Zola’s Elephant written by Randall de Séve and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski is a thought-provoking book about how stories we tell ourselves sometimes keeps us from taking appropriate action. In this case, when a new girl moves into the neighborhood another girl who lives across the street can’t bring herself to go over and say hello. She is sure the new girl, whose name is Zola, is busy with all kinds of wonderful activities.
This thought grows even bigger in her mind when she sees a huge box with large stickers that say “fragile” and “heavy” being rolled into the house by two movers. She decides Zola has an elephant in that box that would need a lot of care. She simply wouldn’t have any time to play. “I know Zola’s feeding her elephant now because I smell toast. Lots of toast.”
Next she is sure Zola and her elephant are taking a bath, playing hide and seek and building a clubhouse! Pictures of these imagined activities are full of energy, color, action and Zagarenski’s signature symbols such as crowns, flowered tea pots, unicorns, stars, yellow birds and figures dressed in costumes from a time long ago. However, between each of these illustrations the artist has placed a picture of what is really going on in Zola’s life. She is not gleefully feeding an elephant toast but rather sitting sadly at a table all alone with a piece of toast on her plate. Zola is not taking a bubbly bath with her elephant but rather she is all alone washing her plate in the sink. By the end of the book the girl across the street decides to take a chance and go over and meet Zola. The two lonely girls become instant friends as they sit upon a huge orange sofa that was delivered in the elephant’s box!
Zola’s Elephant written by Randall de Séve and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski is a charming picture book that will enchant readers 4-7 years of age (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018).
Questions/Activities for Zola’s Elephant
Pamela Zagarenski is a highly-praised illustrator. Study each illustration and find the symbols that have become an important part of her style: crowns, a unicorn, tea pots, tea cups, stars, yellow birds, balloons, costumes from days long ago, a rocking horse, ladders, banners and words such as peace and magic. Draw a picture of your favorite Zagarenski symbol. What are some of your own favorite symbols that you would include if you were to illustrate this story? Why?
Do you make friends easily? Have you ever hesitated to say hello to a new classmate? If so, why did you find it difficult? Did you finally say hello and welcome the new student? What caused you to go ahead and make a new friend? Have you ever been the new kid on the block or on the baseball or soccer team? How did it make you feel? Who made you feel welcomed? Have a conversation with your parents about your experience. Ask them to share one of their own on this topic.
Near the end of this picture book there is an illustration showing everything flying upwards including the two girls, the elephant, a ladder, a kite, a scarf in the wind, whales and hot air balloons. Give this picture a title.
