When Anju Loved Being an Elephant by Wendy Henrichs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beautifully illustrated book about an elephant who is finally being "released" after almost fifty years of captivity, first as a circus performer and then as the only elephant in a small zoo. The elephant sanctuary where Anju is taken is finally a happy place, with other elephant "friends." Obvious comparisons can be made to the wonderful THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, though it is based on the life of a real captive gorilla. I enjoyed reading all of the elephant facts in the back of the book and the suggestions for ways to help elephants. (That back matter actually helped me connect more to the story.) Ethical treatment of animals would be another issue to which I would like to bring awareness among the students and teachers I work with.

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