The Shadow Elephant

Written by Nadine Robert · Illustrated by Valerio Vidali

An elephant's sadness meets unexpected understanding.

4.3 Goodreads · 155 ratings

48 pages· 391 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud· ~560L

$18.95Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In a world of vibrant savanna life, a blue elephant feels isolated by sorrow. As he navigates his shadowy emotions, he discovers that acceptance, not solutions, can bridge the gap between loneliness and connection. Will empathy from his colorful friends help him find peace? This tender tale explores the power of understanding and the beauty of being seen as you truly are.

From the publisher

A gentle story about sadness showing that sometimes all you need to feel better is the openness of someone who accepts you as you are.A Financial Times Best Children’s Book of 2021This is a subtle story about an elephant who is feeling sorrowful, and nothing seems to interest him or lift his spirits. Illustrated with a striking contrast between shadow and light, the moody blue elephant appears to live in a different world from his colorful savanna friends. Empathy is a tricky emotion for children and adults alike to grasp, but The Shadow Elephant manages to walk the line between sadness, understanding, and emotional connection. Here we witness, in a story that unfolds at a natural, gentle pace, that it’s okay to be sad and to show it, and that this sorrow is not necessarily a problem to be fixed, but is a feeling to acknowledge without judgement. This simple act of acceptance and validating another creature’s feelings is subtle, yet, it is an essential step to true empathy.

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