Where's the Elephant?

Where's the Elephant?

By Barroux
Published by Egmont

What an interesting and moving book to start of the New Year - Where's the Elephant? starts as a spot the animal book but soon turns into something quite significant, a story about endangered animals and their habitats.

There are three animals to spot within the forest but as you turn more pages, trees are being chopped down and houses are sprouting up. It soon becomes easier to spot the animals especially when they end up in the zoo. There is a slight happy ending as the animals do escape and find a new home.

Barroux explains the story behind the book at the end - after a visit to Brazil and witness to the rainforest being set on fire to clear the way for soybean production, he wanted an idea to talk about deforestation, it was Where's Wally? that inspired him.

I like Barroux's style of illustration, it works well for this serious topic. I was rather moved by this book and though sad, young children may not fully understand the meaning and the reason for the animals to lose their habitat though they will enjoy looking for the animals. I would recommend this book for 5 years and upwards as I believe they would have a better understanding. I think its a good idea to make children aware, its such an important issue which has led to endangered animals and their disappearing habitats.

Where's the Elephant? is an almost wordless picture book with an important message - a unique book! Available in all good bookshops.