Product Description
A zookeeper recounts the story of John, Tonky, and Wanly, three performing elephants at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, whose turn it is to die, and of their keepers, who weep and pray that World War II will end so their beloved elephants might be saved.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 34 reviews)

Important historocal document

This book is more a historical document than a picture book. It presents a true look at the unintended and often unrealized consequences of war. Animals suffer from war in any area that the people are also suffering.

It is well written and has vibrant illustrations but it is a horribly sad and graphic story. I agree with other reviewers that it is more appropriate for junior and even high school students as an accessible history lesson. It is heart breaking and not for young children.
November 17, 2008

Excellent!

I use "Faithful Elephants" with my middle school Halocaust unit. My students love to see a different perspective of WWII, and I cry every time I read it. It is probably not suitable for elementary but quite poignant for secondary school students.
April 07, 2008

What a brutal book!

I read this after reading Roland Smith's Elephant Run, an excellent childrens/young adult book involving elephants in World War II. While that book was even-handed, I found this book to be just plain gut wrenching for adults and even worse for children who often have such a special bond with animals. This bond may be, as my children's lit professor suggested, due to the vulnerability animals and children feel at the hands of bigger and stronger (in most cases) adults. If that idea is true, then the premise of this book is even worse.

Although the author attempts a tenderness in the writing style and the illustrations are well done, the deaths of the elephants seem so cruel and pointless even in war, a war I might add, where the Japanese were aggresors as often as victims. I'm probably more of a pacifist than most (two years in the Peace Corpse should count for something!), but I think there are a lot more effective books to be used to promote peace. There are also a lot more effective books to promote courage and hope against all odds.
February 26, 2008

Abhorrent

I tried to put zero stars, but the computer wouldn't let me. I hate this book. Never in my life have I read anything this disturbing. The fact that this book exists, perterbs me greatly and I wonder what possible purpose these authors could have had in writing it. I am a teacher, and I would NEVER read this to my class. Again, I hate this book.
February 06, 2008

Beautiful

I just attended a Peace Prize Forum in Sioux Falls, SD, and this book was part of a curriculum for teaching children about peace and war. I think it is one of the most powerful books I have ever read.
This is a tender book about how war affects life, in a way accessible for children, and equally vivid and profound for adults.
The illustrations are also beautiful.
March 11, 2007

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