24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful book for children with stunning photographs, March 29, 2008
This review is from: Elephants: A Book for Children (Hardcover)
I bought this book for my elephant-obsessed son. It is a stunningly beautiful book. Steve Bloom is a wildlife and nature photographer and the quality of the photographs is outstanding. Both African and Indian elephants are featured throughout, photographed in the wild, at work, at play and even swimming in deep water - who knew elephants can swim?
The text manages to be both highly informative and perfectly pitched to a younger audience. Facts are put in terms that children can relate to. In reading this book I learned so many interesting things about elephants (not something I would previously have thought likely). Some examples: Elephants are either left or right tusked just as humans are left or right handed. Elephants can swim underwater using their trunks as snorkels. Elephants educate their boys and girls separately. Elephants remember, even years later, the exact spot where one of their herd died. An easy way to tell Indian and African elephants apart is by the shape of their ears, which resemble the continents which give them their names.
The text and photographs also complement each other extremely well. A lot of thought has been put into this book. It is an absolute joy to read.
This truly beautiful book would make a wonderful gift for any pre-school or primary school aged child who enjoys animals.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A singularly pleasant book about elephants!, June 15, 2010
This review is from: Elephants: A Book for Children (Hardcover)
I declare "Elephants," photographs by Steve Bloom, text by David Henry Wilson, to be the most fascinating book about one animal in my PK-3 through 8 library. We already have two other books about elephants, both very nice informational books, but this one is visually different.
"Elephants" takes the reader on a tour through an elephant's life. Sounds typical, yet topic headings will reveal how exquisitely information, much through photos, is laid out: the T words--Trunks, Tusks, and Tails with some of the most wonderful photos of elephants I've ever seen. Elephants snorkel! Do you know that an elephant's trunk is "longer than the tallest person you know, and heavier than two normal-sized men" (13). The book is written in words and terms that even children can image. Tusks: Do you know that elephants are right- or left-tusked, much as we are -handed.
Ears: Get this: An African elephant's ears are shaped much like the continent itself, while ditto for the Indian elephant's ears. I am so amazed! Photos prove this! Their cushioned feet via toenails help them walk on all kinds of ground in total quietness.
An elephant's skin is so sensitive that the animals take mud-baths to cool off. A baby elephant stays in its mother's shadow as much as possible to prevent sunburn!
When an elephant dies, the herd stays by the body for days, trying to get that member up and alive again. Years later, when they pass by that same death spot, the tribe will stop and remain silent for several minutes, as if paying respect, before moving on.
This is the fascinating information in this incredibly fascinating books about elephants. It's the photographs--taken from all angle: above, below, front on, sideways, behind the elephants--that make this book so richly visual. This book should be placed in the hands of all children--and adults who want to see and learn about elephants.
Last fact on the last page: "One hundred years ago, there were about 10 million elephants, but now there are only about 500,000. We need to protect them" (64). An elephant has only two predators: man (by far the worst) and the lion (who hunts the old, the infirm, and babies who may wander too far away).
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5.0 out of 5 stars
very nice book, December 26, 2011
This review is from: Elephants: A Book for Children (Hardcover)
This is a very nicely illustrated book with beautiful pictures and informative facts about elephants.
My 4 year old son loves this book. Also good for older children and adults.
I would recommend this book for anyone.
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