Elephants Never Forget!

by Anushka Ravishankar, Christiane Pieper (illustrator)

After a sudden storm, a little elephant finds himself all alone in the jungle.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Family, India, Storytime, Asia

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

Anushka Ravishankar, a mathematics graduate, has made a name for herself internationally as an Indian children’s writer, with over 10 books of verse, fiction and non-fiction. Her special talent is in the area of nonsense verse, where she brilliantly adapts this difficult genre to Indian English usage, without a false note. Anushka Ravishankar can be said to have pioneered the Indian English nonsense verse form and brought it to international attention. She recently returned from a UK tour with Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, at the Children’s Bookshow.

from http://www.tarabooks.com/about/authors/

Reviews

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Anushka Ravishankar, illustrated by Christiane Pieper, Elephants Never Forget! (2008) is a lovely picture book from India. Children will love the vivid, lyrical language – “Crraack! Flash! BOOM!” Ravishankar effectively uses big, bold words to bring the main character, a young elephant, and his jungle playmates to life. Pieper’s digitally created pictures “capture the mood” in this fun loving tale.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this one when it came across my desk, so I checked it out. Perfect for storytime, right? Well, maybe for someone, but not for me. I thought the story was just a little too...odd for my taste. Not enough storyline, really, and I don't really understand the baby's reasoning behind the choice he makes at the end. Gonna make it tough when he's an adult, that's for sure! Besides, the title totally has no relation to the story. Sorry, folks, but this one wasn't my cup of tea.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids really liked it. The illustrations in blue and black were very striking. Great story.

[Un mundo de Cuentos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bienvenidos de nuevo, queremos dedicar este post a un precioso álbum ilustrado. Hace unos años Núria buscaba unos cuentos para explicar en el colegio, fue a la biblioteca del mismo (¡una joya de biblioteca!) y el bibliotecario, que sabía mucho, le recomendó este álbum que hoy os traemos.




Els elefants mai no obliden (Los elefantes nunca olvidan) escrito por Anushka Ravishankar, ilustrado por Chistiane Pieper y editado por Thule (versión catalana).

Anushka Ravichankar es autora de libros para niños y cofundadora de una editorial. Nació en Nashik, India. Se graduó en matemáticas y se convirtió en escritora a tiempo completo después del nacimiento de su hija. Aunque su especialidad son los libros de versos rimados sin sentido también escribe álbumes ilustrados y libros de capítulos.

Christiane Pieper es una ilustradora alemana, que estudió Psicología y comunicación visual. Desde 1993 se dedica a la ilustración de libros infantiles.



El libro nos cuenta la historia de un pequeño elefante que un día, en medio de una tormenta, queda solo y desamparado en medio de la selva. Tras un mal encuentro con unos monos se acerca al rio donde conoce a unos búfalos con los que se pone a jugar. De golpe los búfalos salen corriendo pero cuando cree que ha vuelto a quedarse solo los búfalos vuelven y le salvan del terrible tigre. El elefante crece con sus amigos búfalos hasta que un día en medio del rio jugando con sus amigos oye al otro lado a su antigua familia. ¿Qué hará entonces? ¿Se irá con los elefantes? ¿O con los búfalos?

Como siempre, sabéis que no vamos a revelaros el final ;) Si queréis saber más os tocará leerlo ;)

Un libro precioso que nos habla de la amistad entre animales de diferentes especies, del amor, del compañerismo y la ayuda.

Con un texto ligeramente en rima y acompañado de onomatopeyas es un cuento maravilloso. Las ilustraciones son grabados negros y azules sobre un fondo blanco. La versión que tenemos es ligeramente más grande que la que tuvo Núria en sus manos cuando lo pidió en la biblioteca. También hay otras pequeñas diferencias, como que anteriormente las hojas eran de papel reciclado y se notaba la tinta al pasar la mano por encima de las ilustraciones. En la versión que tenemos las páginas son ligeramente satinadas.



Como sabéis no somos muy partidarios de dar una edad para los libros, aun así sabemos que a muchos de vosotros os va bien saber una edad aproximada. Este cuento está recomendado para niños de entre 5 y 8 años. Núria lo usó con un grupo de niños mixto de entre 3 y 6 años. Pero queremos recordaros que todo depende de vuestros niños, nadie les conoce mejor que vosotros mismos, así pues, como siempre os recomendamos que leáis primero el cuento vosotros solos y después valoréis si es adecuado para vuestros niños.

Esperamos que disfrutéis de este cuento tanto como lo hemos hecho nosotros mismos, como siempre os invitamos a darle a me gusta a este post, compartirlo con vuestras amistades, dejarnos cualquier comentario que queráis hacernos sobre el post, sobre el libro o cualquier información o comentario que queráis hacernos llegar. Nos vemos en el próximo post y mientras tanto…

Felices lecturas.

https://1mundodecuentos.wixsite.com/m...

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elephants Never Forget! by Indian author Anushka Ravishankar is the story of a lonely, young elephant trying to find his way. This book was in the International Literature recommended section of my graduate class text, Children’s Books in Children’s Hands. I was able to hear it read aloud on YouTube while the reader acted it out with an elephant finger puppet on Theater For Change. This added charm to the reading, as the reader used expression making the rhyming text come alive. The illustrator Christine Pieper used only a few calm colors to capture the mood and setting in the playful jungle as the elephant made his way along.

The precisely chosen words provided imagery, a rhythmic quality, as well as a believable plot. “When it stopped raining and the sun shone the elephant found he was all alone.” After meeting up with some unfriendly monkeys, he wandered to the water to clean up, and found some calm buffalo. It was there that he found a friend, and his journey continues through the jungle. He grows “big and strong” and clears the path for the buffalo and sometimes helps them shower by using his trunk. While his “ears were too large, his nose was too long, his shape was quite odd, and his colour all wrong,” he liked being a buffalo. The integrity of this book is good, as it all comes together in the end when the elephant sees a group of elephants and must decide, should he stay with his buffalo friends, or go with the elephants. The author shares a new perspective with readers and communicates that being different is valued. The author also shows that opening up to a new friend is a positive even though that friend may not look or behave just like you.

Primary learners would benefit from this picture book. Its simple illustrations convey a clear message and deliver the theme through poetic verse. Teachers could use this for phonemic awareness lessons as well as a complement to text collection in diversity. The buffalo accept the elephant for who he is, and he uses his differences such as his trunk, as a strength in their relationship.

[Josef Komensky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children's book with simple story about friendship and belonging. What this book make very unique is the way it has been illustrated. Black and with with some blue it creates very nice mixture that pleases not even the heart but soul as well.

[Kali Hilliard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry; K-3; Highly recommend this book! Awesome lesson on fitting in! Easily can tie into a diversity lesson.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the almost classic illustrations; they remind me of Make Way for Ducklings or Blueberries for Sal (Robert Closkey, I believe). I especially loved the slight twist to the ending.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expressive text and a purple, black and white palette make this picture book surprising and fun to read.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was just a little too bizarre for me, I couldn't find a link between the title and the story. Not to mention the fact that the story was not compelling. I won't be using it for story time.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous digital illustrations that look like woodcuts show a story of finding the group that helps you feel like you.

[Mariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/5.

Qué preciosidad.

[NayDoubleU · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
I give it a 4.5 because it wasn't in a lot of color and I feel having it in more color would capture the children's attention more.
Other than that, it was a really cute book about and to me it could be used for a child who is adopted to a family with different race or culture backgrounds. In the end the elephant realized he didn't identify as an elephant, he was raised with the buffalo and wanted to say one. So, in my opinion the same could be said about an adopted child.
Will be in my future classroom

[Raksha Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

TO be frank ,this book made me miss Roald Dahl probably due to it's mild resemblance to Dahl "Gobblefunk" writing style. The rhyming scheme always works like a charm and that is what in the narrative shall keep you captivated.

"Toot!Toot!"
Oh the "Hoot!Hoot!Hoot"
"Squish!Splosh! Blish!Blosh"
And many more...

Carrying forward the message through scrumptious use of "funkionskly" words.
Though it's a 5-10 minutes read children illustration book.
An elephant kid gets lost in forest. He is taken care by buffaloes and he accepts them as his family as he grows up.

"His ears are too large
His nose was too long
his shape was quite odd
And his color was wrong
He only could trumpet
He could not bellow
YET, the elephant liked being a buffalo" :D

His physical features were in complete disorientation with his"Buffalo" tribe yet it never bothered him much for he was happy with them.
And when one day he met his own "elephant tribe " by the river side and he was in dilemma

" Here or there
Where should we go?
An elephant or a buffalo?
But in the end , the answer was plain
A Buffalo he would always remain" :D

We complicate things in life so much. Should I choose the one "who look good" or the one "who make me feel good"?
The answer lie naked in front of us but we overlook it.
And hence always choose where would be happy.
For as long as you are happy , what and how you look doesn't matter much.

I absolutely loved it savoring it from cover to cover. I am big time fan of children illustration books. And this is surely going on my shelf --some day i will recite it to kids for sure.

[Victoria Sidney]

Goodreads Book Review #8
Elephants Never Forget Anushka Ravishankar

This is a cute tale about a baby elephant that gets separated from his family. While wandering the jungle he comes across many different native animals. The elephant then discovers the buffalo and feels he belongs in their herd. The buffalo herd accepts him as one of their own. The elephant helps the buffalo by clearing paths and using his long trunk to cool them off. One day, the elephant notices a group of elephants that look like him. He is faced with the choice of either leaving his newfound family or going back to where he truly belongs. Will the elephant stay with the buffalo or go back with the elephants?

In this story of mistaken identity, the theme presented is acceptance of others. The elephant had no relation to or similarity to the buffalo, but they took the elephant under their wings and made him feel like he belonged.

A fun idea for a teacher to do with her students would be to have them pick two animals completely different from one another. The students would then adapt their own tale about acceptance between two different types of animals. It would also be interesting to let some students maybe tell their story from a perspective where the animal is not accepted. Then every student would share their story, and, as a group, you could all discuss the importance to making everyone feel like they are a part of the group.

[Khrystine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elephants Never Forget is the delightful story of an elephant who is separated from his herd during a storm. As he tries to find his place in the world, he learns about loyalty and finding true happiness.
The illustrations in this book are the biggest part of the fun as portions of the text are recruited as a part of the picture to invoke specific emotions. Words like "crack", describing thunder, are written in shapes implying their noise, making this book a fun one to read out loud. While the illustrations are simple, consisting of only three colors throughout the book, they are dynamic and playful. Through skillful use of color, our eyes follow the little elephant across the page and on to the next.
This book would be great to read with young children as you could make the sounds of the storm or the animals together, and in summer you could then go play with a water hose and pretend to be elephants and water buffalo.

[Kate Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author has been called the “Dr. Seuss” of India she uses rhyming and predictable words throughout the story, catches your attention by an underlying beat to the word as you are reading building slowly into a song the more you read. The illustrator was very creative with only using three colors to capture the look and feel of a jungle but keeping the colors calm and peaceful to fit the stories setting and not be distracted by too much color. The illustrator and author combined their talents by using descriptive action work that were placed directional to lead you to the next page or guide you through the story on each page. This book was simple and gave a gentle happy feeling in the connections of who your family is, and what defines a family. For someone that is adopted or has a different style of a family this book gives a important insight on what matters when it comes to family for each individual.

[Lexie Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Grade Level: K-3rd grade
Elephants are actually known to have a great memory but that is not what this book is about. This book goes through many topics a child may be experiencing like the loss of a family member, a difficult home life, adoption or foster care, and/ or even diversity. These hardships may not be very clear to pick out in the story but they definitely are not "irelephant". Students can also personly connect with the baby elephant because of his age. I enjoyed reading this book and I think students could benep=fir from reading it in many ways.

[Gwen the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this picturebook from Indian storyteller Anushka Ravishankar. Little Elephant is all alone in the jungle. He wants to find some friends, but the monkeys won't play with him. In the river, a buffalo calf rolls and frolics with Elephant. But then he runs away - doesn't he want to be friends? No! It's a tiger! Elephant rescues the buffalo and gets to stay with the buffalo family. When the elephants come back will Elephant go with them or stay with the buffalo? Great rhyming and terrific onomatopoeia make this a fantastic read-aloud.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, simple story about belonging, friendship, and loyalty. A baby elephant is separated from his herd when a huge storm comes along. He is lonely, tired, and hungry, but finally finds a group of buffalo that he can play with, eat with, and belong to. They become his family.

When the elephant herd shows up again, though, he must decide, should he go, or should he stay? In the end, the choice is clear.

Used for "Elephants!" Storytime: February, 2012.

[Amy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elephant becomes lost in the jungle and slowly makes friends with the buffalo. Later when a herd of elephants come by, elephant must decide whether to go with the rest of the elephants or stay with the buffalo. Rhyming text.

[Sq.Hill Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet little picture book about an elephant that is adopted by a herd of water buffalo when he is separated from his mother. The great sounds will make this a must read for storytime with plenty of chances for audience participation.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the woodcut illustrations in this book. The story is fine but perhaps because the illustrations are so realistic I had a hard time believing it. Most stories about young lost animals focus on the baby finding its mother, not defecting to the water buffalo.

[Susan]

0-7

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost feel sad reading the book: the art is SO great but the story seems tired and not new at all. Too bad!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of an elephant who lives with water buffalo. Unique illustrations. The story is good but it does not flow.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice illustrations. Reminds me of another story that I can't quite place at the moment.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I snagged this book at the library because Jordan, like her Mommy, loves elephants. The illustrations were so interesting, and the story was different, but enjoyable. Jordan was totally enthralled.

[Stephanie]

Interesting story about choosing your family/to be adopted.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful art by christiane pieper!