(Part 2) Best children elephant books according to redditors

Elephants are meant to roam. It's not just circuses that harm them, but even keeping them in zoos can be damaging to their health.

The Detroit Zoo did something fairly remarkable ~10 years ago. They had undergone an upgrade of the elephant enclosure to try to make it more comfortable for the elephants, but when they finished it they decided it still wasn't good enough just in the sense that elephants are meant to walk many miles every day and couldn't do that without much more space. So even after spending the money to upgrade their enclosure, the Zoo made the decision to send the elephants to the Performing Animal Welfare Society's sanctuary in California where they could roam freely for the rest of their lives.

Shockingly, the Association of Zoos & Aquariums flipped out and threatened to pull the Detroit Zoo's accreditation if they went ahead with the plan, but the Detroit Zoo stuck to their decisions and essential called the bluff of the AZA, who eventually backed down. The elephants were transported by train to the sanctuary and lived out the rest of their lives in comfort. The Detroit Zoo has stated it will never house elephants again and has encouraged guests inquiring about it to donate to sanctuaries instead that house elephants formerly confined to zoos and circuses.

You can read more about it here: https://detroitzoo.org/about/your-detroit-zoo/elephants/

And you can read more about the Performing Animal Welfare Society here (they're well worth donating a few dollars to if you're able): http://www.pawsweb.org/

Edit 1: Accidentally referred to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums as the American Zoological Society (the Detroit Zoo is run by the Detroit Zoological Society). Fixed to point out it was the AZA that didn't like the Detroit Zoo's decision.

Edit 1.5: A lot of questions about why the AZA opposed the Detroit Zoo's decision. I didn't mean it to come off like the AZA is a bunch of monsters. Far from it. My recollection is they wanted the Detroit Zoo to send the elephants to another AZA zoo, presumably to avoid it looking like one of their members suggesting that no zoo is capable of humanely housing elephants (which, I believe IS what the Detroit Zoo was indeed suggesting anyway). It's not that the AZA didn't/doesn't believe in giving elephants adequate space to roam, it was that the Detroit Zoo (and since then other zoos) disagreed with what "adequate" means in terms of elephants.

Edit 2: There is a children's book that was published a couple years ago about the two Detroit Zoo elephants that I've heard is great for kids. It's called Wanda and Winky: The True Story of the Detroit Zoo's Last Two Elephants. https://smile.amazon.com/Wanda-Winky-Linda-K-McLean/dp/0997481005/

Edit 3: Here's the Detroit Zoo's director talking in 2015 about the decision to move the elephants 10 years earlier, along with footage of a happy Wanda & Winky at the sanctuary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxqslJsXPZg

Elecopter https://www.amazon.com/dp/0805093044/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ccCuzbKFYG8FQ

Reminds me of the 'Should I share my Ice Cream' book my son likes me to read to him over and over. if anyone's interested

Ah, the elephant! Honestly, I don't know much. Sypeck basically sums up what the sources know. There is a good short article by Prof. Paul Dutton in here called "Charlemagne: King of Beasts" that has some more stuff I think. And I also discovered this new kid's book, but that probably shouldn't be trusted. :-)

Bannon should read donnie this book at bed time.

Lamarckism and/or How the elephant got his trunk

My four year old son loves Waiting Is Not Easy right now. It's fun, has a good message, and is simple enough that he can "read" it to me.

I recommend Gerald and Piggie books - they're great for both genders and they are a good easy reader for the kid to read themselves when they get to that point. Throw in a Gerald and Piggie plush and you have yourself a fantastic gift set.

I have some of these books on my baby's wishlist. They're fingerpuppet books but they talk about kids and people all over the world.This London one looks cute from a series called Hello World. There's another series called Tiny Traveller.

Edit: forgot a link!

Did you read Horton Hatches the Egg when you were little? :)

African Safari? Elmer? How the Elephant Got Its Trunk? Louie the Lazy Elephant? A Color of His Own? Bird, Fly High? Do You Want to Be My Friend?...Penguin? Where's Tumpty?: A Tilly and Friends Book? Tacky in Trouble?

SO baggy. Reminds me of my much younger years. http://www.amazon.com/Saggy-Baggy-Elephant-Little-Golden/dp/0307021106

For the little ones: "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!"

I loved this book as a child. I made my father read it to me so much he would hold it upside down and read it backwards too.

Was it one of the Babar books? There's one where "Babar Visits Another Planet". It's the only one I specifically remember reading, but I also rememeber enjoying it.

Edit: written in the 70s, but I read it in the 90s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babar_the_Elephant

https://www.amazon.com/Visits-Another-Planet-Laurent-Brunhoff/dp/0810942445

Like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Babar-Loses-Crown-Harry-Abrams/dp/0810950340

Hooray for Hat!
Paperback – June 6, 2017
https://www.amazon.com/Hooray-Hat-Brian-Won/dp/0544930630

Book 1 and Book 2. You're welcome.

I am anxiously excited to start the RAOA School of Mischief & Merriment. I do, however, feel that I am not quite prepared. I keep looking at the list of supplies needed. Perhaps you could assist me, that is if you don't mind.


I will most definitely need my book, that is if I want to keep track of all the spells and potions. That class will surely give me anxiety, lol.

I have heard that many suffer from Morthy-itis. Perhaps I should bring this so I can open a necessary adult beverage to pour into said container.

I have heard that the professors like us working like house-elves, so I should bring along this just in case.

For those cold nights, this will keep my head in the game.

They're good at getting their nose into trouble, maybe they can teach me a few things.

Oh, I cannot forget these. They will surely keep me hidden and invisible from any pesky bugs.



Answers may be out of order. I also stuck with things that were currently on my wishlist.

http://www.amazon.com/Took-Ball-Elephant-Piggie-Book/dp/1423174917/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1PRPNSIYP7C6D&coliid=I325AO03EXNN1C

Book for the littles! MILKSHAKE! :)

Click Clack Peep (my daughter LOVES all the Click Clack books, but this is her favorite one. Btw it’s mandatory to read it in the most Southern, country accent possible.)

How to be a Good Dog

Owl Babies

Blue on Blue

Hello Light House

Puppy and Friends

We Forgot Brock!

Giraffes Can’t Dance

Solar System

Ten Little Rabbits

Panda Bear, Panda Bear What Do You See?

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Babushka Baba Yaga

The Thingamabob

Hear Bear Roar