Just for Elephants [Hardcover]

Carol Buckley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2006 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Most elephants in America live in circuses and zoos, and their lives are very different from what they would be in the wild. But there's a very special place in Tennessee called the Elephant Sanctuary, where elephants can finally have the freedom to roam and have elephant friends. Why do elephants come to the Elephant Sanctuary, and what is their everyday life like there? Some are like Shirley, who performed in a circus before an injury forced early retirement and a transfer to a zoo. She lived at the zoo for many years and received good care, but she didn't have elephant friends. Then plans were made for Shirley to move to the Elephant Sanctuary, a place just for elephants. It was a big surprise to everyone when Shirley recognized another elephant when she arrived—they greeted each other with great excitement and joy and lots of trumpeting. Jenny had been a baby elephant at the circus where Shirley had worked so long ago. (Elephants do remember!) Shirley and Jenny spent that first night standing close, with their trunks wrapped around each other. And in the morning, Jenny led Shirley outside to explore the fields and ponds and woods and meet all the other elephants. Now Shirley has a special family, in a place just for elephants.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–6—Shirley, a circus elephant hurt and unable to perform, was left at a zoo for many lonely years. She is now traveling to the Elephant Sanctuary, 100 acres of Tennessee land where sick, old, and needy elephants can wander free in the nation's first natural-habitat elephant refuge, founded by the author and a friend in 1995. This is a beautifully written, compelling story of a conscientious drive to care for these animals in a humane way, and to provide a home for them that is as close to the wild as possible. Photographs of and text about Shirley and her new friends show the intricacies of elephant society. A wonderful introduction to the growing need to provide for responsible animal care.—Cynde Suite, Bartow County Library System, Adairsville, GA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

A sensitive observer of elephants, Buckley records the arrival of Shirley, an elderly circus animal, at the Elephant Sanctuary, cofounded by the author, in Tennessee. Shirley's first day turns out to be a satisfying one: she encounters Jenny, a younger elephant with whom she previously worked, gets a warm welcome from other residents, and explores her 2,700-acre new home. Young elephant lovers will be particularly drawn to the big, sharp color photos, several of which feature Shirley (easily recognizable because of her ragged ear and game back leg) leaning against her new friend, displaying signs of affection. Closing with further information about the Elephant Sanctuary and additional details about Shirley, Jenny, and elephant care, this photo-essay makes a good companion to Carol Buckley's award-winning Travels with Tarra (2002). John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers (November 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884482839
• ISBN-13: 978-0884482833
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #414,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just for Elephants, March 8, 2007

By 

Linda Schwab "litmave" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Just for Elephants (Hardcover)

Love this book. Bought it because I love elephants and because Shirley, the main elephant of focus in this book, is my adoptee from the Elephant Sanctuary. It's more than a book for children, it's for anyone who loves elephants and wants to see them treated with respect and compassion. Thanks to Carol Buckley for all her glorious efforts on behalf of elephants. Now, if we could just stop using animals in circuses, life would be great!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book and story---, May 29, 2007

By 

B. Brown (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just for Elephants (Hardcover)

Very touching story about 2 elephants, Shirley and Jenny who found each other after many years apart , now at the Elephant Sanctuary in TN. Awesome pictures.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice for what it is, December 31, 2006

By 

C. S. Williams "Rabid reader" (Brentwood, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Just for Elephants (Hardcover)

This is feel-good book about the elephant sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN. The pictures are great, the stories are great for elephant-lovers, but I gave it only four stars because the book is pretty short. I bought it for my wife, and she read it in about an hour. Overall, I feel good about the money going to such a good cause.