The Shadow Elephant

by Nadine Robert, Valerio Vidali (Illustrator), Sarah Klinger (Translator)

A gentle story about sadness showing that sometimes all you need to feel better is the openness of someone who accepts you as you are.

This is a subtle story about an elephant who is down in the dumps. Illustrated with a striking contrast between shadow and light, the moody blue elephant appears to live in a different world from his colorful savannah friends. Empathy is a tricky emotion for children and adults alike to grasp, but The Shadow Elephant manages to walk the line between sadness, understanding, and emotional connection. Here we witness in a natural and comfortable way that it’s okay to be sad and to show it. It’s also okay not to have a quick fix. Better, in fact, to acknowledge someone else’s feelings without judgement and to show your acceptance of them as they are, which is often the very best gift of all.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Mental Health, Childrens, Emotion, Friendship, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Nadine Robert began her career as a video–game designer and director of animated films. As the founder of the publishing house Comme des géants, she has always had a strong passion for illustrated children’s books that have a powerfully built narrative approach combined with strong images. Her book, On the Other Side of the Forest, was named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus and a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book. She lives in Montréal with her family.

Reviews

[*yasmin* · Rating 5 out of 5]

چرا بعضی از قصه‌های کودک انقدر به دل میشینن؟

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes Elephant just lays in shadow, alone, quietly. The savanna animals try to cheer him up-- jokes, a dance, a snack, but nothing seems to evoke a response. Sometimes what someone needs more than anything is a friend, like the little mouse who comes to rest by Elephant. Someone to listen to and open up with. I'm not sure how to describe what exactly this book made me feel, but my best attempt is that I felt like my heart got a hug, seeing Elephant and Mouse become friends. The Shadow Elephant opened a door inside of me, a visual representation of the best kinds of friendships.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=724...

[Marisa Gettas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously illustrated children’s book tackling the issue of sadness/depression. Nothing helps the Shadow Elephant until a Mouse comes 'just to sit with him'. It’s a beautiful metaphor <3<3<3

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The elephant was staying in the shadows, not speaking or engaging with anyone. The other animals decide to try to cheer him up. First, the monkey told the funniest joke he knew, but the elephant didn’t even smile. The ostrich sisters did a dance, but elephant didn’t even move. The crocodile brought him a treat of acacia leaves, but the elephant just sighed. Then a small white mouse came up out of breath and asked to rest near the elephant. The elephant asked if the mouse was there to tell a story, but she just wanted to rest. So the two of them sat quietly together. The mouse eventually shared part of her story, making the elephant cry. The mouse cried too. Finally, when they were done crying, the elephant felt lighter and was able to stand up. The two headed off to find the mouse’s home together.

Translated from the French, this picture book about emotions and sadness shows how separate these blue emotions can make us feel. The elephant remains in the shadows, silent and sad, not even able to weep. Then the smallest of creatures with the simplest of gestures shows empathy. It’s that shared experience, the silence together, the moments taken, not to distract but to be with one another. The power of that, shown in such simple ways, resonates throughout the book.

The illustrations are full of contrasts. The pages with the elephant glow with blues and lurk with dark shadows. The elephant is almost a mountain at night, large and unmoving. The other animals are bright and colorful, the sky a beaming blue and the ground a neon yellow-green. The mouse arrives as the sun is lowering in the sky, creating a synergy between her side of the page and the elephant’s that shows their growing connection as well.

A deep look at sadness and the power of empathy to overcome it. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blue elephant lies quietly in the savanna and his fellow regional inhabitants misinterpret his ennui, trying to bring him out of his reverie. But as each animal attempts to do so ~~ the monkey tells a funny story, flamingos do a lively dance ~~ elephant remains stalwart, not responding much to their entreaties. Finally, a small mouse comes, asks if he can sit and then sits beside elephant. Elephant asks the mouse several questions first to determine what mouse's motive might be. But mouse has none other than a respite. Shortly, mouse tells elephant his story which forces elephant out of his blue period and elephant weeps at the sadness of mouse's story. The tears were such therapy for elephant. Soon he sits up, and he and mouse leave to find his home.
The use of blue color for elephant shows elephant's mood, and Roberts delivers ambiguity that respects the readers' interpretation of why elephant is lying down unresponsive. This might be a great title for counselors to use with young children addressing their "sadness".

[Reading Canuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elephant is remaining in the shadows, alone and upset. His savannah friends come one by one and try their best to help cheer him up by telling jokes, dancing and even offering a snack. Elephant isn’t in the mood for any of this. A small mouse comes along who is also feeling blue, but just wants some company. Eventually, the mouse shares its feelings and the two animals end up having a good cry together. They then support one another with their problems.

This is such a powerful book. It reminds us that it’s okay to feel sad. It’s also important for the people around you to not feel pressure to cheer you up. Sometimes you just need everyone to give you space, to listen to how you’re feeling and to let you cry it out on your own terms. This is such an important message for children and adults.

This book has strong themes of empathy, friendship and normalizing crying/sadness.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me a lot of The Rabbit Listened. The illustrations are very vintage European and the colors are so exciting. It's a pretty typical social-emotional learning kind of story where different animals are trying different techniques to cheer up elephant. It's nothing new but the illustrations and clear text bump it up from a 3 to a 4-star book.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple, low-key book for young children explores the feeling of sadness. In contrasting images of dark blue (with the sad elephant) and colors (the elephant's friends), a story is told in which none of the elephant's caring friends is able to distract him from his mood. As we find out, distraction isn't what the elephant wants—just quiet time together with a friend to talk about their sadness together, and through that unity come to feel hope again.

[Alissa Tsaparikos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important little story about depression and how sometimes you just have to not fix it. People want to fix things like depression. However, sometimes it just takes a listening ear, a good cry, and understanding. This one is best suited to elementary age children, as it may need to be accompanied by further explanation with an adult to get the full benefit of this story.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book with few words but a blue elephant the other animals in the savanna want to cheer up.
Sadness or feeling down is shown and the friendship when a mouse comes along. Both animals help each other with their problem and the message and the story I think are meta-fiction and told about abstract concepts.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet book about being with another person (well, in this case, an elephant and ultimately a mouse) in his/her sadness, acknowledging it, making space for it rather than either denying it or trying to change or fix it. Useful to talk about living the whole range of emotions with one’s child and also empathy in a more nuanced way and shared stories. Plus it’s just beautiful and sometimes funny, too!

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elephant in the shadows ignores his friends telling jokes and dancing and story telling. It isn’t helping. Then a mouse comes along to just sit and rest. The mouse shares his dire situation, and they both have a big cry. The elephant feels good enough to step out of the shadow and help the new friend.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along the same vein as The Rabbit Listened The Rabbit Listened.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, quiet, and an excellent book about empathy. I marked I read it here so my friends also on Goodreads can see it. Read it for and with any person, young or old.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, gentle children’s book about grief, and it’s message about helping a grieving friend is spot on. Loved it.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully simple, moving book about sharing sadness, expressing empathy, and showing compassion.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book up to the point where the elephant cries. Then I loved it.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is illustrated like a dream. Children and adults will fall under its spell and gentle wisdom.

[Marie-Pier Dodier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avoir un ami maussade. Juste s'asseoir à côté de lui sans le forcer pour le consoler.

[Audrey | Adapter au secondaire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Album portant sur la tristesse/dépression et l’importance d’une amitié sincère dans ces moments.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un album tout en douceur, minimaliste, qui montre que de se confier fait du bien à l'âme.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really beautiful.

I appreciate the quote de Sainte Exupery.

[Frida Bedolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

la empatía y la magia del acompañamiento y de sentarse a escuchar a quien nos necesita.

[Angel Torres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a wonderful message.

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 4 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: فیل سایه‌نشین

[Fatemeh Mousavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

من رو می‌گفت!

[Chantal HK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les animaux de la savane ont beau tout essayer pour remonter le moral de l'éléphant, rien n'y fait!
Ce n'est que lorsqu'une petite souris épuisée, perdue et triste viendra demander à l'éléphant si elle peut se reposer près de lui que la lumière va peu à peu revenir.
Une ode touchante à la douleur, la peine, la déprime et l'écoute.
Nadine Robert a le don de trouver les mots justes et de décrire les émotions avec tant d'empathie, c'est toujours efficace, émouvant et ça atteint son but.

[L.ivresse.des.mots · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apaisant

Il y a un temps pour tout.

Trouvé le temps de lire cette Album.

L'éléphant est triste, ses amis veulent le distraire mais la petite souris a une autre idée.

À méditer.