Akimbo and the Elephants [Import] [Paperback]

Alexander McCall Smith (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Egmont UK Limited (April 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405218118
• ISBN-13: 978-1405218115
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,247,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alexander McCall Smith was born in what is now Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana. He is now Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. He has written more than fifty books, including a number of specialist titles, but is best known for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, which has achieved bestseller status on four continents. In 2004 he was awarded British Book Awards Author of the Year and Booksellers Association Author of the Year. He lives in Scotland, where in his spare time he is a bassoonist in the RTO (Really Terrible Orchestra).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ethics and Morality of Ivory Poaching, October 20, 2005

By 

Jon Linden (Warren, N.J. United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Akimbo and the Elephants (Hardcover)

In this short children's book, McCall Smith is as usual interested in ethics and morality. The book centers on Akimbo, a child of about 7 or 8 years of age. Akimbo becomes aware that there are people that poach Ivory, by killing elephants illegally and taking the tusks. Akimbo learns this when he and his father, a park ranger come upon a dead elephant and a live calf. Akimbo is bothered greatly by this situation. Not only is he bothered by the dead mother, but also by the calf left behind.

In discussing this with his father, Akimbo discovers that it is very, very difficult for poachers to be caught and brought to justice. He hatches a plan to do just that. His plan is to find out who the poachers are, and get proof of their illegal activity. Then to turn this information over to his father so the poachers can be brought to justice.

In effectuating his plan, Akimbo is exposed to considerable personal danger. Nonetheless, he decides that the unethical behavior of the poachers is worth the risk to his person. The story tells how Akimbo achieves this objective. The book is an excellent story for children and teaches not only ethics and morality, but also something about Africa and elephants and Ivory. It should be considered by all parents trying to show examples of ethical and unethical behavior to their young children. In addition, it shows the concept that one has the choice to act ethically, or to just sit it out and watch. Akimbo chooses the former rather than the later.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Akimbo Versus the Ivory Poachers, May 27, 2008

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Akimbo and the Elephants (Hardcover)

Although this book is described as being for the 4-8 year-old group, it seemed to me more like a 7-9 year-old book that might well appeal more to boys than to girls (based on having had two of each in our family).

I was attracted to the book by realizing that the various animal-related stories that Alexander McCall Smith includes in his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books were among my favorite parts of those books. It occurred to me that the Akimbo books might have such stories in them.

Well, not quite . . . but the series is full of Akimbo learning about wild animals, the threats to animals from people, and deals with the problems through Akimbo's brave deeds. Children like to see themselves playing important roles in the world, and Akimbo and the Elephants is very good for appealing to that desire.

Akimbo's father works as a ranger at a game preserve in Africa where some near-by villagers have been killing elephants to take the tusks to sell to ivory carvers. Akimbo decides that he will put a stop to this practice, and his adventures provide for a good story that will keep your attention . . . even if you are well over the age of 9.

The book is nicely illustrated which adds to the realism of the story.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars African Adventure for Children, January 24, 2006

By 

Virginia Allain "(retired librarian)" (Poinciana, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Akimbo and the Elephants (Hardcover)

"Now, in his first books for children to be published in the U.S., he takes readers deep into the heart of Africa, where the grass grows taller than a man, and where lions and great elephants still roam. There, ten-year-old Akimbo lives with his father on the edge of a game reserve. Akimbo loves to join his father when he patrols the reserve because there is always something exciting to see. But when it comes to wild animals, excitement can also mean danger..." (description from publisher's website)