin offers an unusual animal story and illustrates it with expressive, richly colorful paintings. A memorable story of friendship.

Kirkus

Heartwarming.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5--The astonishing true story of an Irish zookeeper who concealed a baby elephant in her home during World War II, told, however, from the perspective of the elephant herself. When the zoo's tranquility is shattered by the turmoil of war, the zookeeper makes the brave decision to sneak the elephant home with her each night, providing a safe spot away from the noise and confusion. Amid the heavy subject matter, there are touches of whimsy and real affection between the zookeeper and her unusual roommate. Rankin avoids the pitfalls of writing in an animal's voice, conveying straightforward innocence. As an illustrator, she brings warmth when appropriate and darkness when necessary. Though relatively short and presented in standard picture book format, there is enough realism in the text and illustrations to communicate the horrors of war, and young readers could be disturbed by talk of bombings and displacement. Supplementary material about the real zookeeper can be found at the back of the book, filling in the details of this little-known moment in history. This valuable work would find a readership in a robust public or school library collection. VERDICT A well-done portrait of one woman's quiet act of wartime courage, recommended for larger collections.--Kate Newcombe

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"A well-done portrait of one woman's quiet act of wartime courage, recommended for larger collections." —School Library Journal
Ellan Rankin
Ellan Rankin is a Northern Irish author-illustrator who earned an MA in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art, and a First-Class Honors degree in Illustration from the Jordanstone College of Art & Design. Her picture books combine her love of animals with her experience in animation. She lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland
@ellan rankin
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593703267
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Random House Studio
Publication date
April 23, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002260 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Zoos
JUV002080 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Elephants
JUV016040 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | Europe
Library of Congress categories
Human-animal relationships
Zoo keepers
Zoos
Picture books
Elephants
Animal fiction

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!