Elephant in the Dark
Elephant in the Dark
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Publisher's Hardcover ©2015--
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Annotation: In this version of the blind men and the elephant, based on a poem by Rumi, Persian villagers try to figure out what strange animal in a dark barn has arrived from India.
Genre: [Fairy tales]
 
Reviews: 4
Catalog Number: #108164
Format: Publisher's Hardcover
Copyright Date: 2015
Edition Date: 2015 Release Date: 08/25/15
Illustrator: Yelchin, Eugene,
Pages: 1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN: 0-545-63670-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-545-63670-4
Dewey: 398.21
LCCN: 2013049691
Dimensions: 29 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Elephant in the Dark is an amusing retelling of a poem by the thirteenth-century Persian poet Jalal al-Din Rumi. When a merchant returns to his village with a mysterious creature procured in India (an elephant), the villagers are impatient to see what it is. One by one, they creep into the dark barn and emerge declaring that they know exactly what it is based on contact with one part of the strange beast: a slithery nose, a tall sturdy leg, a floppy fan-like ear. Amid wildly differing guesses, the villagers argue over the animal's identity late into the night. Eventually, they learn the truth (which the reader knew all along), and it becomes clear that partial knowledge is a dangerous thing. Colorfully illustrated in the style of Persian miniatures, the book's depictions of the villagers approach caricature at times, as often occurs in Western renderings of Eastern cultures, and may merit classroom discussion. Pair with Ed Young's Seven Blind Mice (1992) for an alternate take on this folktale.

Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

When merchant Ahmad brings a mysterious creature to his village, curious villagers climb through a window in his barn, each touching just a part of the creature and leaping to conclusions about what it might be. Yelchin's paintings balance the characteristic Persian style of repetitive patterns with lots of open space. The book should provide opportunities for discussions about perception.

School Library Journal (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

K-2 A merchant has brought a strange creature from India to a Persian village, and the locals are curious. The merchant puts off his neighbors because it is too dark in the barn and he wants to sleep. The villagers sneak in one at a time to figure out what is inside. Each one feels a different part of the animal, coming to a different conclusion about its identity. They are so busy squabbling among themselves that they miss seeing the elephant the next morning as the merchant leads it to the river. The villagers never see the wonder of the elephant because "they each knew only a small piece of the truth." This picture book is based on a poem by Rumi. Yelchin's illustrations are bright and colorful and filled with expressive faces. They take the story to an imaginative level. The story is told simply but with a meaningful impact. VERDICT Young readers and teachers who enjoy folktales with an entertaining moral will appreciate this story's message. Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)
Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
National Council For Social Studies Notable Children's Trade
School Library Journal (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)
Word Count: 369
Reading Level: 3.0
Interest Level: P-2
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 3.0 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 176955 / grade: Lower Grades
Reading Counts!: reading level:2.5 / points:1.0 / quiz:Q67219
Lexile: AD630L
Guided Reading Level: M
Fountas & Pinnell: M

A bold, humorous rendition of "The Three Blind Men and the Elephant", magnificently illustrated by an award-winning artist!

When the villagers hear of a huge and mysterious creature that has come all the way from India, they steal into the dark barn to find out what it is."It's like a snake!" says one. "It's like a tree trunk," says another. "No, it's like a fan!" argues the third. Who is right? Which of them knows the creature's true shape?Mina Javaherbin's charming and witty retelling combined with Eugene Yelchin's refreshingly brilliant illustrations bring this enlightened classic, inspired by Rumi's poem, vividly to life.


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