The Elephant and the Piano

K-Gr 3–Based on true events, this is an inspiring story of music and connection. ­Bonti lives in an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, but he is not happy. He has a strong temper and doesn’t get along with the other elephants. One day, Paul (a bespectacled white man with white hair) decides to play the piano for Bonti. This has an amazingly positive effect, not just on Bonti, but on all the elephants. The text is simple but lovely, descriptive, and age appropriate. There are additional notes about the origin of this tale and suggestions about performing music for pets. The illustrations are done in a combination of gouache, watercolor, oil pastels, and digital media. The color palette is full of warm tones with light yellows, soothing greens, and blues. Digital brushes create texture and value shifts, adding emphasis to the mixed media format.