ELLA THE ELEGANT ELEPHANT

A pint-sized pachyderm learns the value of self-reliance in this winsome husband-and-wife debut. When Ella is bequeathed her grandmother’s “good luck hat,” she finds it a good source of Dutch courage for dealing with the twin foes of grade-school drama: being the new kid and coping with the class bully. While the author’s fantastical tale relies on a bit of whimsy to pull Ella through her perilous moments, the true message is Ella’s remarkable ability to remain true to herself. The illustrator’s full-color illustrations have a distinctly Arabian feel, depicting an exotic pachyderm haven (“somewhere in the great, wide Indian Ocean”) filled with tropical hues and domed-topped towers. As a throng of elephants all dressed in dark navy uniforms (and Ella in her hat) diligently files into the school gates labeled “Ecole,” astute observers may recognize a somewhat tongue-in-cheek reference to that other blue-suited heroine, Madeline. The D’Amicos’ tale offers a gentle reassurance to readers that despite the trials of grade-school dilemmas, it will all turn out well in the end. Ella is a stand-out. (Picture book. 4-8)