The Elephant and the Sea

4.8

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Author(s)

Ed Vere

Publisher

Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

May 07, 2024

ISBN

978-0525580904

Buy This Book

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.

Editor review

1 review

Follow Your Dreams

September 07, 2024

Overall rating

4.8

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

The Elephant and the Sea is about an old elephant reminiscing about his youth. When he was young, he dreamed of being on a lifeboat. At first, he was told by others that he was too small then told he was too big. If he hadn’t believed in himself and stayed true to his dream, things would have ended in tragedy for his fellow villagers. This story speaks to the dreamer in us all and of course, it ends up being a lifesaving decision that the Elephant never gave up his interests. This inspiring story reaffirms that no one else should dictate what our heart is calling us to pursue. I do think there may be some slight translation differences in this book. I did not realize that a lifeboat was not like a life raft attached to a bigger boat. In this context, it was more in line with what a rescue boat Coast Guard would have. This felt like a tribute to someone in the author’s life by staging it as an elderly elephant remembering how it all began. Overall, this conveys an inspirational message of staying true to yourself that young readers can appreciate.