The White Elephant

November 6, 2006
Fleischman (The Whipping Boy
) offers a cleverly themed if sleepy story starring Run-Run, a boy in old Siam. His beloved old elephant, Walking Mountain, diligently works in the fields removing stumps to earn the lad enough money to feed him. One day, after the elephant sprays an ill-tempered prince with water, the royal punishes Run-Run with a "gift to curse" him: Sahib, an elephant whose white color renders him sacred. The prince's mahout orders Run-Run to treat the animal "like an honored guest," and to feed him the finest foods, even though the noble beast is not permitted to work to earn his keep. Following the palace mahout's directives to let Sahib do as he please, the boy unlocks the animal's leg chain in hopes he will run away. Instead, Sahib imitates Walking Mountain and goes to work removing stumps. Run-Run's fears of the sacred elephant being discovered abate when the creature wallows in red mud, disguising his true color. The story's action is scarce, save for scenes in which White Mountain rescues Sahib from an attacking tiger; and, again mimicking the old elephant's actions, Sahib prevents another tiger from killing the prince. Half-tone illustrations open each chapter with a key scene. Though the novel offers a rewarding portrayal of friendship and loyalty, and a satisfying denouement, some Fleischman fans may find it slow-moving compared with his other works. Ages 8-11.

October 1, 2006
Gr 3-5-Fleischman skillfully drops readers into the life of Run-Run, an orphan in old Siam who struggles to make a living as a "mahout" (elephant trainer) with Walking Mountain, his beloved old elephant. A cruel prince, accidentally sprayed with water by the animal, complicates Run-Runs already difficult life by giving him a gift that is really a cursea white elephant. Somehow, Run-Run must take excellent care of Sahib, who is forbidden to work because he is sacred: Wash the hair at his ears! Brush it! Use no harsh words. Do not scold him. Treat him like an honored guest! the Princes servant orders the elephant boy. If you value your own skin, you will be a servant to Prince Nois gift]. Sahib surprises the boy, however, with his intelligence and bravery, and, in the end, enables Run-Run to seek out a more hopeful future. This young-reader-friendly book features ample margins and generous line spacing, short chapters, and full-page black-and-white illustrations that give visual information. Fleischman successfully immerses readers in this ancient culture, creating clever and believable plot twists that bring the story to a satisfying but open-ended conclusion. Strong writing, interesting dialogue, and clear plot development add up to another fine Fleischman novel."Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2006
A white elephant is something no longer wanted or of value (or a gift that is a curse); it can also refer to an Asian elephant. These meanings work in tandem in this illustrated chapter book, inspired by an event in ancient Siam and told with tender realism. Young orphan Run Run toils with Walking Mountain, his beloved old elephant, clearing tree stumps for the farmers in the hillside village. When Run Run angers Prince Noi the Idle, the prince sends the boy a white elephant, Sahib, as punishment, ordering the orphan to care for it like a sacred guest and not to work it. But Sahib learns to work anyway (hidden in a coating of mud), and he eventually helps Run Run find the strength to break free of the prince and seek his destiny. McGuire's beautiful full-page pencil illustrations, one for each chapter, capture the child's nurturing of the elephants. The trickster story is fun, and kids will enjoy talking about the title's meaning. Most moving is the boy-animal bond, depicted without anthropomorphism; Run Run sleeps safely curled up with the huge creatures he loves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)