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Jumbo: The Most Famous Elephant Who Ever Lived

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Roll up! Roll up! And meet the incredible, the colossal, the world-famous ... JUMBO!

Our story begins in 1860, in the mountains of East Africa, where a baby elephant struggles to his feet and takes his first shaky steps ...

This is the deeply touching story of an elephant who captured the world's imagination, brought beautifully to life with enchanting storytelling and gorgeous artwork. Follow Jumbo's amazing journey from his remote home in the rugged mountains of East Africa and the time he spent delighting visitors with elephant rides and comedy routines at London Zoo. Be amazed by his spectacular stint in P.T. Barnum's 'Greatest Show on Earth' and how he led a herd of elephants across the newly-built Brooklyn Bridge to test its strength. Discover how Jumbo's remarkable life and legacy transformed our understanding and treatment of these magnificent creatures.
With a page-turning narrative by Alexandra Stewart and breathtakingly beautiful artwork by Emily Sutton, the true story of Jumbo's incredible life will fascinate young and old alike.

48 pages, Hardcover

Published September 3, 2020

18 people want to read

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Profile Image for Donna Maguire.
5,079 reviews120 followers
October 5, 2020
I really liked this book – but it also had quite a sad ending.

I really liked the images and they were really in keeping with the time from Jumbo’s life.

I loved his spirit but ultimately he was a zoo animal, captured from the wild and separated from his family when he was young, and eventually exploited by the circus – so whilst he was the most famous elephant that ever lived, his life could have been a lot better.

I did know the story of Jumbo from reading a book a while ago so I knew what was coming but I could imagine that it could be a little shock to younger readings as he sudden demise and what happens is not pleasant so would recommend that adults read what happened before they have a crying child coming to them! (Just in case).

The book tells his story really well and it is a fitting tribute to him and it just goes to show how much education and conservation has moved on since those days too – 4 stars from me – highly recommended!
Profile Image for Kevin Cannon (Monty's Book Reviews).
1,320 reviews24 followers
August 12, 2020
This is a delightful book for both kids and adults which weaves the tale of Jumbo the elephant around delightful full colour illustrations depicting the life and journeys of this most famous of pachyderms

This is the kind of book i would've loved as a child - the true story from the 19th century really resonates today when elephants are more protected.

The book fully earns its 5 stars just for the illustrations alone and coupled with the well told tale it is one of the best childrens books I've seen in a long time
Profile Image for sgh .
153 reviews
October 17, 2021
Informative, beautiful and truly moving, would make a great gift for animal-loving children (and adults).
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews

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