I’m a Sibert Honor author and write books for kids and teens about nature. Ever since I saw an elephant skull on the savanna in Kenya, I’ve been fascinated by elephants. When my daughter was an undergrad, she worked with Katy Payne and the Elephant Listening Project, and I knew I had to write about ELP’s astounding work—one of the only groups working with forest elephants. I hope you enjoy the QR codes in Eavesdropping on Elephants. Katy and her colleagues were very generous with their work. The more I write the more I discover our connections to our natural world that humble me and fill me with gratitude.
I wrote...
Eavesdropping on Elephants: How Listening Helps Conservation
By
Patricia Newman
What is my book about?
Deep in the Central African Republic, forest elephants trumpet and rumble along with the forest’s symphony. And scientists like Katy Payne are listening. Katy started Cornell University’s Elephant Listening Project to learn more about how forest elephants communicate and what they’re saying. Poaching, logging, mining, and increasing human populations threaten the survival of forest elephants. Katy and other members of the Elephant Listening Project’s team knew they needed to do something to protect these majestic animals.
By eavesdropping on elephants, the Elephant Listening Project is doing its part to save Africa’s forest elephants and preserve the music in the forest. Includes QR code videos to see and hear elephants the way Katy did. Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature Best Children’s Books of the Year.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Silent Thunder: In the Presence of Elephants
By
Katy Payne
Why this book?
After discovering that whales sing to each other, Katy turned her attention to elephants. Silent Thunder chronicles Katy’s work before she founded the Elephant Listening Project. In essence, it is the prequel to Eavesdropping on Elephants. Katy’s evocative prose puts you on the plains of Africa. I love the way she approached her research without any preconceived notions and let the elephants tell her what was important.
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Elephant Memories: Thirteen Years in the Life of an Elephant Family
By
Cynthia J. Moss
Why this book?
Cynthia Moss is a giant in the world of elephant research. Like Katy Payne, Moss has a beautiful writing style that gives you a peek inside the complex dynamics of elephant relationships. With Cynthia, we celebrate every success and shed tears at the many ways elephants are harmed by human habits. The dedication and passion of field scientists always amazes and inspires me.
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A Passion for Elephants: The Real Life Adventure of Field Scientist Cynthia Moss
By
Toni Buzzeo,
Holly Berry
Why this book?
As an author of children’s books, I love to share what I’m passionate about with kids. As you read Elephant Memories by Cynthia Moss, give A Passion for Elephants to the children in your life. Imagine the terrific discussions you can have about Cynthia’s adventures sharing two books about the same person. You’ll be able to supplement the kids’ knowledge with some startling facts of your own.
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The Elephant Whisperer (Young Readers Adaptation): My Life with the Herd in the African Wild
By
Lawrence Anthony,
Graham Spence
Why this book?
Lawrence Anthony faced an unimaginable choice. Accept a rogue herd of elephants at his South African reserve or allow them to be shot. Although The Elephant Whisperer also comes in an adult edition, I chose the young readers adaptation (ages 10-14) because of the opportunity to share common interests with the children in your life. Kids will learn to protect the planet by following our example. Lawrence’s story will stick with you for a long time.
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How to Be an Elephant
By
Katherine Roy
Why this book?
Katherine Roy’s beautifully illustrated picture book includes lots of fun information for elephant lovers. We follow an infant elephant as he learns how to survive on the plains, including his place in the family, how to walk and use his trunk, how to communicate with the herd, and how to stay cool in the scorching sun. A unique portrait of an elephant’s life.
