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Elephant in the Dark
A bold, humorous rendition of "The Three Blind Men and the Elephant", magnificently illustrated by an award-winning artist! When the villagers hear of a huge and mysterious creature that has come all the way from India, they steal into the dark barn to find out what it is."It's like a snake!" says one. "It's like a tree trunk," says another. "No, it's like a fan!" argues the third. Who is right? Which of them knows the creature's true shape?Mina Javaherbin's charming and witty retelling combined with Eugene Yelchin's refreshingly brilliant illustrations bring this enlightened classic, inspired by Rumi's poem, vividly to life.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2015
3 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Mina Javaherbin
8 books13 followersMina Javaherbin was born in Iran and immigrated to the United States, where she is now a practicing architect. She lives in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 1, 2018
Elephant in the Dark is a beautifully illustrated update to the classic story of The Blind Men and the Elephant. When the merchant brings home a secret creature the towns people can't wait to solve the mystery but their gossip and bickering soon gets out of hand.
April 4, 2021
The best part of this may be the author and illustrator's notes at the end of the book. Book illustrates the concept of humility, listening to others and universal truth.
December 2, 2017
This is a really fun take on the story of the blind men. The villagers are all fighting and whatnot, while the reader knows whats inside. I think this would be a fun read aloud and also a teaching opportunity for how people may come to different conclusions when dealing with the same content. Sometimes one thought is right, sometimes another, and sometimes no one has a clue!
April 23, 2021
I'm trying to figure out why this book doesn't have a higher rating. I find it absolutely beautiful and actually did a whole post about it on my website. I feel like adults need to read this book in our world today. The message is perfectly wrapped up in the last line: “And no one noticed they each knew only a small piece of the truth.”
I love one of the interpretations of this story, made into a poem by Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet, which Elephant in the Dark is based on. Rumi’s poem ends with, “If each had a candle and they went in together the differences would disappear.” I think of that line and wonder what our world would look like under those circumstances. I imagine, as it pertains to this story, we would all be unified in understanding it was an elephant, but we would still have our opinions on the creature. Perhaps one person would find the elephant ugly, and another would find it breath-taking, but both would agree it was an elephant. Neither person needs to be wrong in their feelings towards the elephant. We can respect differing interpretations of the creature, while simultaneously agreeing that there is a greater truth that there is no disputing.
I love one of the interpretations of this story, made into a poem by Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet, which Elephant in the Dark is based on. Rumi’s poem ends with, “If each had a candle and they went in together the differences would disappear.” I think of that line and wonder what our world would look like under those circumstances. I imagine, as it pertains to this story, we would all be unified in understanding it was an elephant, but we would still have our opinions on the creature. Perhaps one person would find the elephant ugly, and another would find it breath-taking, but both would agree it was an elephant. Neither person needs to be wrong in their feelings towards the elephant. We can respect differing interpretations of the creature, while simultaneously agreeing that there is a greater truth that there is no disputing.
May 13, 2022
Based on the classic poem, this retelling begins with a crowd whispering about the beast that has just arrived in their town. The crowd follows the merchant back to the barn begging for a chance to see the animal, but he tells them to go home. Instead, they take turns peeking at the animal and arguing about what they saw. A snake, a tree trunk, a fan? The villagers argue through the night and into the morning, but they are all so distracted that they can't notice the elephant standing in the sunlight behind them. This folktale is one with multiple lessons to teach.
On one hand, it reminds us that we cannot make assumptions based on pieces of information that we find in the dark. If you cannot see something wholly, for all that it is, then you should not form conclusions about it. Likewise, it reminds us to be conscious of the time we spend arguing with others rather than working together or listening to one another. The illustrations are another part of what makes this folktale so charming. The combination of gouache and acrylic brings life to the characters and incorporates elements of the culture that the original tale came from. This book was ALMOST a 4/5 for me.
On one hand, it reminds us that we cannot make assumptions based on pieces of information that we find in the dark. If you cannot see something wholly, for all that it is, then you should not form conclusions about it. Likewise, it reminds us to be conscious of the time we spend arguing with others rather than working together or listening to one another. The illustrations are another part of what makes this folktale so charming. The combination of gouache and acrylic brings life to the characters and incorporates elements of the culture that the original tale came from. This book was ALMOST a 4/5 for me.
November 24, 2017
Hard to evaluate this one. People use this general story to insist that Christianity's claims of exclusivity cannot be true, because we all see only parts of the truth. As Keller and others have pointed out (see Ch. 1 in The Reason for God [pp. 8–9 in my copy]), one cannot make such a claim without knowing the truth—in other words, those who make this claim think of themselves in a privileged position of objectivity, while all the other poor blokes are stumbling in blindness. They can see clearly that truth is relative; others foolishly think that Christianity's claims of exclusivity are true, failing to recognize the many other truths available. The book seems to intentionally position the adults as the fools who fight over this kind of thing, and the children as the wise ones.
Yet, it's a very helpful lesson to talk to kids about, so I'm glad for the opportunity to talk with Kate about this story.
Yet, it's a very helpful lesson to talk to kids about, so I'm glad for the opportunity to talk with Kate about this story.
June 24, 2024
Those who adore the mystical poems of Rumi -- and I'm in that number -- may be tempted to credit him too much. Witness this book.
Goodreaders, haven't you heard of this ancient fable from India? "The Three Blind Men and the Elephant"!
Rumi wrote a poem about this: "Elephant in the Dark." However, he didn't create the original fable.
Still, associating this picture book with the great Sufi mystic has undoubtedly helped this picture book to get high SEO.
* As a picture book, this deserves FIVE STARS.
* As an introduction to Rumi? I'd prefer inviting Goodreaders to read more poetry by Rumi.
* Incidentally, I quoted some of Rumi's poetry in one of the chapters in "Seeking Enlightenment in the Age of Awakening."
BACK TO RUMI'S ORIGINAL POEM
Goodreaders, you can find it, btw, by googling "Elephant in the dark Rumi"-- and remember to include the quotation marks in your search.
To me, the picture book isn't as good as the poem. But each will have its own audience.
Goodreaders, haven't you heard of this ancient fable from India? "The Three Blind Men and the Elephant"!
Rumi wrote a poem about this: "Elephant in the Dark." However, he didn't create the original fable.
Still, associating this picture book with the great Sufi mystic has undoubtedly helped this picture book to get high SEO.
* As a picture book, this deserves FIVE STARS.
* As an introduction to Rumi? I'd prefer inviting Goodreaders to read more poetry by Rumi.
* Incidentally, I quoted some of Rumi's poetry in one of the chapters in "Seeking Enlightenment in the Age of Awakening."
BACK TO RUMI'S ORIGINAL POEM
Goodreaders, you can find it, btw, by googling "Elephant in the dark Rumi"-- and remember to include the quotation marks in your search.
To me, the picture book isn't as good as the poem. But each will have its own audience.
Read
November 18, 2019It is about man that is hiding a mysterious creature from the town he is in. The townspeople go and try to figure out what the creature is. They make a bunch of guesses but in the end never figure out what the creature is because they are to busy arguing over what they think it is. I liked this book because it taught me that you can't aways know everything. Somethings you may never know even if you really want to know them. I would use this book for a fun a read aloud, and then have my students go write in their journals about what they thought the creature was.
February 9, 2021
This book is a great retelling of a poem by Rumi, and would be a great read when teaching your students about traditional literature. Your students will be giggling at the villagers guesses of what the mystery animal is, and how extremely angry they get at each other for the differing guesses they have. Instead of the villagers waiting to find out what the animal is, their curiosity sparks arguments and they end up missing the elephant leaving the barn the next morning. A great read with a great underlying lesson.
April 12, 2018
It's the story of how several people see/feel a different part of the elephant ... just in India!
Ages: 4 - 8
#geography #asia #india
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Ages: 4 - 8
#geography #asia #india
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
April 25, 2021
Based on a Poem by the Persian poet Rumi. A merchant brings back a mysterious creature from India, and the impatient villagers take turns climbing through a window into the dark barn to try to ascertain what it is. They each leave with a different impression of what lies within. The author who retold this story is Iranian, and the illustrations evoke old Persian paintings, but with a twist.
November 24, 2017
Are you familiar with the tale of the blind men and the elephant? Rumi’s version is set in a small village, the elephant is in a dark barn, and all the villagers end up fighting because they can’t agree on what they felt.
January 26, 2018
The expressions on the villagers’ faces are priceless, as they all know what they know about the mystery animal in the barn. Only after seeing the “big picture” do they understand the part they experienced in the dark.
June 25, 2018
A merchant puts a large animal into his barn. His neighbours try to find out what it is by climbing through a window into the dark barn. They each think it's something different. This story is a twist on the fable of the blind man and the elephant.
November 12, 2018
Fun story based on a poem by the Persian poet, Rumi, that teaches a valuable lesson of working together to figure out the whole truth instead of arguing over a partial truth and letting that divide us.
June 19, 2019
A simple retelling of Rumi's poem about the blind men and the elephant, this book is easily accessible to the preK crowd. A great read aloud to a group and a great conversation starter, this book is beautifully illustrated and I definitely recommend it.
September 20, 2020
Elephant in the Dark by Mina javaherbin is a fun and intriguing book. It has several descriptive words that are beneficial to students who are learning to describe things. It is funny and interesting to read and younger students whould enjoy reading this book.
March 28, 2018
A well illustrated and kid-friendly version of the poem regarding what different people think an elephant is like based on which part they felt.
October 5, 2019
Based on the poem Difference of Opinion/Quarrel Over the Shape of an Elephant by Rumi, this is a great example of limited perspective and how it effects our perception.
January 19, 2020
Inspired by Persian miniature painters, Yelchin brings us a bright visual of this folktale about how we see.
July 18, 2020
Great story that shows children to look for different perspectives and to always keep an open mind, that not everything is at it seems.
February 8, 2017
Review copy: ARC from publisher
Many people are familiar with the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant. This is a fun new way to experience that tale. Mina Javaherbin has retold the story based on a poem written by Rumi about 750 years ago. The message is timeless and will have readers chuckling too.
The first thing I noticed about the book was the rich illustrations. To see several samples, visit Eugene Yelchin's page here. Yelchin used a wide variety of patterns and textures in each spread. There are so many things to see. I found the many different textures to be fascinating. There are also pages that are simple and streamlined. When the text focuses on one aspect of the elephant, the illustrations are narrowed in to that one thing and the background is plain. There are no distractions on those pages.
In the illustrator's note at the end Yelchin explained that he got his inspiration from Persian miniature painters. His own style is there, but the illustrations are clearly influenced by Persian art work from years past.
In their notes at the end, both the artist and writer speak of the meaning of this story and how it relates to their own lives. That is the best part about this story. It can speak a truth to readers of all kinds. This book will be one many people can easily connect with and share. Teachers could also use it effectively during fable units or when discussing point of view.
Elephant in the Dark is an upbeat and fun way to discuss different perspectives and points of view. I look forward to sharing it with staff and students.
Many people are familiar with the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant. This is a fun new way to experience that tale. Mina Javaherbin has retold the story based on a poem written by Rumi about 750 years ago. The message is timeless and will have readers chuckling too.
The first thing I noticed about the book was the rich illustrations. To see several samples, visit Eugene Yelchin's page here. Yelchin used a wide variety of patterns and textures in each spread. There are so many things to see. I found the many different textures to be fascinating. There are also pages that are simple and streamlined. When the text focuses on one aspect of the elephant, the illustrations are narrowed in to that one thing and the background is plain. There are no distractions on those pages.
In the illustrator's note at the end Yelchin explained that he got his inspiration from Persian miniature painters. His own style is there, but the illustrations are clearly influenced by Persian art work from years past.
In their notes at the end, both the artist and writer speak of the meaning of this story and how it relates to their own lives. That is the best part about this story. It can speak a truth to readers of all kinds. This book will be one many people can easily connect with and share. Teachers could also use it effectively during fable units or when discussing point of view.
Elephant in the Dark is an upbeat and fun way to discuss different perspectives and points of view. I look forward to sharing it with staff and students.
March 24, 2016
Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum
Based on Rumi's classic poem, Elephant in the Dark is a retelling of the Three Blind Men and the Elephant. When the villagers hear of a mysterious creature that has come all the way from India, each sneaks into the dark barn to find out what it could be. Each returns reporting a different animal. A snake, a tree trunk, a fan. Who is right?
Don't you hate when the cover a book ruins the book itself. Of course, I am familiar with this classic tale, but the point is that most young children (for whom this book is geared) are not. They are let in on the secret from the beginning as there is an elephant on the cover. Now, to be entirely fair, the poem itself lets the reader know that it is an elephant from the beginning so the didactic nature of the piece is inherent, but it would have been fun, since this was a picture book, to use an element of surprise.
The story itself is timeless though, a message that I think a lot of people need to be reminded of. That sometimes we cannot see the bigger picture or only have a piece of the truth and so we base our opinions on minimal information. The illustrations are based on a classical Persian art, while giving itself a modern influence. In the end, I have seen better adaptations, but this one is nicely illustrated which is its saving grace.
Based on Rumi's classic poem, Elephant in the Dark is a retelling of the Three Blind Men and the Elephant. When the villagers hear of a mysterious creature that has come all the way from India, each sneaks into the dark barn to find out what it could be. Each returns reporting a different animal. A snake, a tree trunk, a fan. Who is right?
Don't you hate when the cover a book ruins the book itself. Of course, I am familiar with this classic tale, but the point is that most young children (for whom this book is geared) are not. They are let in on the secret from the beginning as there is an elephant on the cover. Now, to be entirely fair, the poem itself lets the reader know that it is an elephant from the beginning so the didactic nature of the piece is inherent, but it would have been fun, since this was a picture book, to use an element of surprise.
The story itself is timeless though, a message that I think a lot of people need to be reminded of. That sometimes we cannot see the bigger picture or only have a piece of the truth and so we base our opinions on minimal information. The illustrations are based on a classical Persian art, while giving itself a modern influence. In the end, I have seen better adaptations, but this one is nicely illustrated which is its saving grace.
November 14, 2015
Based on a classic Persian text, "The Blind Men and the Elephant," this picture book can be enjoyed on multiple levels. Not only is it a gentle reminder to look at the whole picture before drawing conclusions, but it also offers an admonition about perspective. What seems one way in the dark may be completely different in the light. In this version of the tale, a merchant brings a huge animal to his place and stashes in away. All the villagers are curious about what it could be. One by one, they slip into the barn to satisfy their curiosity. Since each villager encounters a different part of the mysterious creature, they jump to various conclusions. It must be a snake, a tree trunk, a fan, and various other possibilities. Once the merchant brings the elephant forth, it's clear that they were all right but also wrong; after all, as the story concludes, "...they each knew only a small piece of the truth" (unpaged). Notes from the author and the illustrator provide additional perspectives on the story and the artwork. The illustrations here are outstanding, rendered in ink, gouache, and acrylic, and filled with colorful energy and intensity. Each of the villagers seems to possess unique personalities. This book might be ideal for sharing with youngsters when introducing the topic of gossip or at the start of a unit on research and research papers. It can also be enjoyed for the sheer joy its telling provides.
September 22, 2015
Elephant in the Dark is a re-telling of the classic Persian story, The Blind Men and the Elephant. When a huge beast arrives in the village, rumors circulate. The merchant, who owns the mysterious beast,implores the villagers to let him sleep. Insistent on discovering the creature before the merchant is willing to share it, the villagers sneak into his dark barn. One touches the trunk and believe the creature to be a snake. Another touches a leg and believes that there is no creature, that what is inside the barn is a tree. The folly continues and ultimately leaves the villagers fighting and shouting that their ideas are the correct ones. When the creature is finally revealed they are all surprised to see an elephant.
The themes and messages of the book are timeless. Each of us only knows a portion of the truth and that defines our opinion. The message could be used to teach that if members of the community took time to listen to each other, instead of fighting, they could have discovered what was actually hiding.
The illustrations in the book are influenced by ancient Persian styles, and miniature paintings, with a distinctly modern sensibility mixed in. The Iranian citizens are drawn with accentuated noses and facial hair that is still, unfortunately rarely seen in children's literature.
The themes and messages of the book are timeless. Each of us only knows a portion of the truth and that defines our opinion. The message could be used to teach that if members of the community took time to listen to each other, instead of fighting, they could have discovered what was actually hiding.
The illustrations in the book are influenced by ancient Persian styles, and miniature paintings, with a distinctly modern sensibility mixed in. The Iranian citizens are drawn with accentuated noses and facial hair that is still, unfortunately rarely seen in children's literature.
January 10, 2016
Based on a poem by Rumi, this story is familiar to picture book lovers. In this version, a merchant brings home a new and strange creature. He puts it into the barn for the night. The villagers are curious and want to know what the merchant has in his barn, so they sneak in during the night to find out for themselves. Each villager who goes into the barn only feels one part of the creature and since it is too dark to see, they do not realize that what they touch is not the whole creature. The villagers spend the whole night arguing with each other about what the merchant has brought home… a creature like a snake, a fan, a paintbrush, a plow. The next morning the merchant takes the creature out of the barn and to the river. But the villagers are so busy arguing still that no one notices that they each knew only a small piece of the truth. Only the children see the creature as the elephant it is and follow it to the river.
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April 19, 2015
Beautifully illustrated picture book which retells Rumi's 750 year old poem from Persia, now known as Iran, "Difference of Opinion/Quarrel Over the Shape of an Elephant." The theme is timeless--each of us only knows a portion of the truth, and this determines our opinions. In the Author's Note, Javaherbin states, "I often wonder what would happen if, instead of arguing, people would listen to one another." The copyright page provides acknowledgements which verify the authenticity of the tale , including its existence in the oral Buddhist tradition from 400 BCE. As for the illustrator, his personal life in Russia caused him to immediately identify with the importance of seeing a complete picture rather than 'groping for bits and pieces in the dark. Inspired by the art of Persian miniature painters, he used ink, gouache, and acrylic on watercolor paper to crete the illustrations.
September 1, 2016
This is a retelling of a poem by Rumi about how we all see a part of the puzzle and that life could be better if we all looked at the whole puzzle. A merchant purchases an elephant and brings it back to his home village. He puts the animal in a dark barn and goes to sleep. The curious villagers want to see this creature so one by one they go in the barn and each only see a part so the descriptions are extremely varied. They start to argue about what it looks like and are not even aware when the merchant awakens and takes the elephant to the water. Each one only sees their part. The illustrations are the result of merging Persian art and modern perspective. They work well to support this retelling of a poem that has always fascinated me. Really liked seeing it in this format for kids to read and think about.
November 8, 2015
This is the tale where a man brings an elephant from India, and puts it in a barn for the night. Villagers are so curious, unwilling to wait till morning to see this new creature. One villager sneaks through a window and feels only part of an elephant, and then declares it’s a snake. Another declares it’s shaped like a tree. The lesson learned is that truth consists of many parts, and one shouldn’t judge by only one truth. The illustrations are gorgeous, color-filled in the style of Persian folk art.
December 20, 2016
This retelling of the classic Rumi poem by Mina Javaherbin is entertaining for modern readers, yet it remains true to the essence of the original poem. The retelling is further enhanced by the bright, whimsical illustrations by Eugene Yelchin. The Author and Illustrator notes at the end go further to draw young readers into the original purpose of the Rumi poem. I recommend this title to both school and public libraries as an additional purchase for their collections.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews