Where's the elephant

PreS-Gr 3-With minimal text and bright, bold illustrations, Barroux introduces children to the topic of deforestation in a poignant fashion that invites discussion. By beginning with simple questions that ask the location of an elephant, parrot, and snake, he establishes a familiar seek-and-find narrative that is comfortable and engaging. At first, this is mildly challenging, as Barroux's acrylic and pencil creatures are cleverly hidden in their jungle habitat. This quickly changes, however, as trees are soon removed and replaced by houses, roads, and cars. Eventually, the natural environment is gone and a zoo encapsulates the cheery animal friends until they elect to bust free, making for an ocean raft and new island home. Each spread is full of stunning art, with the lushness of the diverse tropical leaves set against the increasingly uniform and stagnant buildings. The excitement of hide-and-seek soon turns to crushing loss, forcing readers to ask why this conflict is occurring. The animals' final flight, along with the contrast between cityscape and natural environs, conveys an important message regarding the ecosystem and the role humans play within it. VERDICT Although clearly written for a younger audience and highly recommended for all picture book collections, this introductory text can be used to spark discussion with elementary school students embarking on environmental studies.-Rachel Zuffa, Racine Public Library, WI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This almost-wordless picture book uses a familiar format to teach about deforestation and habitat loss. Upon opening the book, viewers are swept into a vast expanse of blue brush stroke, with a small cluster of colorful treetops at the far right. The following double-page spread asks the titular question: "Where's the elephant?" A riot of brightly colored trees of many shapes and sizessome seemingly constructed from elegant wallpaperbarely expose the trunk, head, and ear of a simply drawn, friendly-looking elephant. Over the next double-page spread, the final words of the entire book invite readers to find the elephant, the parrot, and the snake, showing each animal's shape and color for later searching. Now comes the amazing cleverness: with each successive double-page spread, the animals grow easier to find, as more and more trees are chopped down to stumpsand more and more little houses, then roadways, then large buildings, are built. The three animals eventually teeter behind one tree before being temporarily confined in an urban zoo. Rather than leave young readers in an existential lurch, the conclusion is both comforting and unrealistican excellent way to span different, age-appropriate conversations. The youngest will search for the animals and be satisfied by the nave ending; older readers will have a springboard for a serious discussion. Unique. (Picture book. 2-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.