In Baskerville’s picture book, a little elephant with a neurodevelopmental disorder finds acceptance in a diverse Pre-K classroom.
On her first day at Pre-K, Olly Brown, a little elephant in a tutu, wiggles, stomps, and dances her way inside, buzzing “around the classroom like a busy bumblebee” as books, papers, and crayons go flying. Olly’s fascinated human classmates overwhelm the little elephant with questions. (“Do you love peanuts? Is that your real trunk?”) The author, a pre-K teacher and child advocate, clearly states that Olly represents a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This deceptively simple picture book shows Olly, overwhelmed by the attention, calming herself by “freezing” in place, taking breaths, and counting to three. Then, at a sympathetic classmate’s suggestion, she whispers her feelings into a “Tattle Pocket.” Olly’s whirlwind movements, and the reactions of the other children (surprise, curiosity, and acceptance) are rendered with gentle humor in Baykovska’s quirky, full-page watercolor and pencil illustrations. Depictions of Olly’s human teacher and classmates reflect racial and ethnic diversity (the children are white, Black, and Asian; one girl wears a hijab). Baskerville follows the story with suggestions for positive strategies that can help young children cope with ADHD, as well as a glossary of terms and greetings in different languages.
A thoughtful picture book on the subject of childhood ADHD, crafted with empathy and playful charm.