Tua and the Elephant

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Texas Bluebonnet Reading List, 2013

“Vivid descriptions, a heavy sprinkling of Thai words in the dialogue, and Yoo's evocative full-page art, keep the setting firmly in Thailand without feeling overtly educational or heavy-handed. Tua's generous nature and impetuous actions make her a spunky, endearing heroine. Hand this to fans of Kate DiCamillo, those looking for a glimpse of life in modern Asia, or anyone who enjoys a rollicking animal adventure story.” –Booklist, 2012

“For a book aimed at middle graders, kudos on three fronts: providing a child's-eye view of Thailand with foreign words to be decoded in context, creating a strong connection between the elephant and the girl and using a simple vocabulary to introduce the complex issue of poaching. Yoo's multiple illustrations, done in charcoal and linoleum block prints, catapult the story even higher. Foreign yet familiar, the action is often humorous and reinforces the sweet bond between pachyderm and "peanut." A rousing adventure that introduces the issue of elephant trafficking in a gentle and appropriate way.” –Kirkus Reviews, 2012

CONNECTIONS

Virtual Field Trip

Visit the Elephant Nature Park website for more information about the elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Using a Web 2.0 app such as SlideRocket, create a presentation that takes your class on a virtual field trip of the park.

Thai Culture

Harris educates readers about Thai culture through his story. One piece of information he hints at is that pointing is deemed rude in this culture. Research further cultural traits including religion, terrain appearances, education, the night market, and more. Present this information using an animation app such as Animoto or Second Life.

Tua and the Elephant Reader’s Theater

Create a reader’s theater script that will give potential readers a preview of the book. Include Tua, the mahouts, and A