What Elephants Know

February 29, 2016
Dinerstein, a conservation scientist, draws on his Peace Corps experience in the 1970s for his children’s book debut, a compelling coming-of-age story. Nandu—an 11-year-old Tibetan child found in the Nepalese jungle by Subba-sahib, head of the Thakurdwara elephant stable—is raised to be a “mahout” (elephant driver) by his adopted father and the elephant he thinks of as his mother. When the Nepalese king threatens the stable with closure, Subba-sahib sends Nandu to school to learn to operate “in a world that is very different from the one in which I grew up.” Nandu attracts wise teachers like Father Autry, a priest and conservationist, and Baba, a holy man, who nurture and guide Nandu. Nandu’s experiences with ethnic prejudice (a plea for help lands him in jail: “A Tibetan driving an elephant? Ha”), as well as terrible guilt after he himself kills numerous “marvelous birds,” make him attuned to dangers facing wild species, particularly elephants. Through memorable characters, an exquisite natural setting, and Nandu’s direct narration, Dinerstein’s story reveals the rich diversity and interdependence of human and animal realms. Ages 8–12. Agent: Richard Abate, 3 Arts Entertainment.

Narrator Kirby Heyborne immerses himself in the character of Nandu, an 11-year-old boy who is abandoned in the Nepalese jungle, cared for by dogs, and then rescued by Subba-sahib, the head of the elephant stable, and the elephant Devi Kali. In this first-person story, Nandu has much to tell about his world--including details of elephant care, the flora and fauna of the jungle, the discrimination he faces at boarding school, and his determination to repurpose the stable for the benefit of the Nepalese elephant population. Heyborne's earnest voice and brisk pace deposit listeners into the midst of each episode. He exudes Nandu's respect for Subba-sahib and the elephants. When needed, he punches out Nandu's thoughts--be it indignation at schoolyard bullies, warning cries to a tigress, or enthusiasm over mutual interests with his teacher. Dinerstein and Heyborne leave listeners ready to listen again. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine