THE ELEPHANT’S PILLOW
by Diana Reynolds Roome & illustrated by Jude Daly
Since the emperor died, the imperial elephant has had insomnia and nothing that’s done for him seems to help. Sing Lo, usually a self-involved child, tries to soothe the elephant and after several attempts finds just the right bedding—a soft yellow silk pillow—to lull the him until he’s fast asleep. The illustrations are the very best part of this tale—filled with reds that jump into your lap and shades of gold that fill the pages with a richness befitting the imperial settings. The most glorious scene is the double-page spread showing the royal parade with the Emperor riding the elephant. A rather mundane retelling brought to life by the rich vibrancy of the illustrations. (Folktale. 4-7)