Mother To Elephants: The Story of Daphne Sheldrick

by R.G. de Rouen, Kateryna Rohotova (Illustrator)

Born free - living free! How young, orphaned elephants found a playful temporary home with a different kind of family. A true story filled with love and determination.
No doubt you've heard the saying, "Mother knows best!" But what if the baby is a six-hundred-pound elephant, and the mother is of the two-legged kind? Would the saying still hold true?
Mothering elephants is what Daphne Sheldrick did her entire life. As a young girl, she was put in charge of wounded or abandoned animals. As a grownup, Daphne and her dedicated team saved and nurtured countless elephants.
When a tiny, milk-dependent calf arrived, Daphne's determination would be tested. No one had ever hand-reared an elephant baby this young, but what Daphne learned with Aisha would be the key to saving future orphaned elephants. What's more, she had an elephant-sized dream of returning them to the wild!
This non-fiction biography picture book for kids is sure to inspire young budding conservationists and make the perfect gift for elephant lovers everywhere!
Includes a section with many ele-fantastic elephant facts! The perfect choice for parents and teachers looking - Inspiring nonfiction narrative books - Biographies about women - Role model books for children - Kids STEM books
Buy NOW and receive the "Mother To Elephants" Extra Childhood Scene and Ice Cream In A Bag science activity for FREE (details inside book)!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Biography, Ebooks, Education

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 2023

About the author

R.G. de Rouen is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature in Connecticut and writes fiction that inspires a love of reading with a pinch of humor along the way. Throughout his 30+ years as an elementary teacher throughout the world, he has also been an advocate of animal and nature protection which he brings into his nonfiction stories.

Books For Benjamin, his first picture book, has been widely recognized and received several awards, including the Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal. Like his fictional character Benjamin, R.G. de Rouen can’t live without books!

Mother To Elephants, a non-fiction picture book biography, portrays the life of Dame Daphne Sheldrick. Her dedication in rescuing baby orphan elephants in Kenya, serves as a great inspiration to children and adults alike.

To find out more about the author, please visit him at www.rgderouen.com or follow him on Facebook @R.G. de Rouen, author, Instagram @rg.derouen_author, or Pinterest @rgderouenbooks

Reviews

[Mai H.]

Fun fact, before I was an accountant, I worked in marketing for a luxury safari company based in Tanzania. Appropriating someone else's land for the use of conservation is a conversation for another time, but I know a bit more about the subject than your Regular Joe.

Tanzania certainly isn't Kenya, and I didn't know Daphne Sheldrick's story, but it was lovely to read about nonetheless. This is obviously for children, but as said before, the white savior motif is to be seen throughout. That is not to say that she didn't do good work with elephants. I just tend to look at these things from a critical eye.

However, if you're here to buy this for your children, or children you know, the illustrations are beautiful, and the story is mostly heartwarming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

[Kellie]

This is the true story of Daphne Sheldrick. She lives in Kenya and started an orphan elephant 🐘 rescue where she saves the lives of many baby elephants who's parents are killed by poachers for their ivory tusks.

Beautifully written and illustrated. The promo says that it's good for children ages 6-9, but after reading it, I personally think it's too adult for them. It deals with hard topics such as poachers and death. As a parent, I would say if your child is adult enough to handle these topics, then let them read it. It's your decision on what your child can handle. Great for adults and lot's of elephant facts to learn!!

Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨🐘

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

"A wild animal is only borrowed,' her father reminded her, "If you truly love it, you must set it free when nature calls."

Mother To Elephants is a beautifully illustrated picture book story based on the true story of Daphne Sheldrick. As a lover of elephants, I just had to read this, and it brought so many emotions to the surface - happiness, compassion, sadness, and inspiration. The illustrations are adorable, and the story is easy to understand and follow for children. Discussions can take place through the course of this book to discuss more what happened and why. At the back of the book, there's fun information and facts children will definitely enjoy learning about.

[Carolyn Vandine West]

Cute informative little book. I think my grandchildren would love this book. The pictures are good and I especially liked the information boxes in the back of the book. Based on a real person makes it even better.
I received an ARC from the publisher via choosybookworm. This did not affect my honest review.

[Carrey 🍓]

Cute, quick read with beautiful artwork. Great story to get kids interested in different animals, and introducing them to tough subjects like poaching without traumatizing them.

[kindleprincess _]

meh

It was ok. It could have been better . They tried to make it entertaining. I’m not the target demographic.

[Kim Novak (The Reading Rx)]

This is a perfect book for any young child in love with elephants or for introducing kids to the need for animal conservation. This non-fiction account of Daphne Sheldrick and her devotion to raising orphaned elephants in Kenya is beautifully illustrated and also offers interesting elephant facts and ways kids can get involved in protecting these gentle giants.

Warning: the story realistically includes animal death, so conversation on that topic may be needed for some younger readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Kristine L.]

“A wild animal is only borrowed. If you truly love it, you must set it free when nature calls.” And nature does indeed call Daphne Sheldrick in this delightful and inspiring picture book by R.G. de Rouen.

Spoken by Daphne’s father when Daphne was a young girl, these words about loving animals enough to see them free stayed with Daphne Sheldrick her entire life. In fact, Daphne’s life was devoted to protecting and caring for the magnificent wild elephants of Africa’s Great Rift Valley in Kenya.

As an adult, Daphne marries a man who shares her love of nature and Africa’s wild animals. David Sheldrick was the head warden of a large national park in Kenya called Tsavo. The young couple often camped by a waterhole to watch the animals as they came to drink. Their favorites were the elephants.

Daphne and David wished everyone felt the same way about these majestic animals. Sadly, not all did. (Or do.)

Daphne soon learns that when poachers invade the park to hunt for elephant ivory, they often leave behind young orphaned elephants whose mothers have been killed by poachers. Daphne then “adopts" the little elephants and takes care of them.

One day a truck arrives with a tiny baby elephant that’s been orphaned. Daphne names the elephant Aisha. But Aisha is very young. No one has ever successfully raised an elephant this young before. Can Daphne do it?

Daphne soon learns that baby elephants living in the wild have an entire herd to guide and protect them. How Daphne learns from her mistakes with Aisha and then trains others to help care for orphaned elephants and set them free takes up most of the balance of this charming and imminently engaging book.

Nicknamed “The Elephant Mother” because of her lifelong devotion to these magnificent pachyderms, Daphne Sheldrick’s life story is skillfully chronicled in this delightful picture book. The part about how many of the former elephant orphans return to visit Daphne after growing up and being set free is so endearing.

Indeed, Mother to Elephants is a terrific read! It's not only an engaging story, it also raises awareness about the plight of elephants and the dangers they face from poachers. Young readers will find great empathy, sensitivity, insight, and awe in these pages. The text gently imparts fascinating facts about elephants as well as valuable lessons about treating animals with respect and compassion. And don't miss the Elefacts at the end!

This story will appeal to its target audience of young readers. But it can be read on more than one level, so older readers will find it captivating, too. It’s the kind of gentle, thought-provoking story that you’ll want to reach for again and again. It would make a great read-aloud and a welcome addition to any home or school library. (Besides. Who can resist play time with a baby elephant?)

Finally, I loved this book! It’s a little Out of Africa (Isak Dinesen). A little Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds (Joy Adamson.) And all heart. With a gripping true story, bright and beautiful illustrations, and a magnificent real-life setting, Mother to Elephants is sure to delight young readers and their parents alike.

I’d grab a copy now ‘fize now. Cuz this one’s a winner!

[Book Reviewer]

Daphne's connection to Africa was deep, rooted in her deep love for its vast expanses and the magnificent wildlife that inhabited them. Her childhood was a canvas painted with a passion for animals and the natural world, a fervor that would shape her life. Amidst the heart-wrenching backdrop of poachers mercilessly tearing elephant calves away from their mothers, Daphne made a resolute decision: she would become their savior and protector.

In Mother to Elephants, author R.G. de Rouen weaves a heartwarming tale beautifully illustrated to capture the essence of Daphne's extraordinary journey. The book is not merely a story; it's a testament to the power of one individual's unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world. What I found particularly compelling about this book is its ability to balance the heartwarming with the stark realities of living in Africa, where the brutal actions of poachers cast a shadow over the awe-inspiring landscapes. The narrative courageously sheds light on the tragic fate of elephants hunted for their ivory, urging young readers to confront the harsh truths of the world they live in. It's a crucial reminder that awareness and advocacy can start at any age, as even the youngest readers can find inspiration in Daphne's extraordinary mission.

Throughout Daphne's journey, we witness the depths of her dedication as she navigates the difficult terrain of caring for orphaned elephants. The story does not shy away from the inevitable heartaches and losses Daphne endures. Instead, it portrays her unwavering resolve, strengthened by each setback, to provide a sanctuary for these vulnerable creatures until they are ready to return to the wild. Daphne's character is relatable and deeply inspiring, a shining example of resilience and compassion.

Mother To Elephants is ideal for classroom settings and bedtime reading alike. It not only imparts a heartwarming tale of love and determination but also offers valuable insights through the 'Elefacts' at the end of the book. These facts about elephants provide an educational element that enriches the reading experience, making it a powerful tool for teaching young readers about these magnificent creatures.

Mother To Elephants is a call to action and a celebration of the human spirit's capacity for compassion and positive change. I recommend this engaging and educational read, which has the potential to ignite a passion for wildlife conservation in the hearts of young readers and inspire them to be advocates for the voiceless creatures that share our planet.

[Jill Rey]

Growing up in Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Daphne loved the animals. From leopards and zebras to impalas, waterbucks, and mongoose, her parents cared for many on their farm in Kenya. Growing up wild and surrounded by nature as a young child she was tasked with caring for an orphaned antelope. Determined to care for him like his mother, she was saddened to discover that Bushy was gone one day, he returned to the wild he called home.

Despite her sadness, she grew up to marry a man who loved animals just as she had. With an affinity for elephants that trumpeted near the watering hole Daphne and David often camped at, they were determined to save the elephants from poachers and hunters. One day Daphne greeted a truck arriving at their home with the of tiniest elephants. No one had ever cared for such a young elephant, but Daphne was determined to mother it back to health. Aisha the elephant soon grew to love Daphne, from walks to gardening, tea, and picnics. Their love for one another inspired Daphne to orphan elephants to return to the wild.

“Mother to Elephants: The Story of Daphne Sheldrick” by R.G. de Rouen is a beautiful story of Daphne’s journey from childhood to elephant orphanage. With a group of keepers and the survival of some of the youngest orphaned elephants, what Daphne has accomplished is truly extraordinary. Elephants continue to be hunted for their ivory tusks, leaving many young without parents. Daphne has stepped in, with her childhood expertise and caring nature, to give these babies what they need and the life they deserve.

Illustrated by Kateryna Rohotova, the drawings within bring this story to life. From the soft browns and yellows of the African landscape to the fun, young, and vibrant wildlife Rohotova’s illustrations add a sense of liveliness to the page. Accompanied by R.G. de Rouen’s words, Daphne’s story becomes an incredible one, to be shared and remembered by the masses.

“Mother to Elephants” by R.G. de Rouen shares the importance of caring for our wildlife and the vital work of one woman in ensuring the survival of our elephants. It is the message and reminder that these elephants are more than their ivory and trophy, and these actions leave orphans in their wake. Thank you to Daphne Sheldrick and all those fighting to save our wildlife.

[READER VIEWS]

Growing up in Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Daphne loved the animals. From leopards and zebras to impalas, waterbucks, and mongoose, her parents cared for many on their farm in Kenya. Growing up wild and surrounded by nature as a young child she was tasked with caring for an orphaned antelope. Determined to care for him like his mother, she was saddened to discover that Bushy was gone one day, he returned to the wild he called home.

Despite her sadness, she grew up to marry a man who loved animals just as she had. With an affinity for elephants that trumpeted near the watering hole Daphne and David often camped at, they were determined to save the elephants from poachers and hunters. One day Daphne greeted a truck arriving at their home with the of tiniest elephants. No one had ever cared for such a young elephant, but Daphne was determined to mother it back to health. Aisha the elephant soon grew to love Daphne, from walks to gardening, tea, and picnics. Their love for one another inspired Daphne to orphan elephants to return to the wild.

“Mother to Elephants: The Story of Daphne Sheldrick” by R.G. de Rouen is a beautiful story of Daphne’s journey from childhood to elephant orphanage. With a group of keepers and the survival of some of the youngest orphaned elephants, what Daphne has accomplished is truly extraordinary. Elephants continue to be hunted for their ivory tusks, leaving many young without parents. Daphne has stepped in, with her childhood expertise and caring nature, to give these babies what they need and the life they deserve.

Illustrated by Kateryna Rohotova, the drawings within bring this story to life. From the soft browns and yellows of the African landscape to the fun, young, and vibrant wildlife Rohotova’s illustrations add a sense of liveliness to the page. Accompanied by R.G. de Rouen’s words, Daphne’s story becomes an incredible one, to be shared and remembered by the masses.

“Mother to Elephants” by R.G. de Rouen shares the importance of caring for our wildlife and the vital work of one woman in ensuring the survival of our elephants. It is the message and reminder that these elephants are more than their ivory and trophy, and these actions leave orphans in their wake. Thank you to Daphne Sheldrick and all those fighting to save our wildlife.

[Billy Buttons]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Mother To Elephants
Author: R.G. de Rouen, ill. by Kateryna Rohotova

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 4/5

Of the 15 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
14 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“I loved this book. I thought the elephants looked very cool. It must be fun being with them. The girl is very kind too.” Girl, aged 7
“I now know lot of facts about elephants!” Boy, aged 7
“Daphne is cool, and poaching is terrible. I liked the pics a lot. I think the illustrator is good at drawing animals. The story is not difficult to understand. I wanted to know what was going to happen.” Girl, aged 7 – with a little help from mum
“This is an excellent resource for a classroom. Accessibly written, interesting, and vibrantly illustrated.” Primary school teacher, aged 59
“Uplifting in so many ways. I enjoyed this book with my 7 year old daughter.” Mum, aged 38

To Sum It Up:
‘A wonderfully illustrated and utterly inspiring picture book for young children. A FINALIST and highly recommended!” Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[J]

This is a book about the woman who helped to set-up the Nairobi Elephant Orphanage under the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. As a result if readers have had a chance to view many elephant documentaries and/or conservation efforts they may have gotten the briefest glimpse into this woman's work.

As a result Mother To Elephants is a book that explores a bit of Daphne Sheldrick's life as a child, what influenced her to the work that she would end up doing for her life and also the events that put her in the right spot at the right time. The book then falls from there into the events that led Daphne to her unfortunately first tragic rescue and the changes that allowed her to be the successful face as well as driving force behind 320 successful rescues as well as the life that her orphans are able to live now.

Furthermore there are two pages in the back of elephant facts that explores physical aspects of the animals, their behaviors, their contributions to the world around them also the challenges that they face. After this there is a bit over a page's length Author's Note that provides the reader with a personal experience from the author, some information about the various aspects of the trust, some mentions of other sources where she has appeared in works, her work of tribute to the many workers who helped her, her knighthood and also unfortunately her death as well as how her legacy is living on.

Since this is a children's book there aren't a lot of details into the operation but it is a good start that may help younger readers to take a look into what conservation efforts can look like and how one person more or less can help the world around them.

[Fran]

"A wild animal is only borrowed...If you truly love it, you must set it free when nature calls."

Having grown up on a farm in Kenya, Daphne felt the wonder of nature everywhere. Her marriage to David Sheldrick was a true partnership focusing on a shared love for animals. They were both partial to elephants. Orphaned elephants were challenging to raise, "no one had yet perfected the husbandry needed to see them through their fragile infancy." Daphne created an Orphan Project, bottle feeding the youngest orphans with her specially formulated milk. She hired and trained a rotating staff so the orphaned elephants would not be solely dependent upon one keeper.

An elephant never forgets. How amazing that former orphans travelled miles to visit Daphne and her keepers with their own children in tow! "Mother to Elephants: The Story of Daphne Sheldrick" by R.G. de Rouen is a biography, written especially for children, highlighting the remarkable life of Dame Daphne Sheldrick who was recognized for "rescuing, raising and reintegrating" over 300 orphaned elephants, often victims of poachers, droughts or animal conflict in the wild. Love and nurturing, provided by Daphne and staff, allowed the young charges to successfully transition back to the wild. Elephant Fun Facts were an added delight. Did you know that an elephant can be right tusked or left tusked just as humans are right or left handed? A highly recommended read for young and old alike!

Thank you BooksGoSocial and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Padmajha [PJ] Me and My Bookshelf]

The book talks about Daphne Sheldrick and how she came to establish the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya.

Young Daphne is thrilled to be living in nature in the Great Rift Valley, Africa, and has a special love for animals. One day, she's given the task of caring for an orphaned antelope named Bushy. Even though her dad warned her that a wild animal is only a borrowed animal, she feels sad when Bushy returns to the wild after staying with her for a bit.

Years later, she cares for Aisha, a tiny orphaned elephant who does well under her care, but things go wrong when Daphne isn't around. After this, Daphne decides to help orphaned elephants more and hires people to assist her. That's how Daphne's Orphans project begins to grow.

Besides the touching story, the book has beautiful illustrations on every page that transport us to the place and connect us to the story. The language is simple and suitable for kids of all ages, making it a great read-along or bedtime story.

Additionally, there are Elefacts at the end of the book with interesting facts about elephants, adding to our knowledge. The 'What kids can do to help?' section explains how kids can contribute to preventing poaching.

Overall, it's a beautifully illustrated book with a wonderful story about a woman's journey to save and protect orphaned elephant calves. It's a 5/5 star read suitable for kids of all ages and even adults.

[Jane Miller]

The watercolor like pictures of the African plains and the many animals roaming across them brought me into the story immediately. The language appealed to my senses. "Great herds dotted the landscape like dots on a leopard." The message of the book is vital for helping children to become responsible citizens of our global world. It is the story of an amazingly loving and dedicated woman. Daphne Sheldrick grew up observing, caring for and respecting the wild life around her. At a young age she learned an important lesson from her father that would play a vital role in helping her to create a place of safety for the elephants she grew to admire, respect and be fiercely protective of. Her Dad's lesson: "A wild animal is only borrowed. If you truly love it, you must set it free when nature calls. " and her life's work are excellent examples of what we must do to be responsible stewards of wild life.

I strongly recommend this book for Elementary school librarians, the shelves of homeschoolers and public libraries. It is an inspirational story of a life well lived. Additionally, the last couple of pages offer fun facts about elephants and resources to learn more.

[Chris L.]

R.G. de Rouen's illustrated children's book is a biography of the late Dame Daphne Sheldrick who focused her attention on the care of orphaned elephants. This book tells her story accompanied by some wonderful illustrations. Rouen does a solid job of telling Dame Daphne's fondness for elephants, and how through trial and error she developed the best way to care for them. Kids will understand the whole process, and why Sheldrick created the project to meet the needs of each elephant. There's a list of important facts at the end of the book that teachers could copy out for their students as this gives a lot of important information.

I wish Rouen had spent another page or two on the young Daphne and I am also not sure young children will know understand the idea of poaching so that could have been explained in a child-friendly way within the narrative (it's explained in the facts section at the end of the book though). With those reservations aside, I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to instil a love of animals into their children or students.

[Shilo Quetchenbach]

This is a very sweet book about Daphne Sheldrick, who cared for orphaned wild elephants and learned how to help them grow. It has some sad moments, like when the baby elephant she was successfully caring for died when she went away for a few days, so be prepared for elephant-loving sensitive kids to be sad. Most of the story is happy and successful moments however.

The illustrations are straight out of an old-fashioned Golden Book. Maybe because this story took place in the past? (It doesn't mention a year, but the Daphne is portrayed caring for elephants while wearing 50's style dresses and pearls.) They work for the story, though.

Any elephant-loving kid will love this. It doesn't go into a whole lot of detail, again, it's about the same text level as a Golden Book, but it is a sweet story about elephants and the people who love them.

My elephant-loving 9-year-old will love it, I'm sure. I'll be reading it to him as one of our next bedtime books.

*Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing an early copy for review.

[Theediscerning]

Pretty decent and easily-read look at the life of Daphne Sheldrick. The volume eventually admits she and her organisation cared for other critters, but this certainly concentrates on her attempts to preserve African elephants, both in battling poaching, providing vet services for the beasts and looking after orphaned victims of the ivory trade. This shows how one such baby imprinted on Daphne so much that it pined away when she needed to be elsewhere, and so the more modern thinking of how to create independent, releasable elephant juniors was developed.

Throughout, the whole thing looks gentle, amenable and pretty – and so does Daphne, in a range of frocks that don't really appear that suitable for work in the wild. One of her ensembles comes with a chain of pearls – it's a surprise to see her in flats. That aside, this is a decent tribute to the lady, and the data that we close with on her success stories are proof alone why we should cherish her memory, and take on board this little evidence of what we all can do.

[Art Willa Book]

Tout d'abord merci. à Netgalley et à Librinova pour ce service presse que je suis heureuse d'avoir découvert !
C'est une histoire qui plaira de nombreux enfants. J'avoue que je ne m'attendais pas au destin du premier éléphant étant donné la cible de cette histoire ! Mais cela permet de passer un message clair sur le braconnage et le respect qu'on doit aux animaux. Le tout sans traumatiser les enfants.
Cependant, je ne me suis pas du tout sentie impliquée dans l'histoire. C'était mignon et touchant mais je m'attendais à ressentir plus d'émotions pour ces éléphants. C'est peut-être dû aux traits des illustrations qui ne sont pas trop à mon goût : je trouve qu'il y a un effet un peu vieillot qui donne un aspect un peu trop éducatif au détriment des émotions.
J'ai d'ailleurs vraiment apprécié et trouvé très intéressant la sorte de petit dossier d'informations sur les éléphants à la fin !

[Rebecca Reeder]

What a thoroughly delightful childen's picture book this is! The colorful illustrations will enchant both young audiences and the adults who might be reading this true story to them. Since children generally love animal stories, this book about elephants in Kenya is sure to delight them. This is a perfect way for educator's to introduce the concept of nonfiction and biography as well as introducing discussion about endangered wildlife. For French language classes or bi-lingual classrooms, this book is ideal since the language is simple enough for beginning French language learners to practice their reading skills. I feel confident saying that since I know just enough (barely!) French to understand every page. Parents and educators could use this book as the basis for an entire unit of study and supplement the book by showing children the 2011 IMAX documentary 'Born To Be WIld' which features Dame Daphne Sheldrick and many of her elephants.

[Kat]

Mother to Elephants is an impactful story about Daphne, a woman determined to help the elephants in Africa. While it may not be for everyone, since some may not want to introduce their children to such a "harsh" subject. I still think everyone should read this one. It shows the realities of the poor elephants in a very tasteful and subtle way. I can see this working well as a book to start discussions on poachers, orphaned animals, animal abuse, etc. This has alot of similar topics and themes as The One and Only series from Katherine Applegate. This book (As well as "Ivan the Remarkable True Story" could be great in conjunction with or even act as an easy introduction to the themes presented in the series.

[Barbara Kelley]

Excellent True Story About Elephants and a Girl!

This is an outstanding true story about Daphne Sheldrick and her and her husband's love for the elephants in Africa. This story is aimed toward young children, but is extremely informative for adults, as well. I saw a 4-part series on TV called "The Secrets of the Elephants" that was put on by National Geographic. If you get a chance to see that series, it in very interesting, informative, and educational. Your kids should watch it, too. There is also a hardcover book available titled "The Secrets of the Elephants". I really enjoyed this children's picture book "Mother to Elephants: The Story of Daphne Sheldrick" and gave it 5 stars.

[Jessie (Saffity)]

This was a very interesting book about the true story of Daphne Sheldrick. I picked it up to read with my kids, thinking it would be good for them as we're introducing them to French, however, I found it good for me to practice and learn new words myself. As someone who has French as a second language, I will say this is better suited for intermediate or native speakers. As for the story, it is well written and doesn't shy away from the harsh realities for wild and orphaned animals. Be aware that animal death is disucussed, but used to show how mistakes happen in animal conservation but can be used to improve procedures to help more animals. I enjoyed reading this book and hope that my kids get to a level of French that we can read it together. I read this book through NetGalley.

[Rita Reed]

A MUST READ!!

I absolutely loved Mother to Elephants! I couldn’t put it down. This beautifully written story is both heartwarming and educational, with so many fascinating facts woven naturally throughout the narrative. Daphne Sheldrick’s inspiring true story teaches kindness, compassion, courage, and perseverance in a way that truly connects with young readers. The blend of real-life wildlife conservation, elephant facts, and an unforgettable heroine makes this a book children will enjoy while learning valuable life lessons. A wonderful read that I highly recommend for families, classrooms, and anyone who loves animals.

[Ayezu Tamarapreye Okoko]

I looked inside the kindle read on Amazon

R.G. de Rouen and Illustrated by Kataryna Rohotova
Mother To Elephants: The Story of Daphne Sheldrick A picture book celebrating the life of a pioneer in elephant care. It’s a wonderful story for Kids 6-9 (perfect for your nature loving child).

A picture story and book on Daphne's sojourn in the wild of a Kenyan village in Animal and birds care in a family tradition mastery of wild life.

The illustration is full of life and tells the author's story which is also excellently told both in words and picture.

[Alice]

4 stars
I read a digital advanced copy courtesy of the publisher and New Galley
Daphne Sheldrick grew up in close company with the animals of Kenya. When she marries David Sheldrick, they both devote themselves to conserving the wildlife of Kenya at a wildlife preserve. When she is brought an orphaned elephant to save, she tries her best but the elephant becomes too attached to her and when she has to go away for a few days, the elephant doesn't eat and dies. Daphne learns from her mistakes and goes on to develop a successful orphaned elephant program.

[Anna Blankenship]

Great story!

This was a great story about Daphne that helps teach children that certain animals belong in their natural habitat. Although many rehabilitation centers and individual homes exist, these have an expertise and they consider the optimal care for the wild animal. These illustrations are adorable and fit the story perfectly! Recommend for older children that can understand the story and idea behind the book, 6+ years old

[Deborah Fizer]

Great elementary school project!

This is a must read for all children because it shows how one person can change the course of history in a positive way. This storybook also shows the reader how to contribute to the change in spite of just being a child. I appreciate how the author demonstrates the difference between domestic and wild animals, how their needs are different but equally important.

[Victoria H]

The illustrations are pretty, but nothing truly special. Still, it works for a children's book. I'm not the target audience, but I enjoy reading children's books in French to practice my French skills, which is why this appealed to me. The language was quite clear for a language learner. On the other hand, I'm not sure that it would be so exciting for a child, even if it should also teach them a lot about elephants.