Back in 2006, Steve Bloom did a terrific “adult” book on elephants with a similar title to the children’s book. Elephant! took him 12 years to produce. Bloom showed elephants in habitat and intimate looks at their behavior, like elephants swimming and grieving, and mothers and their calves. With elephants, a book for children, Bloom has made another terrific book…this time, for children.
Within the chapters children are exposed to elephant behavior, social structure and their interaction with people and other animals. For example, in From Dawn to Dusk, we learn that elephants have 24 teeth (compared to our 32) but they use only the front 8. When those 8 wear down, the next set of eight move along to take their place. There’s a wonderful image—taken underwater looking up at a swimming elephant—that looks like the animal is suspended in space.
The text is short, but just long enough to introduce and explain the fascinating world of these fabulous giants to children.