Author Haviva Kierzenblat grew up hearing stories from her grandfather about Sephardic life in Rangoon, Burma. This book — for readers ages four to nine — draws together the spirit of those tales and her lifelong empathy for animals, including the Burmese elephants her mother recalled from her childhood.
When young Rachel decides to go for a ride on an elephant before the Purim festival, she anticipates feeling like a pagoda princess. Instead, she looks down and sees the elephant's bruised, cracked feet. Upon learning that the elephant is old, she dismounts and offers it a mango. Through Argentinian illustrator Rebeca Luciani's perceptive eyes, we see the flash of trust and care as the girl and the elephant hold each other's gaze.
Although Rachel then rushes off to the Purim festival, we already know that she will be in quest of a way to help her new friend. The rest of the story reveals the depth of Rachel's love, respect, and creative negotiation skills as she aims to ensure that the elephant will live its remaining years in a peaceful sanctuary.
Rich in details about the Burmese culture, the Purim holiday, and reverence for animals, this book offers a unique view into compassion. The author points out that purim means "lots" — "a reference to luck and chance. Elephants in Southeast Asia experience different 'lots" in life. Some, such as those at wildlife sanctuaries, live in safety and comfort. Others suffer a great deal, both in captivity and in the wild. This is a story about one such elephant and about a girl whose compassion proves to be a greater treasure than any glittering crown."
