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Habitats
Once Upon an Elephant
From stopping wildfires to planting seeds, one animal is the true superhero that keeps the African savanna in balance. Elephants dig to find salt for animals to lick, their deep footprints collect water for everyone to drink, and they eat young trees to keep the forest from overtaking the grasslands. In every season, the elephants are there to protect the savanna and its residents but what would happen if the elephants were only "once upon a time"? Read along to discover the important role this keystone species plays in the savanna and explore what would happen if the elephants vanished.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 25, 2017
I tend to think of elephants as large animals that roam Africa and as gentle giants of the animal world. I've seen them in zoos and in the circus. Recently, their plight in captivity has been recognized and many have been rescued and located where they can live out the remainder of their lives.
But I recently learned that elephants are a crucial part of survival of other animals and species in the wild. They are what is considered a keystone species.
As they roam they leave deep impressions where their feet impact the earth. In these impressions, small puddles of water remain from which birds and small mammals can drink. They uproot and eat small trees that sprout in the grasslands enabling the grasslands to remain intact for those species that need such.
They use their tusks to dig and then eat the soil for nutrients and in so doing expose salts that other animals need to survive. They also dig down into the dry, hard earth and expose reservoirs of water so other animals can have water to survive.
All this and more is explained in the Arbordale picture book Once Upon An Elephant. Beautiful illustrations show how the elephant is so crucial to survival of other animals. At the end of the book are a couple of pages of additional information and activities for the Creative Mind. This is a trait of Arbordale Publishing's book and one I always look forward to seeing.
Once Upon An Elephant shows us that the elephant is important for other specices to survive and the way the elephant's life impacts these animals. Just another reason for us to help protect these magnificient creatures. The book is written as an enjoyable learning tool for preschoolers through early elementary.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review of my personal opinions which are freely given.
But I recently learned that elephants are a crucial part of survival of other animals and species in the wild. They are what is considered a keystone species.
As they roam they leave deep impressions where their feet impact the earth. In these impressions, small puddles of water remain from which birds and small mammals can drink. They uproot and eat small trees that sprout in the grasslands enabling the grasslands to remain intact for those species that need such.
They use their tusks to dig and then eat the soil for nutrients and in so doing expose salts that other animals need to survive. They also dig down into the dry, hard earth and expose reservoirs of water so other animals can have water to survive.
All this and more is explained in the Arbordale picture book Once Upon An Elephant. Beautiful illustrations show how the elephant is so crucial to survival of other animals. At the end of the book are a couple of pages of additional information and activities for the Creative Mind. This is a trait of Arbordale Publishing's book and one I always look forward to seeing.
Once Upon An Elephant shows us that the elephant is important for other specices to survive and the way the elephant's life impacts these animals. Just another reason for us to help protect these magnificient creatures. The book is written as an enjoyable learning tool for preschoolers through early elementary.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review of my personal opinions which are freely given.
December 16, 2017
A wonderful book (I bought it for my cousin's baby shower) with lovely illustrations that teach the importance of elephants by showing their contributions to the world at large through their natural life practices. It is more about conveying facts than telling a fun story, but the way it does it is compelling. If the adult reading it doesn't love elephants already (or know much about them), by the end they are likely to love elephants as much as the child the book is intended to reach.
April 23, 2018
I love elephants and this book was fascinating. I wish there had been a bit more info about elephants themselves, but I learned loving about all the amazing things they do and how they’re such a key part of their ecosystem. Props for the back matter.
May 26, 2016
“Once upon an elephant, the sun beat down on the hot, cracked earth. Rivers ran dry. The animals of the savannah risked dying from thirst. But the elephants were there.”.
Thus begins Once Upon an Elephant, a nature book about life on an African savannah. Not only are elephants the largest mammal on Earth, they are one of the most important, if not the most important, animal on an African savannah. Whether the season is rainy or dry, elephants help other animals survive; sometimes simply by doing what comes naturally to them. For example, as an elephant walks, his feet . . .
To Read the Full Review and See a Few Interior Illustrations, Go To: http://bit.ly/OnceUponElephant
Thus begins Once Upon an Elephant, a nature book about life on an African savannah. Not only are elephants the largest mammal on Earth, they are one of the most important, if not the most important, animal on an African savannah. Whether the season is rainy or dry, elephants help other animals survive; sometimes simply by doing what comes naturally to them. For example, as an elephant walks, his feet . . .
To Read the Full Review and See a Few Interior Illustrations, Go To: http://bit.ly/OnceUponElephant
March 23, 2016
This is a beautiful children's book. I read it through once, and then read it to 2 young friends who had many questions about the elephants afterwards.
The illustrations are gorgeous . The story has a little repetition that the youngest kids love, and enough facts that their curiosities WILL be piqued by the end. Which is good! There are more facts in the pages after the story to help answer some of those questions.
Thank you, Arbordale publishing, for giving me a copy to enjoy and review. My review is totally honest. I have loaned my copy to librarian friends to consider ordering for their collections.
The illustrations are gorgeous . The story has a little repetition that the youngest kids love, and enough facts that their curiosities WILL be piqued by the end. Which is good! There are more facts in the pages after the story to help answer some of those questions.
Thank you, Arbordale publishing, for giving me a copy to enjoy and review. My review is totally honest. I have loaned my copy to librarian friends to consider ordering for their collections.
January 23, 2017
Having recently learned about keystone species in India, I was pleased to discover this book about the keystone African elephant. While every animal is integral to an ecosystem, this book highlights the different crucial functions of elephants in their region. The rhythmic text uses a refrain which comes full-circle to poignantly warn us about the elephants' future. Good details in the back matter. Illustrations were slightly stilted.
As a judge for the CYBILS award, I received a copy of this book for free in return for honest evaluation.
As a judge for the CYBILS award, I received a copy of this book for free in return for honest evaluation.
October 1, 2018
An excellent introduction to symbiotic relationships on the African savanna.
This book details why the elephant is so important to the ecological balance of the African savanna. Some of the was elephants contribute to the welfare: helping establish watering holes during drought; plucking out tree saplings and sprouts help keep the jungle contained, locating salt licks, eating large seed pods and passing the seeds in their excrement that rebuild forest trees, leaving their footprints in the mud to collect rainwater for small animals to drink; creating walking paths that also serve to slow wildfires.
An excellent readaloud, Stanek's repetitive sentence structure makes this approachable reading for early readers. Mixed media illustrations by Shennen Bersani are well matched with the text. They are lively, yet not over-busy and full of details of the African habitat.
Recommended for PreSchool- grade 3.
This book details why the elephant is so important to the ecological balance of the African savanna. Some of the was elephants contribute to the welfare: helping establish watering holes during drought; plucking out tree saplings and sprouts help keep the jungle contained, locating salt licks, eating large seed pods and passing the seeds in their excrement that rebuild forest trees, leaving their footprints in the mud to collect rainwater for small animals to drink; creating walking paths that also serve to slow wildfires.
An excellent readaloud, Stanek's repetitive sentence structure makes this approachable reading for early readers. Mixed media illustrations by Shennen Bersani are well matched with the text. They are lively, yet not over-busy and full of details of the African habitat.
Recommended for PreSchool- grade 3.
October 21, 2018
I loved this book, I thought it was so cute! This book teaches you about how elephants are a keystone species in Africa. It shows you everything they do to maintain the African savannas. I love this book because it shows how elephants are not big, scary animals. This book portrays elephants as superheroes. I also like this book because it makes you think of how the African savannas would be without the elephants, and I think that’s important to think about, especially in a time when so many elephants are being killed due to poaching and trophy hunting.
June 15, 2017
This is a wonderful Easy Nonfiction book that informs the reader about all of the things elephants do that help the animals around them to survive. We don't always realize the importance of each animal in the kingdom. The book reminds us that elephants are a necessary part of the ecosystem and that we need to make sure don't allow them to become extinct.
May 5, 2017
This book shares the impacts elephants have on their ecosystem and all of the parts that would be disrupted if they were to become extinct. It was wonderfully told and the play on a fairytale introduction may drive the point home to children reading.
Read
June 25, 2019"This may be one of their favorite books ever." Great illustrations combine with a repetitive and easy-to-grasp narrative structure to engage readers in learning about elephants. The book offers an age-appropriate conservation message.
May 4, 2017
Shows the importance of the elephant to the ecosystem. Would be a good read aloud for elementary students.
June 22, 2017
Informative, but not very well executed.
October 7, 2017
I LOVED this book! It helps kids to understand that elephants are a keystone species.
August 24, 2018
I loved this book, even though it was for a lower grade, I had a good time looking at all of the illustrations, and I'd love to read this to the elementary kids!
September 8, 2019
Beautiful!
September 12, 2019
Great example of a keystone species.
Want to read
April 3, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
December 19, 2021
Great book to learn about the importance of elephants to the ecosystem and how they benefit many other animals.
February 14, 2024
Great information about elephants and why it's important to save them. Great art.
July 15, 2024
Instructive information about the environmental importance of elephants told in an interestingly literary way.
May 10, 2016
Once Upon an Elephant is a story about the important role elephants play in the lives of countless other species. How their day to day activities protect and encourage growth on the savanna, which also helps other animals. The information is delivered in age appropriate language with 2-4 sentences per page. The story itself reveals several specific elephant 'activities' that benefits others and how many would suffer without the elephants. For example,
how the heaviness of the elephant causes their footprints to be deep enough to hold water. At times, during the dry season, these small pools are the only source of water for many animals...even younger children understand that without the elephants many animals would not survive.
I'm so excited about the children's books available from Adorable Publishing. These books encourage parents, teachers, older brothers/sisters, grandparents, etc. to get involved. Interactive quizzes, cross-curricular activities and more are available at Adorable Publishing's website. Elephants are called a keystone species, because they play a very important role in the lives of other animals, therefore affecting the entire ecosystem of the savanna. The number of elephants in the wild has dwindled to an embarrassingly low number in the last twenty years. If we and by we I mean all of us, do nothing, within a short period of time, these majestic animals will be a memory. Stories about them will have no choice but begin with.. "Once upon a time there was an elephant."
There's a lot of information contained in the last two pages. Maps, pictures, small info boxes.
One example of an "all about elephants" info box:
Female: cow
Male: bull
Baby: calf
Group Name: herd
My experience.
I read Once Upon an Elephant to my 4.5 year old, animal loving, granddaughter. She was excited as soon as she looked at the cover. She listened patiently, looking at every detail in each picture...until the third set of repetitions... "once upon an elephant," followed by, "but the elephants were there." Granted we've been reading to her, since way before she was able to even know that's what we were doing - which may mean she's more picky or opinionated than the typical 4.5 year old. But she liked it better when I skipped those words. Curious, I shared the book with my neighbor. She has two granddaughters age 7 and 9, and two grandsons age 3 and 6. The nine year old was immediately put off by the repetition, as was the 6 year old grandson. The 7 year old said it was ok, but she too liked it better when Grandma took those words out. The 3 year old was doing his own thing. The older kids enjoyed the website and all the extra information on those last two pages. I heard "elephants are pretty cool" .... and WOW, isn't that the response we are seeking?
If you have a child age 4-7, this is a fun, beautifully illustrated picture book - that inspires and encourages kids to learn more. Plus Adorable Publishing has activities suitable for classroom or at home available on their website. I look forward to many more wonderful titles from this author and this publisher! Enjoy!
Happy Reading!
how the heaviness of the elephant causes their footprints to be deep enough to hold water. At times, during the dry season, these small pools are the only source of water for many animals...even younger children understand that without the elephants many animals would not survive.
I'm so excited about the children's books available from Adorable Publishing. These books encourage parents, teachers, older brothers/sisters, grandparents, etc. to get involved. Interactive quizzes, cross-curricular activities and more are available at Adorable Publishing's website. Elephants are called a keystone species, because they play a very important role in the lives of other animals, therefore affecting the entire ecosystem of the savanna. The number of elephants in the wild has dwindled to an embarrassingly low number in the last twenty years. If we and by we I mean all of us, do nothing, within a short period of time, these majestic animals will be a memory. Stories about them will have no choice but begin with.. "Once upon a time there was an elephant."
There's a lot of information contained in the last two pages. Maps, pictures, small info boxes.
One example of an "all about elephants" info box:
Female: cow
Male: bull
Baby: calf
Group Name: herd
My experience.
I read Once Upon an Elephant to my 4.5 year old, animal loving, granddaughter. She was excited as soon as she looked at the cover. She listened patiently, looking at every detail in each picture...until the third set of repetitions... "once upon an elephant," followed by, "but the elephants were there." Granted we've been reading to her, since way before she was able to even know that's what we were doing - which may mean she's more picky or opinionated than the typical 4.5 year old. But she liked it better when I skipped those words. Curious, I shared the book with my neighbor. She has two granddaughters age 7 and 9, and two grandsons age 3 and 6. The nine year old was immediately put off by the repetition, as was the 6 year old grandson. The 7 year old said it was ok, but she too liked it better when Grandma took those words out. The 3 year old was doing his own thing. The older kids enjoyed the website and all the extra information on those last two pages. I heard "elephants are pretty cool" .... and WOW, isn't that the response we are seeking?
If you have a child age 4-7, this is a fun, beautifully illustrated picture book - that inspires and encourages kids to learn more. Plus Adorable Publishing has activities suitable for classroom or at home available on their website. I look forward to many more wonderful titles from this author and this publisher! Enjoy!
Happy Reading!
April 1, 2016
Once Upon an Elephant is all about elephants (obviously) and their impact on the habitats they live in. The world would be much different without elephants, and I love how this book explores how these great mammals fit into the cycle of life. They dig holes that fill with water, they eat young trees that would otherwise take over the grasslands, and they dig up dirt rich in salt that all the animals benefit from. Like other books from this publisher, Once Upon an Elephant has reserved the last pages in the book for information about elephants and how important they are to the African Savannah.
This is a good book to educate young children about elephants and the environment. Using the information in the back, kids can learn more about this species and how vital they are to their ecosystem.
I would recommend this book for kids in preschool through second grade.
Source: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My blog: Batch of Books
This is a good book to educate young children about elephants and the environment. Using the information in the back, kids can learn more about this species and how vital they are to their ecosystem.
I would recommend this book for kids in preschool through second grade.
Source: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My blog: Batch of Books
February 2, 2016
Using repetitive language and lively images, this brief book is filled with all the reasons that elephants matter. The author carefully but briefly describes how elephants found water and slat, removed trees, and made paths for other species to move through the land. The connections among species are made very clear here as is the warning on the last pages that human greed is imperiling these great beasts. The back matter includes a discussion of keystone species to provide young readers with awareness of the possible impact of the loss of these magnificent beasts. The book will make them think about what they might be able to do to help save the elephants, whose numbers continue to dwindle.
January 23, 2016
Once Upon an Elephant is a beautiful look at the way these large, lumbering creatures affect all of the other creatures in the great Savannah. Told through gentle repetitive phrasing and soft expansive illustrations, you can feel the slow movement of the elephants as they shape the world around them. Elephants are able to adapt the world every day with their tusks, their trunks, their footprints and even their dung. The impact that they make and the animals they help, so wonderfully described throughout the book, are in great danger as elephants grow closer to extinction. A powerful message and elegant book about these great animals.
April 4, 2016
Amazing childrens book. This story is all about elephants and their importance in the ecosystem. As an employee in the zoo field I am always critical on finding books that portray accurate information. This book not only does that but provides beautiful pictures to look at, a wonderful story, and even more information about elephants in the back of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone.
May 28, 2016
This book addresses Next Gen second grade life science interdependence between plants and animals. Illustrations are wonderful. Backmatter goes into more detail, but I do wish the author mentioned specific trees. Pictured are some unusual shaped seeds which we think are from the sausage tree, but it would have been great to include that information for the reader.
March 9, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveway.
March 11, 2017
All of the things elephants do that benefit other animals in their habitat. They are truly a keystone species!
March 25, 2017
If elephants go extinct we might only say 'once upon an elephant'. But for now, elephants play an important role in the ecosystem digging waterholes, pulling saplings, spreading seeds in their dung, and more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews