One morning a child wakes up with a large blue elephant sitting on their chest. No matter how they try to shift the elephant, it just won’t move.

When it’s not lying on them, it’s draped across their shoulders, or on their lap wherever they go.

Little sister tries to push the elephant off, but it’s far too comfortable to move.

Mum suggested something nice to eat, but even chocolate cannot convince the elephant to move.

Exercise, suggests dad. But the elephant still sticks close. Mum has read lots of books about elephants and dad has spoken to experts. The elephant won’t budge.

Then one day a tiny shift happened. Then there is a little more space between them, and a little more…

We’ve all had the ‘elephant’ of sadness laying heavily across us, or the blues at some time in our lives. That heavy feeling that just won’t leave, despite encouragement from siblings, favourite foods or friendly advice, is universal.

My Elephant is Blue is a wonderful way to explain these feelings to children 5 and up. The use of an exotic animal and the colour blue is an eye catching and imaginative device to also attract younger children. The cover of this story is fun and intriguing, inviting young readers in.

Moving that ‘elephant’ is possible. Sometimes it may take longer than others, but that blue elephant can gradually change colour to pink or even yellow. The sweet but subtly clever illustrations by Vasanti Unka show the slow shift from blue to yellow in her backgrounds – shifting gradually from blues and greys to bright colours when the child is feeling better.

A great combination from two NZ multi-award winners.

Author – Melinda Syzmanik

Illustrator – Vasanti Unka

Age – 5+

Find Teacher’s Notes here

(2021, Penguin Random House, Kiwi, NZ, New Zealand, Award winners, Animals, Sadness, Grief, Loss, Melancholy, Depression, Hope, Light, Positivity)