Elephant Journey: The True Story of Three Zoo Elephants and their Rescue from Captivity

by Rob Laidlaw, Brian Deines (Illustrator)

Overview

In 2013, people across North America were riveted by the story of Toka, Thika, and Iringa, the last three elephants at the zoo in Toronto, Ontario. Lonely for a larger herd, sick from the cold climate, and weak from standing for long days in a too-small concrete enclosure, the elephants desperately needed a change. The zoo and animal activists agreed that they should be moved to a healthier home, but the best option—the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in distant California—seemed like an impossible dream. In Elephant Journey, leading activist and award-winning author Rob Laidlaw unfolds the journey of how that impossible dream was realized. In clear, straightforward prose, he describes the elephants’ experiences on the journey of three days and 4,100 kilometers that brought them to the sanctuary at last. Celebrated illustrator Brian Deines’ oil paintings, based on actual footage of the trip, provide an intimate window into the experiences of Toka, Thika, and Iringa as they braved their long road to a new life. Extensive back matter includes an index, photographs, and further information about this miraculous Elephant Journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781927485774
Publisher:	Pajama Press Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2016
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Rob Laidlaw has devoted his life to protecting animals and empowering others to do the same. He is the founder of several animal protection organizations and an author of 6 children's books about animal welfare and activism. No Shelter Here: Making the World a Kinder Place for Dogs won the OLA Silver Birch Non-Fiction Award and the Hackmatack Award; its companion book, Cat Champions: Caring for our Feline Friends, is nominated for the same awards. Rob lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Brian Deines is a fine artist and the award-winning illustrator of over 20 children's books, including A Bear in War, Bear on the Homefront, The Road to Afghanistan, and On a Snowy Night. Dragonfly Kites, part of a trilogy written by Tomson Highway, was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for illustration and the Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award. A graduate of the Alberta College of Art, Brian lives in Toronto, Ontario with his wife and daughter.

Read an Excerpt

Like all wild elephant females, Toka and Iringa would have stayed with their mother and family group their whole life. Their male brothers would eventually leave to create their own groups and find other females. But Toka and Iringa were captured and brought to a zoo in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Thika was born at the zoo nearly ten years after they arrived. She never lived in the wild.

What People are Saying About This

Bob Barker

I highly recommend that you read "Elephant Journey." Rob Laidlaw and Brian Deines have produced a beautiful story in colour of the rescue of three elephants from a zoo, and their heartwarming arrival at the PAWS sanctuary where they can live out their lives as the good Lord intended.

Editorial Reviews

03/21/2016
Born in southern Africa, elephants Toka and Iringa were later captured and brought to a Toronto zoo; a third elephant, Thika, was born in captivity. When the zoo’s cramped conditions and cold climate began to impair the elephants’ health, public outcry resulted in their 2013 relocation to a California sanctuary. In subdued oil paintings, Deines focuses on the elephants’ long, difficult journey, riding in crates on flatbed truck trailers through dangerous weather conditions. Seeing Toka, Iringa, and Thika finally free to explore their new home—80 acres of glowing grasslands—will likely bring relief to sensitive readers. Photographs and additional rescue details round out a sensitive account of animal activism and rehabilitation. Ages 6–9. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

About Elephant Journey

2017 Hackmatack Children's Choice Award shortlist

2017 Silver Birch Express Award shortlist

2016 Red Cedar Book Award shortlist

2016 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens selection

"I highly recommend that you read Elephant Journey. Rob Laidlaw and Brian Deines have produced a beautiful story in colour of the rescue of three elephants from a zoo, and their heartwarming arrival at the PAWS sanctuary where they can live out their lives as the good Lord intended."—Bob Barker, game show host & animal activist

"An appealing animal-rescue book."—Booklist

"Beautiful oil paintings with the softness of pastels - all double-page spreads on generously sized pages - capture important moments in the story....Art and text create a moving tale."—Kirkus Reviews

"Laidlaw chronicles the trip, combining key facts with absorbing storytelling. His forthright narrative is complemented by Deines's luminous oil paintings, which expertly use color and light to track the emotional trajectory of the elephants from discomfort and misery to anxiety and fear and then, finally, to delight and contentment...A supplementary appendix includes background information and photographs of the actual trip. VERDICT A great addition for lessons on wildlife and the ethics of zoos."—School Library Journal

"Seeing Toka, Iringa, and Thika finally free to explore their new home - 80 acres of glowing grasslands - will likely bring relief to sensitive readers. Photographs and additional rescue details round out a sensitive account of animal activism and rehabilitation."—Publishers Weekly

"The illustrations mirror the text in the positive, honest way they depict the central characters....Elephant Journey is an important book...Highly Recommended."—CM Magazine

"The art of Brian Deines shows the similarities between the Californian highlands and the savannahs of Africa, in contrast to the snowy concrete world of the Toronto Zoo, which adds much to the character and enjoyment of this book."—Resource Links

"Complemented with excellent illustrations by Brian Deines and photographs, Elephant Journey is an important book, with an important message, that parents, teachers and other educators would be wise to share with their children."—Metroland Media

"[A] thought-provoking read for kids. Told in easy-to-understand language, it's the story of a complicated effort to retire three elephants from the Toronto Zoo to an open-air animal sanctuary in California."—Victoria Times Colonist

"The story [frames] the difficulties of wild animals in captivity and our changing understanding of zoos and their purposes....Laidlaw's words and Deines' illustrations work perfectly together to bring this tale to life."—49th Shelf

"This uplifting tale has a hopeful ending and is a great introduction to elephants and animal activism for younger kids."—Toronto Public Library

"Put this one on display to attract a wider audience and recommend to kids and adults who like elephants and want to learn about their plight in captivity."—Youth Services Book Review

"This serves as a gentle introduction to animal rights suitable for third grade and up. Pair with other picture books about animals in captivity whose situations were improved..."—Youth Services Book Review

"Brian Deines' fabulous oil paintings...accurately portray for interested readers the joy and bravery of these magnificent pachyderms...Back matter includes clear and appealing photographs, captioned with accurate and much appreciated further information."—Sal's Fiction Addiction

"A fantastic non-fiction book that uses the power of narrative (and the award-winning Deines' gorgeous illustrations) to bring complex issues of animal protection to life...It's a harrowing story with a most hopeful ending, and will make a definite impression on readers of all ages."—Pickle Me This

"This 40-page book does a beautiful job of telling a powerful story that demonstrates why sanctuaries, animal activists, and nonprofits are so important: because they help real animals who have endured so much, like Toka, Thika, and Iringa, and are making great strides towards creating a world free from harm, free of captivity. Recommended."—Vegbooks

"This book will appeal to young readers ages eight to 10 who love animal stories."—The Calgary Herald

"Laidlaw, an animal protection activist, tells the story in this fascinating picture book....Illustrator Brian Deines based his lovely oil paintings on photographs of the elephants' journey and new life in California."—The Booklist Reader

"Elephant Journey is a great book, and I see a lot of value in it."—Alohamora Open a Book

From the Publisher

An appealing animal-rescue book.

Booklist

Laidlaw, an animal protection activist, tells the story in this fascinating picture book…. Illustrator Brian Deines based his lovely oil paintings on photographs of the elephants’ journey and new life in California.

The Booklist Reader

Complemented with excellent illustrations by Brian Deines and photographs, Elephant Journey is an important book, with an important message, that parents, teachers and other educators would be wise to share with their children.

Metroland Media

The illustrations mirror the text in the positive, honest way they depict the central characters....Elephant Journey is an important book...Highly Recommended.

CM Magazine

This 40-page book does a beautiful job of telling a powerful story that demonstrates why sanctuaries, animal activists, and nonprofits are so important: because they help real animals who have endured so much, like Toka, Thika, and Iringa, and are making great strides towards creating a world free from harm, free of captivity. Recommended.

Vegbooks

This serves as a gentle introduction to animal rights suitable for third grade and up. Pair with other picture books about animals in captivity whose situations were improved...

Youth Services Book Reviews

The story [frames] the difficulties of wild animals in captivity and our changing understanding of zoos and their purposes....Laidlaw's words and Deines' illustrations work perfectly together to bring this tale to life.

49th Shelf

This book will appeal to young readers ages eight to 10 who love animal stories.

The Calgary Herald

This uplifting tale has a hopeful ending and is a great introduction to elephants and animal activism for younger kids.

Toronto Public Library

[A] thought-provoking read for kids. Told in easy-to-understand language, it's the story of a complicated effort to retire three elephants from the Toronto Zoo to an open-air animal sanctuary in California.

Victoria Times Colonist

A fantastic non-fiction book that uses the power of narrative (and the award-winning Deines' gorgeous illustrations) to bring complex issues of animal protection to life... It's a harrowing story with a most hopeful ending, and will make a definite impression on readers of all ages.

Pickle Me This

Elephant Journey is a great book, and I see a lot of value in it.

Alohamora Open a Book

Put this one on display to attract a wider audience and recommend to kids and adults who like elephants and want to learn about their plight in captivity.

Youth Services Book Review

Brian Deines' fabulous oil paintings...accurately portray for interested readers the joy and bravery of these magnificent pachyderms...Back matter includes clear and appealing photographs, captioned with accurate and much appreciated further information.

Sal's Fiction Addiction

The art of Brian Deines shows the similarities between the Californian highlands and the savannahs of Africa, in contrast to the snowy concrete world of the Toronto Zoo, which adds much to the character and enjoyment of this book.

Resource Links

07/01/2016
Gr 2–4—The story of three zoo elephants and their journey to a new home. Toka, Thika, and Iringa were not thriving in the barren, small, and often frozen enclosure at the Toronto Zoo. When the zoo decided to send the unhappy pachyderms to another location, animal advocates spoke up and convinced officials to send the elephants to Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a California animal sanctuary. Thus began their three-day trek across the continent. On a stormy October night in 2013, the caravan set off. Along the way, the animals encountered a number of difficulties but ultimately reached the safe haven that was their destination. Laidlaw chronicles the trip, combining key facts with absorbing storytelling. His forthright narrative is complemented by Deines's luminous oil paintings, which expertly use color and light to track the emotional trajectory of the elephants from discomfort and misery to anxiety and fear and then, finally, to delight and contentment. The image of the newcomers being greeted by the waving trunks of the three elephants already residing at PAWS glows with golden light and reflects the joy of the occasion. A supplementary appendix includes background information and photographs of the actual trip. VERDICT A great addition for lessons on wildlife and the ethics of zoos. Pair with Sandra Markle's The Great Monkey Rescue: Saving the Golden Lion Tamarins or Toni Buzzeo's A Passion for Elephants: The Real Life Adventure of Field Scientist Cynthia Moss.—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston

School Library Journal

2016-02-02
Three elephants from the Toronto Zoo are moved to a sanctuary in California. Toka and Iringa "roamed with their families in the warm, dry climate of southern Africa" before they were "captured and brought to a zoo in Toronto, Ontario, Canada." Thika, 10 years younger, was born at the zoo. The matter-of-fact, accessible text makes it clear that these monumental creatures were headed toward early deaths due to the combination of harsh weather and the stultifying zoo environment, triggering the transfer. Beautiful oil paintings with the softness of pastels—all double-page spreads on generously sized pages—capture important moments in the story: the different settings of southern Africa, zoo, and wildlife sanctuary; the excitement of protestors who finally convince authorities to transport the elephants to the Performing Animal Welfare Society; the convoy of trucks from Toronto to California; and many intimate moments among elephants. Particularly poignant: Toka has shyly moved from her transport crate to the PAWS elephant barn, where three resident elephants stand behind safety barriers. The elephants trumpet and wave their trunks at the newbie: "It was as if the elephants were old friends who had been reunited at last." There is quite a bit of repetition in the endnotes but also further details, including a recounting of the two years following the successful 2013 transfer. Art and text create a moving tale. (index) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews