Half of an Elephant [Hardcover]

Gusti (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

One night, all of a sudden, the world split in two. Faced with this unexpected event - and with half of his considerable body missing - an elephant begins a journey to find his missing half. Along the way, he discovers the many different ways there are of rebuilding and reinventing oneself.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–A clever and unique picture book that is illustrated with digital images of objects arranged in collages. One night, all of a sudden, the world split in two. An elephant loses his back half, and the sections wander around the world trying out new partners and discovering the advantages of being separate. Suddenly things snap back into place and the two are reunited (but not quite the same as before). The artwork is full of interesting details to pore over: nuts and bolts, washers, screws, wood pieces, springs, paintbrushes, and other everyday items are scattered across the pages, even creeping into the font every so often. On one spread, the halves of many animals circle the pages, tempting readers to match them up. This imaginative book could be used in storytime, but it will work best with individual readers who can delight over the inventive constructions.–Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
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Review

"For anyone who has struggled to understand his or her place in the world, this book is a must." --- Through the Looking Glass Book Reviews

"The artwork is full of interesting details to pore over...This imaginative book could be used in storytime, but it will work best with individual readers who can delight over the inventive constructions." --- School Library Journal

"Argentinean-born Gusti possesses a knack for storytelling and a sense of humor that will appeal to young and old alike...most satisfying book" --- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Pub (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193360509X
• ISBN-13: 978-1933605098
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,299,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun with discarded objects, December 1, 2006

By 

Kelly Herold "Big A little a" (Smalltown, Midwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Half of an Elephant (Hardcover)

An award-winning illustrator from Argentina, Gusti uses "digital images of numerous discarded objects 'to show children that art can be created from objects that usually end up in the garbage can.'" And uses him he does. The discarded object illustrations are dynamic and quite humorous in their composition.

The story begins with an unexplained catastrophe: "One night, all of a sudden the world split in two." An elephant, pictured on the cover, finds his back half is missing. In his search for the rest of him, he meets other animals missing a half. And they're all suffering from a sense that something is missing.

On the other side of the world, the other halves of the animals are having the exact same problem. And combining two halves of two different animals doesn't solve anything. Some animals talk too much, and when a monkey half and an elephant half join up, they're too heavy to climb a tree.

Fortunately, all ends well for the animals, but children will love the mess inbetween as the animals combine into strange elephant-monkey, duck-elephant, chameleon-elephant hybrids.

New from Kane/Miller, "Half of an Elephant" is lots of creative fun for kids ages 4-8 and is an excellent choice for an art lesson at school or at home. Read the book and inspire discarded-object art.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from www.firrkids.com, January 14, 2009

By 

www.firrkids.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Half of an Elephant (Hardcover)

One night, without warning, the world cracks in half. Animals everywhere discover that they too have been split. Half an elephant finds many other animals wandering about in the same predicament. Unable to find his other half, he attempts to join together with other animals, but with disappointing results.

This book does a fabulous job of demonstrating how trash can easily be transformed into treasure. Nuts, bolts, screws, wooden bits, torn cardboard and papers are all given a new life here. Our preschoolers were fascinated with the creations, racing to point out objects they recognized. Favorites included the rhino made of bread and the tape measure giraffe, although the monkeys are also outstanding.

Animals and scenery are pieced together out all sorts of items that would usually end up in the trash bin. Readers can see first hand how found objects are brought together to make art. "My idea," said Gusti, "is to show children that creativity helps us to live a better life."

This is a simple story accompanied by the most wonderful visuals. Definitely a combination designed to delight and inspire the creative person in all of us!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A quality product from Gusti!, October 5, 2008

By 

golgotha.gov (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Half of an Elephant (Hardcover)

HALF OF AN ELEPHANT

by Gusti

This is a very clever children's book where the pictures are made from collages of various junkyard items such as used paint cans, rusty metal and wooden planks. The story involves a world where everything has been divided into two parts, including the world itself! The main character is an elephant who goes in search of his hind legs, but considers matching up with other animals. Meanwhile, his hind legs are trying to find the rest of his body as well. It reminded me a little of the book 'JUST SO STORIES' by Rudyard Kipling. My only complaint is that the ending is very very abrupt. It is a great book though, and worthwhile for the excellent illustrations alone! A high quality product all around.