A Boy and His Elephant by Ethan L. Watson, illustrations by Jessica K. Talbot; (c) 2020; Weave Media; ISBN 9781646-880003; 54 pages.
By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — In this book written for children, a boy wondering about the Being that his parents and acquaintances call “God” encounters an elephant by name of “El,” which in Hebrew is one of the names of God. He tells the elephant that he is sad because “I don’t know God.”
El, the elephant, offers to help the boy find God. So off they go, the boy on El’s back, and they see a flower and a meadow; feel the effects of the wind and the sun; and the coolness of river water. The boy asks when they will find God, and El explains that the boy already had met God in the beauty of the flower; the peacefulness of the meadow; the strong winds; the warmth of the sun; and the life-giving, thirst-quenching water of the river.
“God is kind and patient, and above all else, He is love,” El explains. “He is love. Just like you love me, and I love you.”
Learning this, the boy feels happy.
The simplicity of Ethan Watson’s story, coupled with Jessica Talbot’s illustrations, may help children grapple with the abstract notion of a Being who can’t be seen, but Whose works are everywhere. In a foreword, Watson said that in his own life, “I learned that everyone has a unique relationship to God, and we all come to know Him through our own special way. I encourage all to seek Him, and you will find Him on your own time and in your own special way.”
What I particularly like about this book is that it can appeal to the followers of most religions, without being narrowly parochial. Young children may relish reading A Boy and His Elephant over and over with their parents.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com