Title: “Ellison the Elephant”
Author: Eric Drachman
Illustrator: James Muscarello
Publisher and Year: Kidwick Books LLC 2004
Number of Pages: 30
Tags: Friendship, Identity, Bullying, 2-3, 4-5, Fiction, Stephanie Rudi
Genres: Fiction
Analysis: Ellison is an elephant who is different from the other elephants because he can’t make the same sounds with his trunk that they do. He gets bullied by the others and is often isolated. One day he accidentally bumps into a weasel who somehow pushes Ellison to make the sounds that the other elephants do. In the end, he fits in with the other elephants and is the envy of all because of his sounds.
This book is possibly a mirror for some readers that may feel different from their peers in one way or another. Perceptually, we see Ellison struggle to fit in with the rest of society, but with the help of a friend, he eventually gains the ability to fit in and stand out. In a structural sense, Ellison is a social outcast which is shown by his being bullied, and in the end he is highly respected because of his abilities.
Ideologically, this story is probably not the best message for children because it’s saying that if you are oppressed because of a physical difference, you should try and conform to fit in with the society that oppressed you. This is not the best message because it doesn’t highlight the importance of self acceptance whatsoever. His mother barely touches on it, but in the end she just tells him to have thick skin and get over it, which is what he could have done but the plot didn’t move in that direction, which was a little bit of a let down.
The picture book codes show Ellison as being very small compared to the other elephants, but not proportionally. He is usually facing the right which means he is less secure. The book was a cute read about friends encouraging other friends, but the ideologies that may have been unintentionally displayed do not promote being happy with yourself which is somewhat problematic.
