Book
Half of an elephant
Record details
- ISBN: 193360509X
- ISBN: 9781933605098
-
Physical Description:
print
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 28 cm. - Edition: 1st American ed.
- Publisher: La Jolla, CA : Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2006.
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Elephants -- Juvenile fiction Self-actualization (Psychology) -- Juvenile fiction |
| Genre: | Fiction. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Sitka.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 0 total copies.
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Holdable? | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lochside Elementary School | E GUS (Text) | 21050000828764 | Easy Fiction | Volume hold | Available | - |
- Horn Book Guide Reviews : Horn Book Guide Reviews 2007 Fall
After "the world split in two," the front and back halves of an elephant try to reconnect. Along the way each joins up with other half-creatures, such as a half-flamingo and a half-monkey, before becoming whole again. Children will delight in poring over the whimsical collage illustrations, constructed from scraps of wood and cardboard, screws, springs, and other detritus. Copyright 2007 Horn Book Guide Reviews. - Kirkus Reviews : Kirkus Reviews 2006 August #1
In this odd import from an artist born in Argentina, the front and back halves of an elephant, split apart when the world suddenly divides, go in search of each other. As it happens, all of the other animals that they encounter have the "exact same" problem, so each demi-pachyderm tries out a succession of wildly mismatched new partners, from a worm to a flamingo. Gusti illustrates this twin odyssey with digital assemblages of cardboard and found junk connected with rusty screws; the elephant's trunk is an old spring, its body two neatly separated pieces of weathered yellow board, the tail a small paintbrush. Just as the disparate parts get used to being alone, the world reunites and they find each other again-but, having tasted independence, they decide to remain separated. This is not likely to have a broad audience, but some children may pore over the clever visuals, and some enjoy the tale's silly twists. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus 2006 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved. - Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 2006 October #4
An elephant loses his back half as the result of an unexpected catastrophe ("One night, all of a sudden, the world split in two") in this inventive tale. The fact that the fellow is made of corrugated cardboard, old screws, googly eyes and other assorted found objects makes the premise easier to take. Argentinian-born Gusti possesses a knack for storytelling and a sense of humor that will appeal to young and old alike. The elephant, it turns out, is not the only one missing a half. "Have you seen the other half of an elephant?" the hero's front half calls to the front half of a leopard constructed of a candy roll. "No," replies the leopard. "Have you seen the other half of a leopard?" After several unsuccessful efforts to join with the front halves of other creatures, the partial pachyderm decides that life as a half might not be so bad: "I can hide behind a tree. I can drive a sports car. And, best of all, my tail doesn't itch, because I don't have a tail!" (The illustrations of the back half's attempts to partner with others will elicit the most laughs: "The monkey couldn't jump from tree to tree with him attached.") When the elephant's two halves finally reunite (the world magically "became one again"), they discover that they need not be attached in the customary way in order to be happyââ¬"a moral that comes as a kind of boxtop prize to this most satisfying book. Ages 5-9. (Sept.)
[Page 50]. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal Reviews : SLJ Review 2006 September
K-Gr 3 A clever and unique picture book that is illustrated with digital images of objects arranged in collages. ââ¬ÅOne night, all of a sudden, the world split in two.ââ¬Â An elephant loses his back half, and the sections wander around the world trying out new partners and discovering the advantages of being separate. Suddenly things snap back into place and the two are reunited (but not quite the same as before). The artwork is full of interesting details to pore over: nuts and bolts, washers, screws, wood pieces, springs, paintbrushes, and other everyday items are scattered across the pages, even creeping into the font every so often. On one spread, the halves of many animals circle the pages, tempting readers to match them up. This imaginative book could be used in storytime, but it will work best with individual readers who can delight over the inventive constructions.Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
[Page 172]. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
