How to Be an Elephant

Gr 3-6 Roy follows her masterly Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands with a stunning look at how a newborn elephant matures into a capable member of the herd. The work adroitly covers anatomy, environment, family life, and other topics. Roy emphasizes how elephants, with their "it takes a village" approach to rearing young, rely on their intricate social structure for survival. Large illustrations of a calf romping, splashing, and marching with the herd are interspersed with captivating diagrams and smaller images that expand on the lucid text, making clever use of visual metaphors (for example, a picture of a pocketknife demonstrates the many ways an elephant uses its trunk). The young elephant cuts a cuddly figure, but Roy never anthropomorphizes. Her deftly shaded, earth-tone illustrations effectively bring to life everything from the dusty African savanna to the wrinkled skin of the elephants. In-depth back matter lists age-appropriate websites, films, and books. The scientific articles Roy cites and her author's note about her trip to Kenya are a testament to her meticulous research. VERDICT Though materials on pachyderms are plentiful, this stellar addition stands out from the crowd; a must-have for collections serving elementary school students.--Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

In a richly informative follow-up to Neighborhood Sharks, Roy uses a baby African elephant's efforts to adapt to the world as a springboard to discuss the characteristics that make these creatures so distinctive. Roy's forceful watercolors convey a sense of movement and energy, with sweeping lines in violet, gray, brown, and pale blue. Interspersed diagrams help readers get a better sense of elephants' anatomy (including whimsical touches such as comparing a trunk to a Swiss army knife outfitted with a snorkel, trumpet, shovel, and more), while the central narrative dives into how the animals communicate, stay cool, and more. Immersive illustrations and careful attention to detail in both the text and art combine to create a rewarding study of a remarkable animal. Ages 7-11. Agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Sept.)

"The energetic illustrations are whimsical on one page, scientifically precise on the next . . . Roy reels you in with startling facts, then shows how a dominant species is really vulnerable, dependent on humans to choose to practice conservation." —New York Times Book Review

"Exceptional and arresting... Roy holds readers' attention with her approachable writing style and astonishing statistics."—Booklist, starred review

"A must-have."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Masterful." —Horn Book, starred review

"Immersive illustrations and careful attention to detail in both the text and art combine to create a rewarding study of a remarkable animal." —Publishers Weekly, starred review