To the Elephant Graveyard- Tarquin Hall (2001): A compelling account of the search for a killer elephant in the Northeast corner of India, and a vivid portrait of the tribe who live intimately with the elephants. It examines the elephant suffering taking place due to loss of their natural habitat.

Jumbo Ghosts: The Dangerous Life of Elephants in the Zoo – Michael Schmidt (2002): Jumbo Ghosts is about both the ancient and mysterious bond we have with elephants, and why/how we’ve broken that bond in our modern zoos. Sections examine the human/elephant bond, what makes life so dangerous for elephants living in modern zoos, and new ideas to mend our broken bonds with them. Starting with the story of her revolutionary discovery that elephants use infrasonic sounds – sounds below the range of human hearing – to communicate, Payne shares what she learned from her fascinating field research in Africa. Research that reveals new insights into elephants’ social lives. When five of the elephant families she studies are the victims of culling, Payne’s approach to her research changes. She fights valiantly to protect the elephants. We have given short descriptions and broken the books up into categories, so if there is something specific you are looking for, it’s easier to find. Some people want to educate themselves more on the broad range of subjects involving elephants, while others just want to get lost in a story that brings them closer to elephants – so we took that into account. Those that have observed elephants in the wild and sanctuaries can’t help fall in love with them. I know I did when observing elephants in Sri Lanka and at Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa.

All that eating means one thing, gang, an awful lot of poo! Each elephant creates about one tonne of poo per week, which keeps the soil fertileand disperses tree seeds. Elephants also digwaterholes and create footpaths, literally changing the landscape around them! I Just wanted to say how lovely your book 'Saving Elephants' is - I really enjoy looking through it". Despite our differences in size and shape, humans relate so profoundly to elephants. Perhaps it’s their fierce loyalty, their female-forward power structure, long memories or sheer strength. But people who love elephants, really love elephants. And if that’s you, then we have a perfect reading list for you.

Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary: A True Story of Resilience and Recovery-Andrew Westoff (2012): An unflinching, visceral look at the emotional and physical damage—actual, real damage done to specific, individual apes—in some of America’s most notorious biomedical research labs. It is also the story of humans who were driven to provide them with refuge, retirement . . . and, ultimately, their inherent right to dignity. But as with all things in life, we don’t all agree about some of the books. Some people like some that others couldn’t even finish. Just because the book is on the list, doesn’t guarantee you’ll enjoy it. Please read a full review before dipping into the stories. Also remember, if you enjoy a book written by a researcher or conservationist, most have other books as well that you can look for.

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There is also a category labeled “Other.” This includes books about animals, emotion, and our relationships with them. Please know, while we have personally read many of these books, we have not read all of them. We also went off of recommendations from other “elephant people.” An Elephant in the Garden – Michael Morpurgo (2013): (Fiction grades 5-9) Lizzie and Karl’s mother is a zoo keeper; the family has become attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene, who will be destroyed as a precautionary measure so she and the other animals don’t run wild should the zoo be hit by bombs. The family persuades the zoo director to let Marlene stay in their garden instead. An elephant never forgets, but Lexington Willow can’t remember what happened before a tornado swept her away when she was a toddler. All she knows is that it landed her near an enclosure in a Nebraska zoo. And there an elephant named Nyah protected her from the storm. A natural history rich in observation of the animal world and how humans participate in it, Silent Thunderis also a passionate story of scientist Katy Payne’s spiritual quest as she turns a keen eye on her role in this world.

Elephant Talk: The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication – Ann Downer (2011): (grades 3 and up) This book discusses the complex system of communication elephants use- including sounds humans can hear, nonverbal behaviors too low for human ears and what they mean.Elephants of Thailand: The Smiling Elephant – Aston Heath (2017) : (recommended ages 2-8) A touching true story Chang, a baby elephant, and his adventures as he is rescued from captivity. The Smiling Elephant tells a true story of the plight of elephants in captivity. This beautifully illustrated children’s book about elephants in Thailand takes the child through an elephant’s life, starting from the jungle, life in the tourist industry and then being rescued and taken to an elephant refuge park. Hannah’s Dream- Diane Hammond (2008): A story about a zoo caregiver and his lone elephant that he tries to give a better life, by sending her to an elephant sanctuary. Lawrence Anthony devoted his life to animal conservation, protecting the world’s endangered species. Then he was asked to accept a herd of “rogue” wild elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand.