Elephants Remember

Jennifer O’Connell is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestseller Ten Timid Ghosts, which has sold over a million copies. Her picture book The Eye of the Whale — like Elephants Remember, a true story of the sentient animals with whom we share this planet—received the 2014 Green Earth Book Award, a Moonbeam Gold Award, and was on RIF’s STEAM Multicultural Booklist. Jennifer is a two-time recipient of the Christopher Award for her book illustrations and is known for her engaging and interactive school presentations, workshops, and virtual programs. See more at JenniferOConnellArt.com.

"STARRED REVIEW: At Thula Thula, a wild-animal reserve in Zululand, Lawrence Anthony received an urgent call from a fellow conservationist. Attacked by poachers, a herd of frightened elephants had broken out of their enclosure, and the matriarch and her calf were killed. Anthony agreed to give the herd a new home, but when they arrived by truck, the elephants were understandably distraught.The first night, they broke down an electric fence and escaped. Shot with tranquilizer darts, they were brought back. Anthony tried to gain the trust of Nana, the new matriarch. The next night,when they prepared to escape again, he talked with her. The herd stayed, and Thula Thula became their home. Anthony and Nana became friends. After he died suddenly, she inexplicably led the herd across the reserve for miles. The elephants stood near his house, "rumbling quietly."O'Connell notes that elephants “mourn the deaths of family members.” Based on Anthony’s The Elephant Whisperer (2009), this picture book offers insights into elephants and underscores the necessity of protecting them. Using color and lighting effectively, O’Connell’s acrylic paintings help viewers imagine the unfamiliar settings. Her touching story awakens a sense of wonder about elephants as well as curiosity about how they experience the world."