D.S. Arnauld’s Elephantopia is an exciting journey with spunky, relatable characters. Unwitting hero, Caj, has the best of intentions but often stumbles into more trouble than he can handle. Mjok, his elephant, is loyal but extremely mischievous. And Chiku, Caj’s unlikely friend, is loud-mouthed and opinionated but genuine, kind, and fiercely brave. Together they overcome adversity and uncover a long-hidden treasure of knowledge. By their example, children will learn to empathize with all beings (human and animal), face challenges head on, place high value in education and understanding, and seek the true beauty in others despite possibly not-so-great first impressions. Young readers will be challenged by the vocabulary, but a glossary is conveniently provided. And, because of the creativity in the writing, there is also an opportunity for lessons in learning new words through context. Recommended for adolescents aged 9-14, but definitely enjoyable for all ages.