"The day after Lawrence died in March 2012, the elephants, led by Nana, arrived at his house. They had not done so for some time as Lawrence had deliberately withdrawn.  He wanted them to be truly wild.  Yet they came, in an eerie vigil, which to think of still gives me goose bumps."

South African author and conservationist Lawrence Anthony writes a persuasive narrative text that shares his personal story and encounters with a rouge herd of elephants all while educating the reader about the African Elephants.  His story and the story of Nana, the newly appointed matriarch of this rouge herd, are intertwined as we become acutely aware of the intelligence and emotional depth that elephants have. After rescuing them from certain death, the original matriarch and baby had already been shot, Anthony works day and night to prepare for the arrival of the seven remaining scared creatures.  This is the story of how one person takes on the adventures that come with a herd of elephants. He learns from them and learns of each of their personalities and truly becomes a part of their family. 

This a piece to include in your library to teach compassion and empathy, as well as encourage learning about conservation, poaching, African Elephants, the native tribes and their cultures in Zululand.  With a lexile reading level of 840, this text is accessible to students in the 5th to 9th grade age.  It is a great stand alone nonfiction book or would compliment a classroom bundle of other explanatory, procedural and persuasive texts.  It encourages readers to question what they know or think they know.  It provides great discussion about the welfare of African Elephants and the cause and effect of poaching.  Students can consider Anthony's approach to 'rehabilitating' the herd.  He often comments about not wanting the elephants to become too accustomed to humans, however he develops an almost unbelievable emotional, rational and physical relationship with them, as exampled below.

 Nana becomes an incredible matriarch to her herd.  As she slowly came to trust Anthony the rest of the herd followed in suit in their individual ways.






Mnumzane struggles as the young bull of the herd.  He too develops a close connection with Anthony and has his own way of communicating.

Let this story carry you away to the Zululands of Africa and all of their rich history of wildlife, and native tribes and how the wildlife and humans must continue to adapt to live together.

Anthony, L. & Spence, G. (2017). The elephant whisperer: My life with the herd in the African wild. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company

The Boy on the Wooden Box

 

The Boy on the Wooden Box is a poignant memoir of Leon Leyson, one of Oskar Schindler's 6,000 Jews.  Leyson shares his story of growing up as the youngest of 5 siblings in rural Poland, their move to Krakow and ultimately how that move to Krakow saved his life.  After years of being silent about his childhood, he shares his story, painting a picture for readers to to envision his fear, courage and will to survive.  While The Boy on the Wooden Box was written for children ages 9 -14, it can be enjoyed by older students and adults as it shares the unique first person experience of a boy that was forced from his home to a ghetto, separated from his family and sent to a concentration camp.  Living through what no child should ever experience. His father managed to secure a spot on Schindler's list for the surviving family members. When Leyson was told his name had been crossed off the list he explains, "No words can express the absolute terror I felt. Having been given a little ray of hope, the loss of it was worse than not having had it all all.  I knew I wouldn't survive the next month in Plaszow, let alone the next year.  I was starving. I lived in constant fear."

As a  2013 Cybils Award winner and a 2014 ALA Notable Children's Books award winner, They Boy on the Wooden Box could be clusters with other nonfiction books on World War II and the Holocaust.  Additionally other narrative nonfiction and historical fiction books that would pair well with this book include; The War that Save my Life, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and the Diary of Anne Frank.  The Boy on the Wooden Box, along with the others listed could all lead to a classroom extension discussion on discrimination then and now.  Students can also discuss what they think led Schindler in The Boy on the Wooden Box as well as other characters/persons in the other stories led their own silent and most often secretive revolution against the Nazi's.  Are there other times in US history that battles against discrimination were fought?

Leyson, L. (2013). The boy on the wooden box. New York, NY: Atheneum.