Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends

by Carol Buckley

A friendship unlike any other!

After retiring from the circus, Tarra became the first resident of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. When other elephants moved in and developed close friendships, only Tarra remained alone—until the day she met a stray mixed-breed dog named Bella. From then on, the two were inseparable.

Color photographs of Tarra and Bella at home in the Elephant Sanctuary deftly illustrate this inspiring story of inter-species companionship.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Dogs, Science

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2009

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my Q&A including updates with Carol Buckley and learn more about Tarra at www.readrantrockandroll.com

Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends by Carol Buckley is the touching story about an unlikely animal friendship between Tarra the elephant, and Bella the dog at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

The story itself is so heartwarming, but the added photographs of Tarra & Bella make it one of the best animal friendship books we've read.

After reading about Tarra & Bella, we headed over to www.elephants.com to take a look at the live Elecam video feed. Children can view the elephants at the Elephant Sanctuary in real time.

Even though this book came out in 2009, it's one of our favorite children's books in 2017.

5*****

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catching up…

This is a Dolly Parton Imagination Library book, that was donated to my Little Free Library Shed. For those unfamiliar, Dolly Parton created this program ‘to inspire the love of reading and learning in children.’ The program mails ‘a new, age-appropriate book into the homes of children every month from birth to age five.’

I am so grateful to include this book in my LFL.

This is the story of Tarra, now a retired elephant that worked a circus and some television shows; and, Bella a mixed-breed, sweet dog. At the time of publication, 2009, they lived at the Animal Sanctuary in Tennessee.

When reading this story, please be sure to have Kleenex handy. (Don’t worry, no animals were harmed in this story.)

Tarra was the first elephant to come to the sanctuary in 1995, but it wasn’t until Bella happened along her side, that Tarra had a true friend.

The story shown through photographs and words, tells their story of friendship and companionship.

This will be a wonderful, touching story to read with and/or to children in sharing the unexpected, magical relationships that happen between animals.

After finishing the book, I was curious about the status of Tarra and Bella. Through research, I discovered that Bella passed away in late October, 2011. In November, 2021 Tarra was relocated to the Elephant Refuge North America in Georgia, under the care and supervision of this author.

For more on Tarra’s story with Bella: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBtFT...

For more on Tarra at the Animal Sanctuary in Tennessee and her transfer to Georgia: https://www.elephants.com/elephants/t...

Reading Level: 1-5 years+ – Grade Level: Pre-school-Kindergarten+

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made it about 75% of the way through this book before I had to grab a metaphorical tissue. :)

This is a wonderful (true) example of finding friendship in the most unexpected places. I love the sincere and unbreakable bond between Elephant and Dog - their loyalty is truly something to aspire to.

The book chronicles the elephant's (Tara) arrival to the sanctuary, her part in introducing new elephants to the sanctuary and how she never gets her one best friend. Until the sweet dog, Bella, shows up and then they are forever together.

Until Bella gets sick (and yes, this is the tissue part) because Tarra stays with Bella until the keepers find and take Bella to get better.
Even then, Tarra's loyalty shines through, and the bond between Tarra and Bella never falters.

As far as prose, I didn't find anything exceptional here, but the pictures were quite beautiful in illustrating the story.

Definitely recommended! And, though this book definitely tugs at the heart, it's in a good way and the book will leave you with a smile.

******
Thanks for the recommendation, Katie!
I actually just saw a segment about Tarra and Bella on Oprah last week! lol! They looked so adorable and there was this very touching bit about when the dog (Bella, or Tarra?) was house-bound for a while. Sniffle! I hope you can find this a the library, if not, I'll have to find it on Amazon:)

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love elephants! I love dogs! And I really, really liked this book! It tells the sweet, resilient friendship of two unlikely companions.

Terra is a retired show elephant, who starred in such films as "Annie" She was the first elephant at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. And she was very welcoming to all the other elephants that arrived as the sanctuary expanded. But, while the other elephants formed bonds with one another, Tarra didn't have that one special soul-mate. Until one day Bella found her! Bella is one of the many stray dogs that live at the sanctuary. Usually, the elephants and dogs avoided one another but Bella and Tarra quickly became inseparable.

This book, written by Elephant Sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley, is more a factual story than a feat of storytelling but it's very touching, none the less. The photographs are similarly nothing artistically remarkable but as they feature an elephant and a dog as best buddies who cares!? They're wonderful! ;-) I would have been very nervous at one point if my sister hadn't read this first and assured me it wouldn't end with me balling my eyes out in sorrow. Still, its a very touching story and I wish that people who don't believe animals have emotions or intelligence would open their minds and hearts read this book!!!

The back of the book contains information about the Elephant Sanctuary. It sounds (and looks) like a wonderful place; of course, the author is a little biased but it does seem their intentions are good and that the elephants (all retired from performing, etc.) are happy there, allowed to truly be elephants for the first time in their lives. I've been to a similar facility locally and it was a bit sad but they didn't have nearly the space this place has. Interested readers can learn more about the Sanctuary on the website which also has an "EleCam" so you can watch the elephants 24/7! :-)

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read this book everyday. The true story of an older nurturing elephant who lives on an elephant reserve in Tennesse is charming enough. But add to that a stray, chubby dog named Bella who is adopted by Tarra. The play together, "chatter" and take advantage of the "meals on wheels" service that is available to them....until the day that Bella is badly hurt. The story is a fascinating story of animal emotions and strange friendship. The photos looks as if someone has follwed these two around lovingly capturing every delightful moment.
This is a wonderful way to start a unit on nature, or friendship or even loss (don't worry Bella lives - but Tarra is lonely for a few days.
I highly recommend this picture book

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tarra was the first resident at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Other elephants soon arrived and they formed friendships. But Tarra remained alone and lonely until the arrival of Bella the dog. Thus began an inseparable relationship. This true story of a remarkable friendship will touch your heart and the hearts of young readers.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

If it has occurred to you, fellow reader, that there seems to have been an explosion of picture-books detailing inspirational true stories of unlikely cross-species animal friendship recently, then you are not alone. I think by now the picture-book reader is probably pretty familiar with the tale of Owen and Mzee , the baby hippo and ancient tortoise brought together in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. He or she may also have come across the story of the Two Bobbies , a dog and cat who survived together in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Then there's the recent Tiger Pups , in which three white Bengal tiger cubs are nursed by a golden retriever.

So it is that my first thought, upon catching sight of Carol Buckley's Tarra & Bella, which details the story of a friendship between Tarra the elephant and a stray dog name Bella, was: "Oh no! Not ANOTHER one!" Of course I picked it up anyway (it's about ELEPHANTS, after all!), and was soon won over by the photographs of a euphoric Bella, bounding along beside her massive friend, and the details of Tarra's faithful care for her canine companion. Yes, I teared up a bit, when Buckley related how Tarra stood still for hours, refusing to move until help arrived for the injured Bella. Elephants are so darn smart! So loving, and so faithful!

What can I say? I've always loved elephants, and this tale of an old performer finally finding the home and friend she deserves, at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, won my heart.

[Tracy The Great · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is a good book and i think it such an inspiring book and i recommend it to anybody who loves animal friendships

[Lauren M · Rating 3 out of 5]

So cute,I have to say it was an amazing story

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need stories like this. Sometimes I hear stories that make me want to lose faith. And sometimes I find a story like this.
I couldn't stop thinking the last few nights about an article I read about a "woman" who, because of anger towards her boyfriend, picked up his puppy and threw him or her out of a second story window. The dog didn't live. I suppose that was a blessing in itself. The boyfriend? Was he furious? Did he want the person responsible locked up? Punished? No. "She didn't mean it." That hurts. And I volunteer a lot of my (and my daughters) time to animal rescue. Dog rescue for the most part. We've seen a lot that hurts.
So every once in awhile, when I'm really hitting bottom I need a story like this. One where a good cry is called for. Whether it involved human and animals or only one - doesn't matter. This happens to involved both.
I remembered this title the other day (the day after reading the article mentioned above) and I ordered it from my library along with Owen & Mzee: The True Story Of A Remarkable Friendship which I'd heard of awhile back and just hadn't ordered. Turns out this was sitting at my library so I didn't have to wait for it to be moved. Good thing.
How can people be so violent and angry and evil and animals be so pure and loving and giving? Aren't we supposed to be the evolved? The smartest? I think we're fooling ourselves.
This story is about Tarra, a retired show elephant (don't get me started) and Bella, a stray dog. One can only wonder and guess what their lives before finding each other were like. IMO it's safe to assume both most likely met with horrors like most of us will never know.
Bella wanders onto the TN. reserve that Tarra lives on and even though Tarra is somewhat of a loner (she didn't pair with a friend like the other elephants), after she wakes up to find this tiny (to her) dog sleeping with her, they become best friends. Literally.
Tarra and Bella ate and drank together, they played together, they slept together.
Tarra didn't move from one spot where Bella was found hurt for two days, waiting for her friend to come back. How many of us would give up two full days for a best friend? After the two days Tarra went straight to where Bella was resting (after having a vet visit and the vet finding a spinal injury). The caretakers say Tarra had no way of knowing where Bella had been taken. I can believe that so easily.
With Bella barking and wiggling to get outside and Tarra outside making her elephant noises, the overwhelmingly caring people picked Bella up and carried her outside. To see her friend. The pictures show a man carrying Bella, setting her down gently, supporting her so she could keep on her feet... and Tarra. Tarra gently nosing her trunk along Bella's body. Like she was checking her, or hugging her.
Every day after that the ritual was performed until Bella was healthy enough to go back to her friend.
Imagine an elephant, and a dog, standing next to one another. Taking a walk together. Playing in water together. That's what you see here. And I can't understand why we can't be more like them. It hurts so bad that these animals have so much to teach us and most of us aren't listening. It hurts so bad that these animals want only love and basic care, if that, and nothing more yet so many people can't seem to give this to them. Why?
The people who opened and run this reserve are heroes. Much more so than any football player, golfer, rapper, singer, etc. If there's anyone I want to be like, or want my daughter to make her idol, it's these people. It's the man in the pictures who was so clearly gentle with Bella. It's the person who made the reserve possible in the first place. It's the person who made the choice not to keep the strays from wandering onto their property. What if they had? Bella and Tarra would have never met. Tarra would possibly have never known her best friend. Bella would have died, last October (probably much, much sooner without the care she received at the reserve), still a stray, still unloved by animals and people alike.
The book gives a website - www.elephants.com - I can't say how much I recommend visiting that site. There are numerous ways to donate (guess how much it costs to feed an elephant for a day?) and there is so, so much more. Visitors can donate in Bella's honor which is a beautiful, beautiful gesture.
When we finished the book Julia asked me if Tarra and Bella were still alive and together. We went to the website and the first thing my eyes fell on was Bella's death date. My eyes instantly welled up, Julia saw me and hers did the same. She knows Tarra is alive and well and she knows Bella is in heaven waiting for her best friend. But she just couldn't understand how sad Tarra must be without her best friend.
It's a terribly hard thing to see your child cry. Yet I can honestly say I hope Julia never sees the day where she wouldn't cry over something like this.
Bella was a beautiful dog and Tarra is a beautiful elephant. The people shown and talked about are beautiful people. (The type of beautiful that actually count for something.) All of that equals a very beautiful story that I wouldn't recommend missing.

**Parents/guardians/teacher/etc. - The end of the story does not end with Bella dying. In fact, as this was written in 2009 and Bella didn't pass away until October of 2011, it ends with 'Today, Bella an Tarra can be found walking through the woods..... They are truly forever best friends.'

Even a very, very young child stands to gain so much from these pictures and this story, not to mention the people and the animals.

[Cris Ingram]

A retired circus elephant befriends a stray dog in the elephant sanctuary. They become best friends and inseparable . The photographs are good and the two are so cute together.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarra was a roller-skating elephant in the circus, in a movie, and on television. Finally, she was retired and taken to live in a sanctuary for elephants in Tennessee. Usually, an elephant will befriend another elephant, but Tarra did not make a friend there for a long time. One day, however, she met Bella and, unexpectedly, the two became best friends.

The text is simple and easy to understand. The book is illustrated with photographs of Tarra and Bella.

A little:
“Bella was rushed to the animal hospital, where the vets said she had a spinal cord injury. No one knew if Bella would ever walk again, but they took Bella home and made her comfortable in the heated office above the elephant barn while they tried to nurse her back to help. Through a large window Bella watched longingly as the elephants played outside. Meanwhile, for two full days, Tarra remained standing at the exact spot where Bella had been found, waiting for Bella to return.”

Children’s comments:
One child said, "I like how a little bitty animal and a big animal are friends." Another child said she liked how loving the pictures are. Both boys and girls liked this book. Most gave it a five, but a few thought it was a three.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells such a sweet story, and the photographs are beautiful! My niece enjoyed this story more than my nephew did, but surprisingly, neither kid seemed too emotionally invested. I think the kids *liked* this book, but I think their reactions to it were less enthusiastic than I expected. I really thought that my niece would just love this book, but I was much more swept up by the warm-fuzzy factor than she was. My niece spent most of the story wondering how the friendship between this elephant and dog was going to "break," (who knew she was so cynical?), and my nephew spent most of the story wondering when the elephant was going to step on the dog.

Still, the reactions of my niece and nephew aside, this is a lovely book that tells about a wonderful interspecies friendship/companionship. I really think that sensitive children would enjoy this story, and I think it could work well in a classroom setting, too.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice tale about an elephant and a dog who became the best of friends. The story is very similar in many ways to the "Owen and Mzee" tale, of course with other animals. And the photography, story and information about the elephant sanctuary are from the founding director and CEO of the sanctuary, so I'm sure it's a bit of an effort to advertise her pet project.

But to be fair, it's a heartwarming tale and our girls really enjoyed hearing it. They also enjoyed hearing about the different kinds of elephants at the sanctuary, different characteristics and their preferred foods. And they thought it was very interesting that they are all females! We've read this book a couple of times.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful children’s book on the subject of an inter-species friendship between Tarra, an Asian elephant at Tennessee’s Elephant Sanctuary, and Bella, a mixed-breed stray dog who showed up on the property. Despite their obvious differences, the two became fast friends.

The full-color photographs do a great job in study of perspective. We get to see how truly massive the elephant is in relation to the little dog—and how gentle she must be in order to look after Bella.

A section in the back, geared toward adults, explains the purpose and mission of the Elephant Sanctuary and directs readers to websites for further information.

This book would be an excellent read-aloud choice for a humane education presentation.

[Nickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's interesting to see something like this happen in the four legged animal world. It's something the two legged human animals can learn from. My kids enjoyed.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about how a dog became friends with an elephant. I liked it a lot!

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of an unlikely friendship will for sure go straight to your heart!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie, my animal lover, loves to read stories like this one. It was fun eating breakfast with her while she read the page closest to her and I read the page closest to me...krb 8/15/16

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite pictures books to share with students. I love reading it every year.

[Lagobond · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a sweet story, but I don't like how Tarra's past is portrayed at the beginning of the book:

Before Tarra met Bella, she was an entertainer. Tarra performed in the circus as the world's only roller-skating elephant. She was in the movie Annie and appeared on television shows like Little House on the Prairie.
But after twenty years of entertaining, Tarra deserved a different life. She needed elephant friends and lots of room to roam.

My issue with this intro is that it makes Tarra's past sound acceptable, perhaps even fun. I can't imagine the stress, confusion, and loneliness Tarra must have experienced in two decades of being an "entertainer." Keeping elephants for such frivolous purposes is animal cruelty, and needs to be called out as such, even in a children's book. We need to teach our kids that this is not ok, because Tarra deserved a different life all along, not just after 20 years of suffering.

[Lindsey Lawntea · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read A Friend for Einstein, the Smallest Stallion earlier this month, and if you enjoyed that book, you'll love this book too! It's a true story about an elephant who goes to a sanctuary and finds a best friend in a little dog. When the dog is injured in an accident, Tarra helps nurse her back to health. I teared up while reading this. I looked up YouTube videos of the pair as well. Unfortunately Bella was killed by coyotes in 2011 and Tarra found her beloved best friend's body and carried it to the sanctuary's barn (when I found this out, I cried some more). If you're just wanting a feel-good story for your kids or even yourself, read the book and watch the videos of the pair playing together, just skip over the videos mourning Bella because it ruined my day!

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Mommy's review from 2/29/12)


I need stories like this. Sometimes I hear stories that make me want to lose faith. And sometimes I find a story like this.
I couldn't stop thinking the last few nights about an article I read about a "woman" who, because of anger towards her boyfriend, picked up his puppy and threw him or her out of a second story window. The dog didn't live. I suppose that was a blessing in itself. The boyfriend? Was he furious? Did he want the person responsible locked up? Punished? No. "She didn't mean it." That hurts. And I volunteer a lot of my (and my daughters) time to animal rescue. Dog rescue for the most part. We've seen a lot that hurts.
So every once in awhile, when I'm really hitting bottom I need a story like this. One where a good cry is called for. Whether it involved human and animals or only one - doesn't matter. This happens to involved both.
I remembered this title the other day (the day after reading the article mentioned above) and I ordered it from my library along with Owen & Mzee: The True Story Of A Remarkable Friendship which I'd heard of awhile back and just hadn't ordered. Turns out this was sitting at my library so I didn't have to wait for it to be moved. Good thing.
How can people be so violent and angry and evil and animals be so pure and loving and giving? Aren't we supposed to be the evolved? The smartest? I think we're fooling ourselves.
This story is about Tarra, a retired show elephant (don't get me started) and Bella, a stray dog. One can only wonder and guess what their lives before finding each other were like. IMO it's safe to assume both most likely met with horrors like most of us will never know.
Bella wanders onto the TN. reserve that Tarra lives on and even though Tarra is somewhat of a loner (she didn't pair with a friend like the other elephants), after she wakes up to find this tiny (to her) dog sleeping with her, they become best friends. Literally.
Tarra and Bella ate and drank together, they played together, they slept together.
Tarra didn't move from one spot where Bella was found hurt for two days, waiting for her friend to come back. How many of us would give up two full days for a best friend? After the two days Tarra went straight to where Bella was resting (after having a vet visit and the vet finding a spinal injury). The caretakers say Tarra had no way of knowing where Bella had been taken. I can believe that so easily.
With Bella barking and wiggling to get outside and Tarra outside making her elephant noises, the overwhelmingly caring people picked Bella up and carried her outside. To see her friend. The pictures show a man carrying Bella, setting her down gently, supporting her so she could keep on her feet... and Tarra. Tarra gently nosing her trunk along Bella's body. Like she was checking her, or hugging her.
Every day after that the ritual was performed until Bella was healthy enough to go back to her friend.
Imagine an elephant, and a dog, standing next to one another. Taking a walk together. Playing in water together. That's what you see here. And I can't understand why we can't be more like them. It hurts so bad that these animals have so much to teach us and most of us aren't listening. It hurts so bad that these animals want only love and basic care, if that, and nothing more yet so many people can't seem to give this to them. Why?
The people who opened and run this reserve are heroes. Much more so than any football player, golfer, rapper, singer, etc. If there's anyone I want to be like, or want my daughter to make her idol, it's these people. It's the man in the pictures who was so clearly gentle with Bella. It's the person who made the reserve possible in the first place. It's the person who made the choice not to keep the strays from wandering onto their property. What if they had? Bella and Tarra would have never met. Tarra would possibly have never known her best friend. Bella would have died, last October (probably much, much sooner without the care she received at the reserve), still a stray, still unloved by animals and people alike.
The book gives a website - www.elephants.com - I can't say how much I recommend visiting that site. There are numerous ways to donate (guess how much it costs to feed an elephant for a day?) and there is so, so much more. Visitors can donate in Bella's honor which is a beautiful, beautiful gesture.
When we finished the book Julia asked me if Tarra and Bella were still alive and together. We went to the website and the first thing my eyes fell on was Bella's death date. My eyes instantly welled up, Julia saw me and hers did the same. She knows Tarra is alive and well and she knows Bella is in heaven waiting for her best friend. But she just couldn't understand how sad Tarra must be without her best friend.
It's a terribly hard thing to see your child cry. Yet I can honestly say I hope Julia never sees the day where she wouldn't cry over something like this.
Bella was a beautiful dog and Tarra is a beautiful elephant. The people shown and talked about are beautiful people. (The type of beautiful that actually count for something.) All of that equals a very beautiful story that I wouldn't recommend missing.

**Parents/guardians/teacher/etc. - The end of the story does not end with Bella dying. In fact, as this was written in 2009 and Bella didn't pass away until October of 2011, it ends with 'Today, Bella an Tarra can be found walking through the woods..... They are truly forever best friends.'

Even a very, very young child stands to gain so much from these pictures and this story, not to mention the people and the animals.

[Olga Gula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copyright 2009
Children's Literature
Theme: Friends come in all shapes and sizes.
This was a very sweet book about the loving friendship between an elephant and a dog. I think this would be a great book to share with the younger generation of students and would teach them that friends come into our lives when we least expect them. I learned new things myself like Tarra was in Annie which I had no idea and have always loved the movie.

[sabioandmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most books, this book consists of real photography as its pictures, not illustrations. Moreover, its true life story is extraordinary touching, also entertaining.

Sabio is very excited to read Tarra & Bella. He can't hardly wait. Maybe because of its animal theme and real photos. He also very focus listening to mom, when she read it out loud for him. He carefully pay attention to each photos.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This true story is about the unusual forever friendship between Tarra - an elephant living in the elephant sanctuary in Tennessee, and Bella - a stray dog who appeared by Tarra's side one morning. Tarra had not bonded with any of the other elephants, but it was an immediate friendship with Bella. Lovely story illustrated with beautiful photography.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love interspecies friendship stories.

Story of an Tarra, a resident of an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee, who is befriended by a stray dog. When the dog is injured, Tarra is a true friend staying with Bella and then visiting daily once Bella is rescued and being treated. Glad a Facebook friend's post reminded me of this. I must of read it before I was on Goodreads.

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story about a truly special friendship! I loved seeing the real live pictures of these two besties and was sorry to hear of Tarra's loss a few years back.

Animals are truly remarkable creatures.

[Em Mirra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pending.

[Megan Taulbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how the pictures were photographs. It was a very good story about how two animals that are extremely different became friends with one another. I think it has a good lesson for kids.