The illustrations are fantastic and so realistic. They jump out of the page toward you, so that you feel you are part of the story.
Only the smartest and bravest of animals from around the world, are invited to study at the School of Animal Magic (aka S.A.M). They study problems facing fellow creatures and solve their problems. The school motto is “We will survive”. Maisha is just home from S.A.M. And the entire family and friends are there to welcome her home. They live in a remote part of Africa. Maisha's best friend, Jonas, the Cattle Egret lands on her back to welcome her home. Everyone took her to the waterhole to wash all the dirt off her from her long journey home. After 3 days of celebration, her grandmother, matriarch and leader of the herd, wanted to hear what she had learned about the outside world. Maisha couldn't remember anything and started to worry what to say. Finally, she told them she couldn't remember. They cried “Elephants don't forget --- EVER!!!!! They tried many things to help her remember but nothing worked. Jonas had an idea. He flew off and came back with a large twig, which he put on the tip of her trunk. He put her into a hypnotic trance by getting her to stare at the twig until she got sleepy. She remembered. Elephants are in danger from people who want their ivory tusks. People will use magic sticks to hurt us. People have small noses and stand on two legs. Jonas says she forgot because it was too terrible for her to accept. He brought her out of the trance and her grandmother told her they knew what she had learned. Maisha then stood proud, issued a great cry and began stomping her feet in a rhythmic pattern. BOOM BOOM. She started using secret elephant chanting “Friends of Maisha never buy ivory” and kept repeating it. It went all around the world. Several weeks later Maisha and Jonas were urgently taken back to S.A.M., in a ball of light. They ended up in a classroom with Professor Quinn, a large gorilla. He told them that Maliki, a huge white lion with piercing blue eyes and a shining mane was a visitor from the stars who teleported them there to help save endangered animals. They were to be PARTNERS with Maliki. And that's how Book One ends...................... The illustrations are fantastic and so realistic. They jump out of the page toward you, so that you feel you are part of the story.
Maisha the Educated Elephant is a beautiful book that is about animal survival and also gives lovely explanations of how intelligent elephants really are through a story that can be enjoyed by both adults and children.
Maisha the Educated Elephant is a beautiful book that is about animal survival and also gives lovely explanations of how intelligent elephants really are through a story that can be enjoyed by both adults and children. The book is really easy to follow, and it was a big hit with my 5 year old nephew. I also loved the illustrations by Cal Howard they were so accurate and spot on. My nephews thoughts: “I liked the book because the elephants are nice and are kind to each other. They all look after each other in the forest. The elephants look really nice they look like the ones I saw when I went to Kenya on holiday.”
I was so pleased when I began to read this as it said book one - fab there is more to come.
I was asked to review this beautiful book and wonderful story by Lovereading.co.uk Maisha, the author writes means "life" in Swahili, this book message is about animal survival. Children will love this book beautifully illustrated by Cal Howard. This is a beautiful book to snuggle up and read with your child with a storyline to emphasise animals, their heritage. Society needs to preserve these wonderful creatures and what better than to emphasis this in a way children can understand and grow up with this knowledge. I was so pleased when I began to read this as it said book one - fab there is more to come. Thank you for the opportunity to review this wonderful tale of morality and preservation.
I enjoyed this story and I thought the illustrations were very good.
I enjoyed this story and I thought the illustrations were very good. I think children will relate to Maisha and her friends and family and will understand the message the book is putting over. However, I think the story finishes too abruptly: it needs a proper ending. I also don't think that children would necessarily understand some of the language used. I'd be happy to read this story and any subsequent stories in the series, to my grandchild, although I would probably change some of the language as I read it.