The Elephant and the Sea

by Ed Vere

Overview

USA TODAY BESTSELLER! An inspiring, seafaring fable about a determined and brave elephant who reaches for his dreams, from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Ed Vere.

"There is only one thing I want to do . . . So I will do it!"

Gabriel the elephant dreams of being part of the lifeboat crew in his seaside town, but he is too young, and too little. But soon, Gabriel grows up and he is too . . . BIG! Disappointed but undaunted, Gabriel makes a plan. He hammers and chops, saws and sands, and builds his very own boat.

One night, a great storm hits, and it's Gabriel's time to shine, pulling his oars alone against the crashing waves to save a crew in peril.

Young children will love rooting for underdog Gabriel and will draw inspiration from his determination to achieve his dreams despite hurdles and setbacks. 

The Elephant and the Sea is a perfect gift for anyone setting out on a new path, encouraging them to face life’s obstacles with optimism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525580904
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	206,513
Product dimensions:	8.78(w) x 11.32(h) x 0.43(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

ED VERE is the author and illustrator of numerous picture books, including How to Be a Lion, The Artist, The Elephant and the Sea, and the New York Times bestseller Max the Brave. He lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

★ 02/26/2024

This affectionately swashbuckling work by Vere (The Artist) doesn’t start out sounding like a heroic tale as Gabriel, an elderly elephant (“His knees crack. His back creaks”) looks out over the harbor of a small fishing village, remembering. As a young elephant, Gabriel is smitten with the lifeboat and the animal crew that rows it. “Heave away, haul away, heave-HO!” they sing, and he longs to go with them. “Come back when you’re older,” they say. But when he’s fully grown, he dwarfs their boat (“Heave-ho. Oh no”). Gabriel is determined: “There is only one thing I want to do.... So I will do it!” He collects driftwood, builds a lifeboat of his own, and when disaster strikes, he’s ready. In Vere’s spreads, Gabriel and other scratchy-lined animal characters have the look of friendly animation; by contrast, sea scenes drawn with charged ink lines pulse with energy against stormy gray backdrops. It’s not a tale of injustice redressed: Gabriel is so gentle, and the lifeboat crew so grateful, that only joy lingers as the elephant finds a way to do what he loves, and comes away with marvelous stories to tell. Ages 3–7. Agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

★ "A charming winner about purpose, bravery, and making one’s dreams come true." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The gentle reminder to readers to pursue their passions, no matter the odds against them, makes this endearing tale an inspiring one." —The Horn Book

"The atmospheric illustrations have layers and textures, creating a realistic backdrop juxtaposed with animal characters." —Booklist

"Watercolor and ink illustrations in Vere’s signature style . . . imbu[e] the tale with a sense of childhood whimsy and nostalgia. . . . Use this as a lead-in to a chorus of kid-friendly sea shanties." —The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books

From the Publisher