Everyone faces a time when they feel a little different from others, but this book will help show your little one that differences can be welcomed, embraced, and sometimes overcome. Ellison is a young elephant with low self-esteem because he cannot make his trunk trumpet like the other elephants; "He tried and he tried, but all he got was a little toot." Ellison's mother demonstrates the unconditional love of a mother by insisting she loves the tooting sound he makes because "It sounds like you!" Ellison's journey to discovering himself is shown through pages of painted illustrations with gently shaded yellow backgrounds mimicking the African landscape, broken up by the occasional clumps of light green grass, or the soft grey of an elephant. The elephants - particularly Ellison - are adorable cartoon elephants, sure to make readers smile and root for him to succeed.

 

Ellison goes to his mother for comfort after the other elephants tease him and call him names like "Smellison" and "Tootie." Teasing is an inevitable part of going up, and an important topic for adults to cover. Discussing how teasing makes people feel bad, no matter which end of it you're on, is an important point to make. Although Ellison receives comfort and assurance from his mother, he receives advice and strength from a new friend - an imaginary friend, the weasel. It is the weasel who tells Ellison, "Close your eyes and look inside. When you find your voice, let it out . . . "  When Ellison does this and finally finds his own voice, it comes out in the sound of music! He is the first elephant to invent music, and all tbe others want to learn from him. Does your little one have a pretend friend? Who do they go to for advice and comfort?