Parents' Guide to

The Elephant in the Room

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Heartwarming tale of friendship, kindness, and healing.

The Elephant in the Room Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 7+

Based on 1 parent review

age 7+

Enjoyable tale of friendship

This is a good story, with positive themes of friendship, resisting judgement, empathy, and other valuable lessons. There is no questionable language, no scary parts. It was enjoyable for all my kids (boys aged 8, girl age 6).

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Holly Goldberg Sloan's tale of two kids, a widowed man, and an elephant transforming each other's lives tugs the heartstrings and insists that acts of kindness make things a whole lot better. The Elephant in the Room intertwines a lot of compelling issues -- family separation, immigration, animal abuse, autism, loss -- in a lively, relatable, poignant, often funny story. Happy coincidence -- starting with the fact that pretty much none of the story would happen if Gio didn't win the lottery -- plays a large role in the unfolding events, but it's all in aid of a strong message that empathy, and acting upon it, changes lives in ways you never imagined. Even if you're not a gazillionaire.

Book Details

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