Friday, July 01, 2016

Book Review: What Elephants Know

WHAT ELEPHANTS KNOW by Eric Dinerstein tells the compelling story of a boy living in the Nepalese Borderlands.
Abandoned as a toddler, Nandu grows up in the King’s elephant stable. When the government threatens to shut down their operation, twelve-year-old Nandu must convince his adopted father to turn the stable into an elephant breeding center. Along the way, Nandu faces issues of political corruption, cultural identity, environmental ethics, and social justice.
Dinerstein’s beautiful prose brings a fascinating array of supporting characters to life including a nurturing mentor and caring elephant. Readers will be engrossed with the heartwarming tale from beginning to end.
Written for a middle grade audience, librarians will find this book has a number of audiences including animal lovers, history fans, and those who enjoy stories set in other cultures.
This “out of the ordinary” story of human connections with the environment in a far-off land is a refreshing break from mainstream children’s literature.
Published by Disney-Hyperion on May 17, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: How to Become President of the U.S. Poster

The HOW TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. POSTER is an easy-to-understand infographic showing the election process.
Developed by Kids.gov, the web page includes the infographic along with a simple explanation of each step in the process. Links are provided to age-appropriate websites that explore the process in-depth.
A lesson plan provides objectives, standards, and activities associated with each step in the election process.
Librarians will find this to be a popular website during election season. The poster can be downloaded or ordered online. This fascinating infographic would be an excellent backdrop for a display featuring books about the presidential election and past presidents.
To visit the website, go to https://kids.usa.gov/president/