Reviewed by Kylie Buckley
Arnold, the seafaring elephant, finds himself shipwrecked and all alone in the
middle of the ocean. He swims to find refuge on a tiny rock island, but he is
stranded. Eventually, a ‘mouseboat’ approaches and the overzealous elephant
accidentally ruins any chance of rescue. Unfazed by adversity, he turns the
negative into a positive. With some creative engineering, Arnold builds an
extension to the island with the remnants of the mouseboat. Arnold takes more
care when the next boat approaches, but the result is the same. Once again, he
builds an extension and shares the sanctuary with his fellow shipwrecked
friends. After a few unfortunate incidents, Arnold transforms the island into a
unique place of entertainment. It attracts a myriad of lovable characters and becomes
a hive of fun and frivolity where no one wants to leave.
Elephant Island is a hilarious picture book highly recommended for an
audience aged 4 years and older. The detailed illustrations beautifully extend
the text and provide a visual delight for young eyes. The book’s themes include
positive thinking, problem-solving and friendship.
Leo Timmers is a multi-award-winning Dutch author/illustrator. This book was
originally published in the Netherlands with the title Het eiland van
Olifant. This English edition has been translated by James Brown.
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