Elephant
Abbeville animals Series
What’s inside...
Abbeville Animals is a series of interactive books designed to introduce young children to the animal kingdom. Each book contains stories, fascinating facts, and a game page. In this particular book, the story follows Boubacar, a young African elephant, who sneaks away from his herd to follow a cattle egret to a stream. While enjoying a swim, Boubacar is confronted by a fierce crocodile. The book also includes additional information about elephants and a game related to the story.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-2
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes the elephant in the story special?
How did the elephant show kindness to its friends?
What would you do if you met an elephant like the one in the story?
How do you feel when you help someone, similar to how the elephant helped its friends?
If you could ask the elephant one question, what would it be?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story to foster emotional understanding.
Ask your child to draw their favorite scene from the book, then discuss why they chose that particular scene.
Use the elephant's actions in the story as examples to discuss the importance of kindness and friendship with your child.
Create a fun activity where your child can pretend to be the elephant from the book and reenact their favorite part.
After reading, ask your child what they learned from the elephant and if there’s anything they would like to do similarly.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and compassion
Explanation: The story portrays the young elephant as it navigates through various challenges, learning about the feelings of other animals along the way.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by understanding and respecting the feelings of their peers and animals, fostering a nurturing environment around them.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and cooperation
Explanation: Throughout the book, the elephant interacts with other jungle animals to solve problems, highlighting the importance of working together.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the value of collaborating with others to achieve common goals, whether in school projects or family activities.
Example Lesson: Courage and resilience
Explanation: The young elephant faces several obstacles but continues to push forward, showcasing bravery.
Real-World Application: Kids can embrace this lesson by tackling their own challenges with determination, be it learning a new skill or standing up for what is right.
Example Lesson: Respect for nature
Explanation: The narrative emphasizes the interconnectedness of all creatures and the environment, showing the elephant living in harmony with nature.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to practice environmental conservation and respect for wildlife in their daily habits, like recycling or taking care of plants.