David Barrow, winner of the 2015 Sebastian Walker Award for most promising children’s illustrator, brings new life to the question of outing the “elephant in the room.”
When a large, gentle elephant asks a small boy to play hide-and-seek, the boy accepts at once. Elephant kindly warns the boy that he is VERY good at this game. Despite being put on notice, the boy says he will do his best, counting to 10 while his pet dog scratches nearby. Page after page of hilarity ensues, with Elephant doing an excellent job of hiding practically in plain view—so convincingly that the boy’s mother suggests he give up the search. But the boy and his dog soldier on, until finally, standing right in front of Elephant, he gives up. As the boy wonders about his next move, Elephant tickles him between the shoulders with his trunk. In the excitement of the moment, Turtle enters the scene and asks if they’d like to play tag—with one warning: He is VERY good.
Painted in fresh textures, warm earth tones and pops of reds and purples, Have You Seen Elephant? will engage readers young and old with its vibrant portrayal of an elephant that clearly wants in on the fun. The book is flanked front and back by a gallery of family photos. By story’s end, Turtle and Elephant are members of the family.
Billie B. Little is the Founding Director of Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, a hands-on museum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
This article was originally published in the March 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.
