Stellarphant
James Foley
Publisher: Fremantle Press
ISBN: 9781760990732
Awards Year: 2022
Category: Picture Book of the Year

Blurb

Stella the elephant is fighting interstellar discrimination one pachyderm at a time! Stella wants to be an astronaut. There is only one problem: Stella is an elephant. Every time she applies to Space Command, they come up with a new reason she can’t join. But where there’s a will, there’s a way and Stella is determined to reach for the stars.

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The CBCA judges say...

This story about an anthropomorphised, larger than life elephant can be read either as an ironic comment on privilege and diversity or the power of persistence. Readers will admire Stella’s resilience and problem solving as she challenges the status quo of Space Command’s space programme. Foley’s use of humour and playfulness outweigh any dogma. Stella and her gang jump off the page with gumption and determination. The endpapers are fascinatingly informative. So much emotion is conveyed on Stella’s face, through her eyes, tongue and forehead wrinkles. The fold-out page at the end is also a delightful addition. This book has the potential for lots of rich discussion around who become powerful, educated, and celebrated and who doesn’t.

The Reading Time reviewers say...

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Teaching Notes for this book...

The publisher has generously made teaching notes available for this book.

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