Queenie: One Elephant's Story

by Corinne Fenton, Peter Gouldthorpe (Illustrations)

The true story of one of the most famous elephants of all time: Queenie, the gentle Indian elephant.

Evoking a time when elephants were giving rides in zoos all around the world, the true story of Queenie follows her from her birth in an Indian jungle to Australia’s Melbourne Zoo, where she lived for more than forty years, giving rides to children. Thousands of kids loved Queenie, celebrated her birthday, and sent her letters. But in an event still not fully understood, Queenie crushed one of her keepers in late 1944. Was she mistreated or bored? Was it an accident? No one knows, but zoos have changed since Queenie’s time. Plainspoken and honest, this gentle account shows the good, the bad, and the evolution of zoo philosophy. Queenie’s story is a thought-provoking steppingstone for discussion of a complex, difficult topic.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Australia, Childrens, True Story

24 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Corinne Fenton has established a reputation for writing beautiful picture-book histories of animals whose lives have become legendary.
Her award-winning books include:Queenie: One Elephant's Story, The Dog on the Tuckerbox and Bob the Railway Dog. Her titles Little Dog and the Christmas Wish and One Christmas Eve, were chosen as themes for the Myer Christmas Windows.

Reviews

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving, true story about a beloved zoo elephant in Melbourne, Australia that met a terrible, tragic end. A good book for prompting discussions on animal rights and the humane treatment of those held in captivity.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

QUEENIE: ONE ELEPHANT'S STORY by Corinne Fenton and Peter Gouldthorpe, ill, Candlewick, June 2013, 24p., ISBN: 978-0-7636-6375-9

"'We were looking for food,' Ruby says, 'my family and I. But I wandered off and got lost and went too close to the village.' Ruby looks at me, eyes wide. 'I was so scared when I fell into that hole.'
"'Of course you were,' I say. 'I would have been scared too.'
"'Me too,' Bob admits. 'And I like holes.'
"'The hole was huge.' Ruby pokes her trunk through the bars and makes a circle in the air. 'And guess what?' She doesn't wait for an answer. 'The water was all the way up to my neck and I was sure I was going to die.'
"I shudder. 'What happened then?' I ask.
"'I'll tell you what happened,' Bob says darkly. 'They captured her and put her in a box and shipped her off and here she is. Just like they did with Stella.' He pauses to scratch an ear. 'Humans. Rats have bigger hearts. Roaches have kinder souls. Flies have--'
"'No, Bob!' Ruby interrupts. 'You're wrong. These humans helped me. When they saw I was trapped, they grabbed ropes and they made loops around my neck and my tummy. The whole entire village helped, even little kids and grandmas and grandpas, and they all pulled and pulled and...'
"Ruby stops. Her lashes are wet, and I know she must be remembering all the terrible feelings from that day.
"'...and they saved me,' she finishes in a whisper.
"Bob blinks. 'They saved you?' he repeats.
"'When I was finally out, everyone cheered,' Ruby says. 'And the children fed me fruit. And then all those humans led me back to my family. It took the whole day to find them.'
"'No way,' Bob says, still doubtful.
"'It's true,' Ruby says. 'Every word.'
"'I've heard rescue stories like that before.' It's Stella's voice. She sounds weary. Slowly she makes her way over to Ruby. 'Humans can surprise you sometimes. An unpredictable species, Homo sapiens.'
"Bob still looks unconvinced. 'But Ruby's here now.' he points out. 'If humans are so swell, who did this to her?'
"I send Bob a grumpy look. Sometimes he doesn't know when to keep quiet."
-- from THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN

I have no idea whether it is merely coincidental, but given the impact of Stella's and Ruby's stories in THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, it is great timing for this Australian import of an informational picture book to show up Stateside just as Katherine Applegate prepares to accept her 2013 Newbery Medal for IVAN.

And before I start ranting about humanity, I want to urge you to buy and read this book. It's a powerful and memorable true story that is told so well through a gentle text and wonderful illustrations.

QUEENIE: ONE ELEPHANT'S STORY will be a superb vehicle for discussing animal rights issues with young people. On one hand, generations of children adored this famous elephant. She was very loved. On the other hand, this elephant was a slave.

Discussion Question: Can we characterize an animal as being enslaved?

I say, ask Julia in THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN:
"Mack stomps off. George, holding his mop, watches him leave. He rubs his eyes. He looks worried.
"'Dad,' Julia says, looking up from her homework. 'You know what my favorite sign was?'
"'Hmm?' George asks. 'Which one?'
"'The one that said "Elephants Are People Too."'"

I don't doubt that the fear I saw depicted when Kunta Kinte was abducted by slavers near the beginning of Roots was at least equaled in real life when Queenie was snatched from her mother by hunters. And put in a truck. And hoisted onto a steamship. And was, in due course, required to spend all day, every day (except Mondays) giving rides to humans in a zoo in Melbourne. For decades. And, yes, she was loved.

"But not everyone was kind to Queenie. Some children stuck pins in her trunk. Once some boys offered her fruit and nuts, but when she stretched out her trunk, they pulled the food beyond her reach. This went on for some time, until Queenie seemed to tire of the game and disappeared behind her house.
"A few minutes later, she returned and started teasing the boys, stretching out her trunk and then pulling it away just as they reached for it. The boys thought this was funny until Queenie sprayed them with a trunkful of dirty water she'd taken from the bath behind her house!"

I'm standing with what Bob, the stray dog in IVAN, says about humans. Sure, QUEENIE is a true story that began and ended before I was even born, so you might seek to argue that we are getting better. But it is during my lifetime that humankind has wiped out the vast majority of all large mammals on the planet. And destroyed the seas. And the birds and bees and fireflies are disappearing. The propensity for humans to exploit any body and any thing in the almighty search to make a buck has resulted, in my lifetime, in the wildness and the divine nature of our planet being turned into dreck.

Just last week I saw Bill Moyers interview Tim DeChristopher, and my jaw hit the floor when I saw the photos of the incredible, untouched bits of America that were being put up for auction to oil companies by Bush's Bureau of Land Management. Now I read about what happened to this marvelous elephant and, like Marvin Gaye, it just makes me wanna holler.

Humans. Bah.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...

[Sue Winson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very beautiful true story about an elephant called Queenie, more than a hundred years back. The illustrations are moving, real, and nostalgic. The texts are simple but emotional. This is somewhat a sad story with a really unhappy ending, so this book might not be the perfect bedtime story for your young toddlers. 23-month old little-AJ loves pictures of elephants, but I don't think he can grasp the entire twist and turn of the story yet.

Queenie was born in India. She was captured by the hunters, and taken to Australia in a huge steamship. This was how Queenie came to Melbourne zoo. She started carrying passengers around when she was 9, sometimes, as many as 500 people a day. Some zoo visitors were kind to her, some not as kind and attempted to tease her. Queenie got her revenge once by spraying some mean kids with trunkful of dirty water. (Spoiler ahead) Queenie was put to death in the end due to high costs in 1945, around 10 months after she (accidentally, most believe) killed her keeper by crushing him.

The story is really sad, and some of the illustrations pained my heart. It's an upsetting sight to see an elephant being captured by a group of hunters, binding her with ropes and forcefully taking her away from her mum. I can only imagine the fear of being restraint and confined in a steamship for some considerable time. I wonder how Queenie felt, did she enjoy the attention in zoo, did she enjoy carrying people around, did she miss home and her family, and what exactly happened when she crushed her keeper on the fateful day of 1944?

This is a thought-provoking book that makes us think hard about animal rights and respect of lives. I love it, and I hope little-AJ will come to love this book too one day.

Blog review here: https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.co...

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is pretty self explanatory. It's a biography about Queenie, an elephant who lived at the Melbourne Zoo in Australia from the early 1900s, after she was captured in Africa as a baby, until 1945.

It's an interesting story. Sad in the end (which most animal stories are, really), but especially so due to the events leading to her death. It was decided that she was to be 'disposed of' after a controversial accident resulting in the death of one of her handlers (which some claimed was due to her treatment at his hands), and due to a lack of resources for her care during WWII. It was interesting doing some reading of articles to find our more of the back story in regards to the accident - the book definitely placed more emphasis on the shortage of supplies being the main reason for her death.

It was interesting to note the difference in the treatment of animals back in Queenie's day vs. today while reading. The zoos allowed a lot more interaction with the public back then that wouldn't be tolerated today (with an apt example of why it was a bad idea shown by the group of boys who make sport out of teasing the animals), but were actually more dedicated to her welfare than I expected as well - they allowed her a 'day off' to rest, for example. That said, I imagine much was left out of the story given the intended audience.

As it's a picture book, the images throughout were primarily illustrations (though I believe there were some photographs as well). They were decent. They were done in a style that I believe was meant to capture an older feel, reminiscent of the period perhaps (maybe to add to the nostalgic feel they were hoping to inspire in many readers with the content of the story). I don't know enough about art to say for sure. They were nicely done, and colourful, if not a style I'd seek out myself as art work.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For articles about Queenie:
Culture Victoria website: "A Zoo Icon: Queenie" Includes links to many other interesting (albeit short) articles about zoo animals & history.

"Queenie's Last Ride" by Mary O'Brien, The Age, August 9, 2006. Article published in response to the book, offering interested reader more background on the story.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the unique presentation of the illustration. The story lacked something in its telling. It’s a sad story but needed more heart.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true story that doesn't shy away from a tragic ending. Might be too dark for younger readers, but a good choice for children interested in the treatment of animals.

[Barbara Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad but true story of the life of one elephant captured and placed in a zoo in Australia.

[Viviana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.9 stars

[Josephine Sorrell]

Richie's Picks: QUEENIE: ONE ELEPHANT'S STORY by Corinne Fenton and Peter
Gouldthorpe, ill, Candlewick, June 2013, 24p., ISBN: 978-0-7636-6375-9


"'We were looking for food,' Ruby says, 'my family and I. But I wandered
off and got lost and went too close to the village.' Ruby looks at me,
eyes wide. 'I was so scared when I fell into that hole.'
"'Of course you were,' I say. 'I would have been scared too.'
"'Me too,' Bob admits. 'And I like holes.'
"'The hole was huge.' Ruby pokes her trunk through the bars and makes a
circle in the air. 'And guess what?' She doesn't wait for an answer. 'The
water was all the way up to my neck and I was sure I was going to die.'
"I shudder. 'What happened then?' I ask.
"'I'll tell you what happened,' Bob says darkly. 'They captured her and
put her in a box and shipped her off and here she is. Just like they did
with Stella.' He pauses to scratch an ear. 'Humans. Rats have bigger
hearts. Roaches have kinder souls. Flies have--'
"'No, Bob!' Ruby interrupts. 'You're wrong. These humans helped me.
When they saw I was trapped, they grabbed ropes and they made loops around my
neck and my tummy. The whole entire village helped, even little kids and
grandmas and grandpas, and they all pulled and pulled and...'
"Ruby stops. Her lashes are wet, and I know she must be remembering all
the terrible feelings from that day.
"'...and they saved me,' she finishes in a whisper.
"Bob blinks. 'They saved you?' he repeats.
"'When I was finally out, everyone cheered,' Ruby says. 'And the children
fed me fruit. And then all those humans led me back to my family. It
took the whole day to find them.'
"'No way,' Bob says, still doubtful.
"'It's true,' Ruby says. 'Every word.'
"'I've heard rescue stories like that before.' It's Stella's voice. She
sounds weary. Slowly she makes her way over to Ruby. 'Humans can surprise
you sometimes. An unpredictable species, Homo sapiens.'
"Bob still looks unconvinced. 'But Ruby's here now.' he points out. 'If
humans are so swell, who did this to her?'
"I send Bob a grumpy look. Sometimes he doesn't know when to keep quiet."

[Christiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful picture book that is also one of the saddest stories I've read. Queenie was born in India, captured as a young calf, and taken to her new home at the Melbourne Zoo. There she lived for over 40 years, giving rides to children, until a tragic accident led to her death. While Queenie was dearly beloved by the citizens, especially the children, of Melbourne, it’s impossible from our perspective today to view her life as anything but miserable. But at that time (Queenie began her job carrying zoo passengers in 1905) it was routine for zoos to collect animals from the wild. The author beautifully evokes an earlier time, without judgment, but also makes clear how zoos are different today.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew from reading reviews that this was no walk in the park (pun entirely intended), but what I didn't expect was just how sad the story of Queenie the elephant had been. Much credit should be given to the author and illustrator for effectively portraying the melancholy of this beautiful creature's life threaded throughout this short work.
I do give it only 3 stars, however, because it feels somehow incomplete. While there is necessary speculation (including the important "we'll never know" question of how/why her keeper was crushed to death), I'm just not certain the 24-page picture book format was the best way to present her story. No question, however, that young children will realize how far we've come in terms of animal treatment, and how far we still have to go.

[Carol Surges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hats off to the Corinne Fenton for an amazing work of art. The years she labored on this eulogy show in the careful structure of the story, the development of the elephant's personality and the use of humor and tension. Although Queenie isn't an animal most U.S. citizens are familiar with, we all have our favorite zoo animal that lives on in our memories. Readers will relate to this story for that reason and many more.

The illustrations are a worthy accompaniment to the text, filling in many details and adding a sense of time with the photo-realistic images and use of highlight color.

A word of caution: sensitive young readers may need an adult's guidance with this book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The saga of Queenie, an elephant born in India, captured and shipped to Melbourne where she became the star attraction at the Melbourne Zoo, inevitably ends in tragedy. The author poignantly describes Queenie's daily routine and the pranks she played on those who tried to outwit her. The sumptuous illustrations have an almost photographic style that lends sentiment to the story. The last couple of pages will surely prompt much thought and discussion about animals and their rights as well as how zoos have changed. Although this is a picture book, it would be a wonderful companion to The One and Only Ivan.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, Ms Mitchell read it to us in library, and I think eveyone has to agree that it is one of the saddest books ever! The happy story of an elephant who everyone loves is crushed by the result of a small accident. I had tears in my eyes and I'm not sure if anyone else did either. Of course, Kelly brightened the moment by saying that the man in the yellow was a banana skin. I don't have any idea of how that ended up on her mind, but it sure made everyone laugh. I'd recommend this book to everyone from the age of 8.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quiet, reflective, and beautiful book about a zoo elephant in the era when animals were kidnapped from the wild to stock zoos, and were kept in barren enclosures where they could be subject to the taunts of less-than-pleasant visitors. Despite her very unfair circumstances, Queenie was a gentle animal who seemed to enjoy the company of her keeper and kind visitors.

This book may be little too sad for the youngest kids, but for the older ones, it's a great source of discussion about the treatment of animals, and zoos in the past and present.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though realistic, may be disturbing to some readers. Queenie is a zoo elephant during the depression. Children stick pins in her trunk (though she gets her revenge) and she's put to sleep after accidentally crushing her keeper. Beautiful illustrations, but would benefit from some context of historical and contemporary zoos.

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is sad and true, about a beloved elephant from the Melbourne Zoo, who patiently gave rides to visitors six days a week for nearly forty years, until she accidentally killed her keeper. The illustrations are just lovely.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This true story is about an elaphent who gets sent to a zoo. It was very sad.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, based on a true story, was very moving and the pictures were very real, almost like photographs on a postcard.

[Ariana]

I havent read this book but it looks really exicting

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures in this book were nice and so was the storyline!

[Christy Valyou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sad story. This book is a great one to get kids talking about the way animals have been treated over history.

[Shiloah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad story I sent my kids to bed with. Oops. Sweet story aside from the ending. But not all true stories end on a positive note.

[Mrs Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story, told with real feeling for Queenie and the love she generated with people.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations - sweet story although the ending is sad.