Ellison the Elephant

by Eric Drachman

With the help of his imaginary friend, Weasel, Ellison finds his very own voice - a jazzy sound that charms all the other animals!

Book HardcoverPublication 11/18/2005 32Reading Age 3 and Up

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 25, 2004

Reviews

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too cute!

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

La història de l'Ellison és la història de tothom que pugui llegir aquest meravellós llibre. Tots tenim dins un petit Ellison que busca trencar els motlles establerts per la nostra societat, i perseguir els nostres somnis i les nostres passions. Es tracta d'un llibre escrit amb la traça dels grans mestres, i que transmet la il·lusió dels preciosos lligams amb les primeres amistats, com la de l'Ellison i la Sra. Mostela.

Moltes gràcies a la Quina del Dofí per descobrir-me el millor llibre del món. Espero també trobar aviat la meva pròpia veu

[Tryan a Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book about finding your voice. It must be listened to on the CD because the accompanying music and sound effects add so much depth to the story. As opposed to a book on CD (which is mainly a read-aloud), this is an example of a sound-book where the soundtrack is essential to the story line, the same way the illustrations are in true picture books.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Now, close your eyes and look inside. When you find your voice, let it out ...”

Ellison, a young elephant, doesn’t trumpet like all the other elephants. No matter how much he tries, all that comes out is a little toot. His mother likes Ellison’s sound. “It sounds like you!” But Ellison doesn’t. He hates getting teased by all the other elephants. He just wants to sound like everybody else. But his mother insists “All the greatest elephants in history were unusual — that’s what made them great!”

Ellison keeps looking for his voice and with the help of Weasel, he finds the confidence to cut loose. “It looked like nothing he’d seen before, but he knew it right away. It was his very own voice!”

A CD accompanies the book.

[Rachel Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read. It teaches kids that being different is okay and can lead to wonderful discoveries. James Muscarello did a wonderful job illustrating Ellison the Elephant.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about developing in your own time, finding your own voice, and dealing with teasing.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tonight’s bedtime feature is one of my new favorites for children. My four-year-old son was mesmerized.

[Anneke Alnatour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really hoping that the audio CD would have been included with the library book, but unfortunately it wasn't. Either way it was a lovely story and the drawings were pretty.

[Pamela Rabon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids love elephants. This story will make them smile.

[Samantha Brake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading this book to your little. Such a wonderful book.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellison the elephant isn't like the other elephants his age. He isn't as big as they are, and can't make nice, loud blasts with his trunk like they can. His mother encourages him that all the most famous elephants were unique, but Ellison is not convinced. He gets so upset he pulls up a bush and meets weasel, who at first makes fun of him but then helps Ellison discover a very special talent.

I didn't have access to the audio CD that is supposed to accompany this book. I'm sure actual jazz music in the background would make it even better, but I still enjoyed it with only my imagination to supply the background. The pictures are delightful on their own, and the story is a good one to encourage kids to find their own unique gifts.

[Ashlyn Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all honesty, I don't impart five stars to books of any age or genre that often. It truly take a achievement to move me enough to warrant such an accolade. Eric Drachmann’s Ellison the Elephant is so beautiful and so completely magical in a way that so few children's books can master, that not only my toddler, but myself included, simply cannot attain enough of the talent and beauty the tale conveys. And to offer even further delight to this treasure, the book includes a brilliant audio that is wondrous! I love it, love it, love it! You simply must buy for your child's home library! ~AH

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a very young age elephants can trumpet blast with their trunks. However, Ellison, cannot. He doesn't know why but when he tries as hard as he can, all that comes out is a little toot. He gets laughed at and teased.

One day he goes off by himself and meets up with his friend Weasel. Weasel teases him but then encourages him to practice. Together they find that Ellison has a fantastic trumpet! In fact it's so awesome that all of the other elephants gather round, begging Ellison to teach them how.

A good story about finding your own voice.

[Olivia Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book it was very cute and hard great illustrations. It is about a little elephant that has not yet found his voice. His friends can all make big elephant sounds, but Ellison can only make a little squeak. He gets made fun of and finally by the end of the book he finds his big voice and it is spectacular. This book would be good to read to a classroom about diversity and accepting others.

[Alysha Flaget · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was about an elephant who was different and not like all the other elephants. Ellison loved to tut her horn and had a sound of her own. Throughout the story she learns that she is different and not like everyone else, but towards the end she accepts her special gift and blossoms with it. This is a good story to read to children when teaching them that it is okay to be different, not everyone is the same, each individual has their own special gift that they should embrace.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book with a good meaning to it. The pics in this book are wonderful to look at with how bright each page is. This book helps not only kids but others learn that being different it okay and that in the end being different can be fun and exciting.

[Sung Baick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book with warm and fuzzy feeling pictures. Main characters are Ellison, the elephant, and a weasel. Ellison is looking for his own special sound and he finds it with the help of his friend. This would be a great read-aloud to read with different voices.

[Sandybear76]

I loved this book. The little elephant is trying to sound like the older elephants and he is getting discouraged with his little toot sound. His friend helps him discover the sound within himself. The new sound makes everyone stop and listen to the little elephant.

[Haylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love elephants they are so cute so I enjoyed this book! Cute story about an Elephant named Ellison. Everyone in this book thought that Ellison was so weird and by the end of the book all of the Elephants want to be just like her.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes a read-along CD read by the author and a cast of actors doing the voices of the animals. Pretty great!

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

a cute story of learning your own strengths, has a cd with music

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My girls love this book. I love that it talks about individuality. It teaches kids that its ok to be different and at some point everyone is going to want to be just like you.

[Laura Ellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I was drawn to it because the elephant shares my name. I really feel in love with the story though and how it promotes that everybody has something they can be proud of.

[Chrissie Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite children's book.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who's not ordinary but extraordinary.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story with a can-do attitude. Addresses finding the music within yourself and the topic of imaginary friends.

My copy came with an audio CD.

Grades K-2

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute! Love the jazzy music that accompanies the story.

[Tric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really cute story about finding your "voice"!