Eli the Elephant: A Tsunami Story

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This story is written to help young children understand what a tsunami is and how to take refuge when the warning signs appear. It was inspired by first hand records from Scottish families who were on holiday in Thailand and Sri Lanka on December 26th 2005. Apparently the first warning of the imminent disaster for elephant keepers came when their charges unceremoniously picked them up and dropped them off on high ground. It would appear that animals and birds knew through their sixth sense that the disaster was on its way and none were lost. The Tsunami story is told through the eyes of Eli the Elephant. The tale opens with Eli, a wise old elephant, looking out to the ocean and telling his two younger brothers that all is not well. They are too busy enjoying a mud bath and make fun of him. Pia the Parrot then flies down and squawks out an urgent warning and instructions to the elephants to help get animals of all sizes to safety. A water buffalo called Bill resists and claims he loves water. He heads towards the sea along with Dilan the Duck who resists for the same reason The chase which ensues is planned so that it can be expanded for use in a possible follow-up film after the book. Herding animals large and small is dealt with humorously but in the end almost all are safely on high ground including Bill and Dilan. Meantime on the beach a little Scottish girl called Kelley has spotted the tell-tale bubbles in the water and tells her mother about what she has learned in school about the significance of this. Her mother mercifully takes this seriously and their hotel is evacuated saving many lives. The scene then moves up to high ground where everyone is looking down at the devastation. Few words are used on this double page spread. The pictures tell the tale. The story ends with Eli explaining exactly what has happened and how much work is now waiting to be done by those who have survived.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Margaret Donald

Margaret Donald is a former teacher/lecturer in early childhood education in the UK and USA, who later became a broadcaster in radio and television. She is now a prolific writer of wholesome, non-violent material for young children. Her screen writing company, Mallard Media Services, was launched after the Dunblane atrocity in 1996 and led to the award of Scottish Businesswoman of the Year ( Most Enterprising Start-Up) on the basis of her first project about a sheep called Ophelia. The first book for her second project about two Highland bulls called Clootie and Dumpling is now in print. Eli the Elephant was inspired by a friend who returned from Sri Lanka after the tsunami on December 26th, 2004 with first hand reports on child victims and devastated schools. All the revenue from this book will be used to help re-resource schools in devastated areas. A sequel is already in synopsis form. Margaret is a Governor of The Robert Gordon University, and Aberdeen College, Scotland.