Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants

Picture book, 32 pages. Based on a true story of a matriarch, Big Mama, saving her herd during a long drought in Tanzania.Published in 2017 by Charlsebridge Publishing.

---

Book Recap

During a years-long Tanzanian drought, beginning in 1994, it became difficult for herds of elephants at the Tarangire National Park to find enough water and nourishment. This story is a fictionalized account of how one herd survived because the matriarch - Grandmother in Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants - returned to numerous watering holes she visited as a calf during a drought 30 years before.

---

Big Mama and calf at Tarangire National Park.

Learning Suggestions

Family Read Aloud Time
Okay, I am biased. But this story of Grandmother elephant saving her herd is a delightful read for grandparents to share with their favorite people on earth! (Sorry, Moms and Dads -- we love you, too!)

Learning at Home
In the review for She Leads, I mentioned resources for creating lessons about animal behavior -- add this book to your reading list. And check out the Southern Africa Elephant Project and the BBC Discover Wildlife Magazine for more resources about elephant behavior.

Classroom Options
The Digging Deeper section at the end of Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants includes two books which should be added to a classroom study of African elephants:

• Face to Face with Elephants
• The Elephant Scientist

---

Sandra Markle

Markle, author of more than 200 nonfiction children's books, has earned numerous awards including the 2012 Prize for Excellence in Science Books from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She also received a National Science Foundation grant to create an online, interactive science curriculum for 3rd through 5th grades, Kit and Kaboodle.

F. Vanden Broeck

Vanden Broeck teaches design at the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitan in Mexico City. As a designer, illustrator and editor, he earned numerous international awards and recognition.

---