This silly book has an abrupt ending, but plenty of giggles along the way that make you forgive the sudden conclusion. Additionally there is a lot of diversity in the illustrations, a little hijabi girl of color that steals the show, and a lesson about asking and listening that children 4-7 will find sweet and enjoyable. It is an AR 2.5 and has 36 pages. Some are text heavy, but my 4 year old had no problem sitting through it with the silly pictures and large 9 x 11.5 size.
Poe is an elephant that has planted himself in the middle of the only road in Prickly Valley. The citizens do everything they can think of to get him to move. They honk, write him a ticket, bang pots and pans, play trombones, blast megaphones, tickle, beg, and bribe. They even bring in mice, and magnets, and motivational speakers. Clowns and copters, cranes and pastors, magicians and the mayor, no one can get him to move.
After lots of discussions involving coffee in stryrofoam cups, a little girl named Marigold, asks the mayor if anyone has asked Poe. Such an obvious suggestion, the Mayor laughs and says she doesn’t speak elephant. Little hijabi Marigold says, “anyone can speak elephant if they just listen hard enough.” She is also fluent in kitten and hedgehog.
Marigold discovers that Poe is waiting for a friend that is very late. A reporter asks if the friend could be wearing a polka-dot-tie, it is determined that it is possible and that also perhaps he is sitting on his friend. At that Poe stands up, finds his friend Mo and the two walk off.
The randomness of Poe sitting on his friend made me have to read the story a few times checking to see if a page was missing or stuck together, but alas no, it just suddenly is resolved and ends with no clues indicating that the elephant is sitting on a monkey.
I love that the name in the text for the little girl is Marigold, and that the illustrator chose to depict her as a little Muslim girl of color. On many of the other pages with the town folk trying to move the elephant, there are people of all colors, body shapes, hairstyles, head gear, eye wear, facial hair, body art, etc shown. Marigold seems to be at work with her father at their flower shop, and the mayor is a female.
There is nothing religious in the book, save a pastor trying to persuade the elephant to get behind him, and it doesn’t appear that the author or illustrator are Muslim (it is published by Disney Hyperion) which in someways makes the normalizing of a girl in hijab all the more sweeter. Sure, someone her age wouldn’t be required to cover, but the message and representation is deliberate and appreciated.
This absolutely gorgeous lyrical book will sweep you up and hold you tight as you imagine a world where more people take the time to get to know one another through the power and beauty of language. Over 32 pages that are exquisitely and whimsically illustrated the words dance and come to life in English and Arabic as a friendship is formed. Perfect for preschool through 3rd graders, older children and adults alike will be softened by the kindness and example shown between two little girls.
This 32 page picture book meant for preschool to 3rd grade really should be required reading for EVERYONE. So many lessons, so beautifully conveyed in the simple text and beautiful illustrations that I made each of my kids read or listen to it and then discuss: self confidence, nay sayers, self esteem, race, passion, body image, kindness, and perseverance to name a few. Accelerated Reader Level is 3.2 as older kids will understand a bit more than the younger ones, but I truly believe all will benefit. Written by a Muslim woman of color, featuring a girl of color and illustrated by a woman of color, this OWN voice book has it all for girls and boys alike.
Islamic School Librarian 