Mary Tavener Holmes

Charlemagne, one of history’s most legendary and powerful rulers, is gifted an albino elephant named Abu after having visited the faraway city of Baghdad and its people. The two instantly hit it off as friends in a true tale gathered from ancient chronicles and biographies written shortly after the end of Charlemagne’s reign. Authors Mary Holmes & John Harris have sagely chosen a story that is both endearing and rare and tell it in delightful language that expresses the tale’s whimsy and the magic of unusual friendship. Actual artifacts, sculpture, and paintings are included among the pages. Some words may be beyond the reading level of much of the target audience and elicit the assistance of an adult. Jon Cannell’s simplistic watercolor and ink sketches are accessible and unintimidating to young readers and communicate the child-like sentiment that permeates the story. The Elephant from Baghdad is a great chance to learn a little more about a period in our history that is often overlooked until secondary- or post-secondary educations. Grades 2-3.… (mer)