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If Animals Disappeared
If Elephants Disappeared
What would happen if elephants disappeared? Trace the repercussions of a world without elephants in writer and illustrator Lily Williams' third picture book about loss and conservation.
The Congolese forest is home to many types of animals.
Some are strong.
Some are slippery.
Some are loud.
And some, like the elephant, are BIG.
The elephant has become synonymous with the image of African wildlife. They can grow over 10 feet tall and eat up to 300 pounds a day. While these giants are beloved figures in movies and zoos, they also play a large role in keeping the forest ecosystem healthy.
Unfortunately, poachers are hunting elephants rapidly to extinction for their ivory tusks, and that could be catastrophic to the world as we know it.
The Congolese forest is home to many types of animals.
Some are strong.
Some are slippery.
Some are loud.
And some, like the elephant, are BIG.
The elephant has become synonymous with the image of African wildlife. They can grow over 10 feet tall and eat up to 300 pounds a day. While these giants are beloved figures in movies and zoos, they also play a large role in keeping the forest ecosystem healthy.
Unfortunately, poachers are hunting elephants rapidly to extinction for their ivory tusks, and that could be catastrophic to the world as we know it.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2019
153 people want to read
About the author
Lily Williams
20 books155 followersLily Williams is the author and illustrator of the If Animals Disappeared nonfiction picture book series and graphic novels Go With The Flow and Look On The Bright Side (co-written with Karen Schneemann). Lily seeks to inspire change, engage audiences, and educate people of all ages with her artwork. Her work can be seen in films and books and on the web at lilywilliamsart.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 16, 2024
The last one in the series of children's books about the impact of certain animal species disappearing (at least for now; I'm still hoping there will be more).
Elephants are gentle giants that can get quite pissed off (usually for good reason though). There are tons of stories of human-elephant interaction gone wrong but, luckily, we're making progress (farmers no longer kill elephants but use fireworks, beehives or pepper to deter them from eating everything in their fields for example).
Naturally, elephants aren't just cute and impressive and sadly hunted for their tusks - they are also very important for life on Earth. Why? Read this book and find out. ;)
We go back to how elephants evolved, where they live now (at least African elephants, though the same is true for Asian ones), how they live and how their way of life intersects with ours and that of many other species.
As in all the other books by this author, the little lesson is nicely tucked away in full-page illustrations, some of which are more simple than others:
I don't want to say this was the "weakest" in the series because that would somehow detract from the importance of elephants and I don't want that. However, the structure felt "run-of-the-mill" and the content felt a little "less" than in the other books. It can't be because there isn't as much to say about elephants, why and how to save them.
So while I didn't have quite as much fun with this as with previous ones, I still reccomend this to any reader, young and old, who appreciates wildlife and wants to learn about the importance of at least a few key species and how we can (hopefully) save them.
Elephants are gentle giants that can get quite pissed off (usually for good reason though). There are tons of stories of human-elephant interaction gone wrong but, luckily, we're making progress (farmers no longer kill elephants but use fireworks, beehives or pepper to deter them from eating everything in their fields for example).
Naturally, elephants aren't just cute and impressive and sadly hunted for their tusks - they are also very important for life on Earth. Why? Read this book and find out. ;)
We go back to how elephants evolved, where they live now (at least African elephants, though the same is true for Asian ones), how they live and how their way of life intersects with ours and that of many other species.
As in all the other books by this author, the little lesson is nicely tucked away in full-page illustrations, some of which are more simple than others:
I don't want to say this was the "weakest" in the series because that would somehow detract from the importance of elephants and I don't want that. However, the structure felt "run-of-the-mill" and the content felt a little "less" than in the other books. It can't be because there isn't as much to say about elephants, why and how to save them.
So while I didn't have quite as much fun with this as with previous ones, I still reccomend this to any reader, young and old, who appreciates wildlife and wants to learn about the importance of at least a few key species and how we can (hopefully) save them.
September 17, 2019
Make your 100th book of the year count, they said. Read something memorable, they said.
Well here it is. Lily’s 3rd book in her environmental series is as good and as beautiful as the previous two. Incredibly illustrated and thoughtfully written, this book explains what could happen if we are not careful and shows us that we can still make things right again.
Every child should read these books - their future is in their hands and there is still time to make it right.
Well here it is. Lily’s 3rd book in her environmental series is as good and as beautiful as the previous two. Incredibly illustrated and thoughtfully written, this book explains what could happen if we are not careful and shows us that we can still make things right again.
Every child should read these books - their future is in their hands and there is still time to make it right.
September 26, 2019
A thoughtful look at what might happen if the African Forest Elephant were removed from its ecosystem - the repercussions that would exist simply from the lack of elephant dung to spread and fertilize seeds. The book presents a lot of excellent information for young readers, written in a style that is understandable and accessible for elementary school-age children, with colorful, cute illustrations from the author/illustrator, Lily Williams. Ms. Williams us also the author of If Polar Bears Disappeared and If Sharks Disappeared. A lovely, informative book, one that will educate readers of all ages with facts they didn't know about elephants, conservation, and ecology.
September 22, 2019
Elephants are one of my favorite animals and the thought of them disappearing is heartbreaking. This book does an excellent job of explaining why it’s important for us to protect elephants — besides the fact that they’re so cute! The illustrations are adorable and I really like the “how You Can Help Save Elephants” section at the end. We can all do our part to make sure elephants don’t disappear!
April 16, 2021
A very good book, but with addendums. First off, it was a bit wordy. It was extremely important, but also fell a little short in a number of ways: first off, it diminishes the fact that God keeps creation turning, but still people should take care which takes us to problem number two: no clear action steps. And problem three: like many of these environmental type books, it focuses on making the children afraid of the future and paralyzed by the same fear that the author has. If there is no god, then that means life will evolve a new way just the same as it evolved into this way. It might be unsustainable to continue life as we know it, but that doesn't mean the world will forever be thrown off "it's game". But if there is no god then this whole thing is just a never ending pursuit of survival with no purpose, in which case it doesn't matter a whole lot anyways cause we're all going to die. I wish this book was written from a place that showed the need without fear, and a clear plan of action. But it did a great job explaining the wonderful affect of elephants.
March 6, 2021
My 6yo has expressed that this series is her FAVORITE. My 5yo liked how I said dung so many times in this one 🙄
October 6, 2019
A thoughtful, informative, poignant look at what would be the catastrophic consequence of African elephants becoming extinct.
September 18, 2019
There will be times when the title of a book alone brings you to tears. The thought of the words becoming a reality is too painful to envision. As a child you believed you might never see certain animals because they lived on continents or habitats far removed from yours. As a much older adult you know you might never see them because they have gone extinct . . . because of humans, their greatest threat.
This coming Friday, September 20, 2019 and next Friday, September 27, 2019 mark the Global Climate Strike where young people are inviting everyone to participate. Our planet and all its inhabitants are in trouble. In the third book in her series (If Sharks Disappeared Roaring Brook Press, May 23, 2017 and If Polar Bears Disappeared Roaring Brook Press, August 28, 2018) author illustrator Lily Williams shifts her focus to one of the largest land mammals. If Elephants Disappeared (Roaring Brook Press, August 17, 2019) addresses in a frank, easy-to-understand narrative how vital these creatures are to one essential environment, the tropical rain forest.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
This coming Friday, September 20, 2019 and next Friday, September 27, 2019 mark the Global Climate Strike where young people are inviting everyone to participate. Our planet and all its inhabitants are in trouble. In the third book in her series (If Sharks Disappeared Roaring Brook Press, May 23, 2017 and If Polar Bears Disappeared Roaring Brook Press, August 28, 2018) author illustrator Lily Williams shifts her focus to one of the largest land mammals. If Elephants Disappeared (Roaring Brook Press, August 17, 2019) addresses in a frank, easy-to-understand narrative how vital these creatures are to one essential environment, the tropical rain forest.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
October 13, 2019
I'm pleased to be able to add this informational picture book to my collection even though the title made me sad. Just imagine if there were no more elephants in the world! As she has done in her previous eco-friendly books intended to raise awareness about the effect on the environment of the loss of one important species--If Sharks Disappeared and If Polar Bears Disappeared, Lily Williams provides stunning reasons to care if African forest elephants no longer walked the earth. Since they are keystone species, their disappearance would have dire consequences on their habitat. The loss of their seed-filled dung would decrease the biodiversity of tropical forests, which would, in turn, result in larger trees crowding out smaller plants. This would result in the loss of animals dependent on those plants and causing a trophic cascade. While the text makes it clear why elephants matter, the author still offers hope and suggestions for ways young readers can save the species. The infographic at the center of the book showing the diminishing numbers of elephants from 2001 to 2018--a decrease of 62 per cent--is stark and shocking, data that should be a wake up call for all of us. The colorful illustrations support the text well with some amusing scenes, and the back matter includes a glossary, additional information about how dire the situation is for elephants, an Author's Note, and a bibliography. This is an essential addition to a science classroom library, and important reading for anyone with the slightest interest in the natural world and taking action before these magnificent creatures are forever gone.
November 9, 2022
This series combines vivid illustrations with a gentle introduction to ecology—a branch of biology which focuses on understanding organisms and their habitats. This series can be used as a tool to deepen an understanding and reverence of the ecosystems God has created, the interdependencies of God's creations and the potentially devastating impact our choices can make on the environment. In this story, readers are introduced to the devastating consequences of a senseless and horrific act—animal poaching. The glossary along with the information and the Author's Note in the back of the book not only reinforce the concepts put forth in the book but also give a list of actions that children can do to help protect elephants and the environment. Building this awareness at a young age is vital to teach future stewards of this Earth how to care for our planet.
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We rate children's books for virtue, language, story, and beauty and flag content advisories when needed.
Read more at MindfulMuslimReader.com.
“Books Worth Reading”
February 21, 2020
Pair with Giraffe Extinction for a real gut punch...
Great intro to this beautiful, but threatened, creature. Lovely illustrations (bonus points for depicting Black children in nature!) and clear consequences of the loss of elephants. I was a little surprised that "trophic cascade" wasn't defined in the glossary. (If it's defined in the text, is it not in the glossary? Am I forgetting how glossaries work?) It's a term that I was hearing for the first time, so I can only imagine that many children experienced the same.
Frustrating that the #2 thing listed in how to help elephants is to not purchase ivory or anything made from elephant products. Yes, I realize this is a driving contributor to their demise, but how many kids are purchasing ivory these days? Minor quibble, but it seemed a little out of place in the order of "ways to save elephants."
Otherwise, the execution is really well done!
Great intro to this beautiful, but threatened, creature. Lovely illustrations (bonus points for depicting Black children in nature!) and clear consequences of the loss of elephants. I was a little surprised that "trophic cascade" wasn't defined in the glossary. (If it's defined in the text, is it not in the glossary? Am I forgetting how glossaries work?) It's a term that I was hearing for the first time, so I can only imagine that many children experienced the same.
Frustrating that the #2 thing listed in how to help elephants is to not purchase ivory or anything made from elephant products. Yes, I realize this is a driving contributor to their demise, but how many kids are purchasing ivory these days? Minor quibble, but it seemed a little out of place in the order of "ways to save elephants."
Otherwise, the execution is really well done!
May 30, 2021
Okay so while I love the idea of this book, I don't love the way it was executed.
The flow of the book is really off. The beginning just tells facts ( I guess trying to give background information) and then we finally get into the chain reaction of "if elephants disappeared..."
Elephants are a keystone species and I like that that information was included in the text but then it only focused on elephant's poop. They do so much more than that! They dig watering holes for other animals (they can smell water when it's over a mile underground and then they remember where water was in the past). They also change the landscape when they pick up trees with their trunks or accidentally crush plants. I think it's a disservice that these other aspects of elephants' importance as a keystone species was ignored.
Also, for a picture book, I feel like a lot of the text was dense and too complicated.
I do love that two page spread of the elephant's face in the beginning of the book, that was pretty breathtaking!
The flow of the book is really off. The beginning just tells facts ( I guess trying to give background information) and then we finally get into the chain reaction of "if elephants disappeared..."
Elephants are a keystone species and I like that that information was included in the text but then it only focused on elephant's poop. They do so much more than that! They dig watering holes for other animals (they can smell water when it's over a mile underground and then they remember where water was in the past). They also change the landscape when they pick up trees with their trunks or accidentally crush plants. I think it's a disservice that these other aspects of elephants' importance as a keystone species was ignored.
Also, for a picture book, I feel like a lot of the text was dense and too complicated.
I do love that two page spread of the elephant's face in the beginning of the book, that was pretty breathtaking!
November 27, 2019
“From dung, to plants, to animals, to people, all life on Earth is intricately connected and balanced, and each organism plays a part in helping the world to thrive.”
Elephants are a keystone species which means they have a profound impact on their ecosystem. If they disappear, it will create a ripple effect that could destroy their ecosystem. “This chain effect, called a trophic cascade, would spread across different ecosystems, eventually changing the world as we know it.”
The book ends with a challenge for the reader to “use our voices to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Includes a glossary, additional information on elephants and tropical forests, suggestions for how to help, and an author’s note and bibliography.
Elephants are a keystone species which means they have a profound impact on their ecosystem. If they disappear, it will create a ripple effect that could destroy their ecosystem. “This chain effect, called a trophic cascade, would spread across different ecosystems, eventually changing the world as we know it.”
The book ends with a challenge for the reader to “use our voices to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Includes a glossary, additional information on elephants and tropical forests, suggestions for how to help, and an author’s note and bibliography.
December 3, 2019
This informational text describes why elephants are very important animals and how they contribute to various parts of the world. Their presence is crucial in order to keep the world running as it is now; however, if we lost them it would lead to other catastrophic events as told in a sequential manner. Wrapping the book up, the author explains what we can do so this will not happen.
I would unquestionably recommend this book because it shows a chain effect if elephants no longer existed. Students can learn about how each animal in a particular location can play a significant role in the survival of other animals and the area itself. The message the book presents is simple and easy to follow and understand and how students can contribute to keeping these animals alive.
Another informational picture book I would connect with this one is Don't Let Them Disappear. It discusses other animals that are endangered and the reasons why and what we can do to help.
A "delicious" quote from the book is, "And maybe then everyone will see that even the biggest of us needs a little help now and again."
I would unquestionably recommend this book because it shows a chain effect if elephants no longer existed. Students can learn about how each animal in a particular location can play a significant role in the survival of other animals and the area itself. The message the book presents is simple and easy to follow and understand and how students can contribute to keeping these animals alive.
Another informational picture book I would connect with this one is Don't Let Them Disappear. It discusses other animals that are endangered and the reasons why and what we can do to help.
A "delicious" quote from the book is, "And maybe then everyone will see that even the biggest of us needs a little help now and again."
February 20, 2025
This is the second book I have reviewed from Lily Williams's "If Animals Disappeared" series and I do not like this one quite as much as the shark book honestly. The information presented in this book is not as clear as the information that had been given in the shark book in my opinion but the illustrations are still lovely. I do love the additional information in the back of the book about combating climate change and how readers can help save the elephants. I would still recommend this book if someone is looking for an elephant book to gift a child who loves elephants, but if someone is looking for a children's book about biodiversity I would recommend "If Sharks Disappeared" instead.
January 18, 2022
I would hate for elephants to disappear. I would hate for all animals to disappear. There is so many endangered animals and they all deserve to be alive and if they died I would cry so much 😭😿. I want everyone who reads this to help all animals and especially endangered ones because I would love if all animals stayed alive and I would love if everyone helped them out so they can live a lot longer with their family. So please help all animals and that would be amazing and I would be so happy 😄!
October 5, 2019
The subject matter is heartbreaking, but this book is quite informative and does a good job at conveying how interconnected African forest elephants are to the world around them. The artwork in this is startling beautiful - I actually gasped when I opened the book and saw the gorgeous front endpaper illustration.
November 4, 2019
I love this series of books by Lily Williams. Oftentimes people hear about the decline of a species and mourn for that species without considering what happens to ecosystems when they disappear. This is an important topic for kids! I hope the stunning illustrations combined with the informative text will launch larger discussions with kids about keystone species.
January 6, 2020
I love what this book was attempting to accomplish, but sadly it wasn't very enjoyable. Super important topic and information, but the story is crazy repetitive - the same sentence is used on nearly every page, which made it boring for the older readers, but nice for the younger-s because they could anticipate the sentence and "read" it out loud.
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January 18, 2020Great story for Upper Elementary. Encouraging read for informational report, research, or read-aloud. The story is about what would happen if Elephants became extinct and goes into explaining key concepts of biodiversity and ecosystem. Included notes on the back for further action if touched by the story which I appreciated.
February 5, 2020
The third book in this series transports us to the Congo Basin Forest, where we learn the importance of the African Forest Elephant, and the detrimental global effects of their annihilation. The end papers would make a beautiful painting, and the back matter make this the perfect book for the elementary child.
January 14, 2021
Important topic. Text not necessarily dispersed evenly throughout the book. It starts very simple and immediately jumps into so much detail about the types of elephants that a younger audience would be lost but as an adult reader, you can shorten some of the text and not lose the meaning. Well, researched. Can be used for learning about saving an animal species.
January 14, 2020
Young readers can easily follow Williams text about extinction. She clearly explains what will happen if elephants disappear. The illustrations are incredible and make readers feel they are standing in the scene.
August 5, 2022
This is the second book in this series that I've read and I love them both they are wonderful books that have lots of facts and makes you really think about the world around us and how that one creature disappearing can affect the entire ecosystem
January 17, 2023
I love this series. It's a fantastic introduction to a complex problem. It's perfect for teaching how every creature plays a role, and something that we think isn't such a big deal is an important part of how life on Earth exists.
October 19, 2019
Love this series and glad to see another. Lily Williams makes these complex science concepts accessible.
November 6, 2019
There's a very important message in this book, and it is delivered well. The target audience (children) will understand what the author is conveying.
November 24, 2019
An elementary and up book about elephants and then presenting a string of what if's that would happen if they were to become extinct. Great and easy to follow.
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January 27, 2020Lily Williams book beautifully describes how important elephants are and what it would mean if they disappeared. I would use this book to read aloud to primary aged children.
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January 27, 2020This book was about the endangerment of the different types of elephants and what would happen if they did not exist. It also included how we could prevent this from happening.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews