The Classroom Bookshelf, Animals Big and Small
By Sandra O’Brien, Canadian Children’s Booknews, Spring 2015
Review of 5 Elephants
In order for readers to come to know elephants as individuals, Rob Laidlaw has written a book that tells the stories of five famous elephants. Each touching story will help students to better understand that elephants, both in the wild and in captivity, are in trouble and need our help now. Elephants are incredibly social animals and should not live alone. They also need great expanses to wander through in order to thrive. In the wild, elephants experience a diversity of natural sights, sounds, smells and textures every day. Poaching for ivory, the destruction of elephant habitats and human-elephant conflicts are major threats to elephant populations. Laidlaw explains the differences between zoos and sanctuaries and about the many people around the world who work tirelessly to help elephants. Laidlaw refers to these people as Elephant Guardians and talks about the ways kids can get involved in elephant protection.
This is an excellent resource that will introduce kids to or get them talking about animal protection, the challenges of captivity and the endangerment of elephants in the wild. Laidlaw has written a comprehensive book that will help children understand more about these magnificent creatures and their way of life. The layout and design of the book have been well thought out and beautifully presented. The abundance of photographs will appeal to younger children and the content will keep older students engaged and fascinated. Written for students in the late primary and junior grades, this is a resource that should adorn the shelves of classrooms and libraries everywhere.
