My Elephant is Blue: A book about big, heavy feelings at first seems like it would be a little cliched. There will be a literally and the figurative elephant (sadness) and then something magical will happen. And while, yes, things do work out in the end, it takes time to get there. We watch as our narrator is trying to find a way to remove the heavy elephant sitting on their chest. Not even hungry for chocolate, we know tht this is not going to be easy. This “blue feeling” removal is shown in a manner that is appropriate for ages five and up, with accent on the upper ages. Still, this is a great way to explain why an adult, older sibling, or even themselves are having a time that is more than just a “phase” or a small “right now funk.”
Melinda Szymanik and Vasanti Unka create a serious and funny story about “getting rid of the blues” and finding yourself “in the pink” when you can. When the book is published, there will be resources on the website to help you work with your child or children.
This is not for everyone, but anyone can enjoy it. The adult will appreciate some of the humor and the images presented. Some times the art is not exactly perfect for an individual’s personal taste, but it works to take some of the serious and make it a bit lighter. There are colors and minimal details, and things are not always realistic, but not abstract.
For me, I was not 100% in the right frame of mine for the story, but a reread is worth it even if you are feeling it is the best thing since sliced bread with peanut butter!
