Grandma Elephant's in Charge

Grandma Elephant's in Charge

by Martin Jenkins
Illustration by Ivan Bates

Elephants are the biggest animals on land, and they live in big families, too. So who can keep them in line? Grandma in lively prose interspersed with fun facts, Martin Jenkins spins a striking story about this no-nonsense matriarch and her remarkable brood, while Ivan Bates brings the great beasts to rumbling, tumbling, lumbering life.

Grandmas have always been an important part of a child's life and this story shows that animals can have a loving Nana too. Woven into the simple story of a grandma elephant caring for and protecting her herd are numerous facts about elephants that older children will find fascinating. Who knew that elephants can eat 350 pounds of food each day? While younger children may like looking at the beautiful watercolor illustrations, the facts and educational storyline of the book may be better received by kids in early elementary school.

This book - one in the Read and Wonder series of factual animal stories - is a great way for kids to learn interesting tidbits about the biggest land mammal. Children who are intrigued by seeing the elephants at the zoo will especially love hearing the story and learning about the everyday activities of a pachyderm.

Although I read this story Emily, the three-year-old that I babysit, she isn’t quite ready to grasp the factual parts of the lives of elephants. However, she loves looking at the colorful drawings and becomes excited whenever the baby elephants are shown. She also is involved in the reading and will finish the line, "Grandma's in....CHARGE!" In a couple years, she'll be able to fully appreciate the educational value of the story, yet she still has requested the story repeatedly and seems to enjoy it already. She even points out little things in the drawings, like an elephant taking a nap under a tree or another one eating its dinner.

--Abby