Tuesday 18 September 2012

Run! The elephant weighs a ton! by Adam Frost (Children's, 7 years +, 9/10)


13th September 2012, Bloomsbury
122 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: zoo life, life for elephants, living on a barge, exploration, canal locks, patience, watching an elephant grow up, vital training, solving a tricky mystery, learning how to deal with disappointment, some humour

Summary from Bloomsbury

Tom and Sophie join their mum in a dash to Whipsnade Zoo to help an elephant deliver its calf, and another exciting adventure begins. At first the elephant calf, Dirshani, struggles to survive as it doesn't eat well. With expert help and lots of care, the calf grows stronger, and Tom and Sophie have a new animal friend.

During the next year the young elephant is encouraged to take its place in the herd. Tom and Sophie dream that one day Dirshani will take part in the elephant demonstration. But there are a few hurdles for them all to cross before that dream is realised in this thrilling animal adventure.


Nayuleska's thoughts

I learned heaps of elephant facts from the story. I never knew baby elephants have to eat poo from their mother, or that she is pregnant with the baby for two years. Aside from learning about elephants this book has a real family focus. Tom and Sophie do some investigating on their own, but they listen to their grandad's experience which provides a solution to the puzzle that faces the pair. Their parents also get to show their unqiue skills. 
The funniest part wasn't about the elephants, but Tom's music performances as his friend comes up with hilarious alternatives to playing his oboe. The only reason this didn't get a perfect score was because the title actually doesn't make an sense. It doesn't relate strongly to the story at all in this 9/10 read.

You can find out more on Adam's website.

Suggested read

If you like animals, try this cute cat one Norton, the Loveable Cat who Travelled the World by Peter Gethers (no elephants!)


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