The Elephant from Baghdad by Mary Tavener Holmes
Who would have thought that the emperor Charlemagne would make friends with an albino elephant, a gift from the caliph of Baghdad? Told from the fictionalized point of view of a monk who set down the actual story in 883 884 CE, the book follows the elephant's journey through Egypt, across the Mediterranean to Italy and across the Alps to Germany. When the elephant finally reaches his destination, Charlemagne is so delighted with his exotic new pet that he introduces him to his many children and bathes with him in the hot springs near his palace. When the elephant dies of old age, the emperor is heartbroken. Jon Cannell invigorates his charming mixed-media artwork with artifacts, paintings, and sculpture from earlier centuries. An Author's Note about the origins of the story and the remarkable water clock carried by the elephant is included.
“Holmes, Harris and Cannel…again team up to tell a tale about a large exotic animal who historically ventured into European/Western territoryThis time they reach back into the first millennium to look at a cross-cultural bridge constructed in the ninth century, when Charlemagne was emperor of most of Europe…Cannel’s ink-and-watercolor illustration is endearingly old-fashioned: simple, whimsical and sophisticated at the same time, reminiscent of Virginia Kahl and Laurent de Brunhoff in its expressive cartoon lines and lively scenes. An authors’ note provides more information on the historical Notker the Stammerer and the famous clock, as well as providing sources for their story. Captivating and charming both as animal story and as a glimpse of historical East/West relations.” —Kirkus Reviews
Mary Tavener Holmes graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University with an MA and a PhD. For more than thirty years, she has worked as a curator, teacher, and author in the field of European art. She is also the author of My Travels with Clara and, with John Harris, A Giraffe Goes to Paris. She lives in New York City with her husband, three children, and two cats. John Harris, a former editor at The Smithsonian Institution and the J. Paul Getty Museum, lives in Santa Monica, California. His most recent book is Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be. Jon Cannell owns his own design and illustration studio. His clients include Starbucks, Chronicle Books, Land of Nod, and UNICEF. He also illustrated A Giraffe Goes to Paris.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780761461111 |
| ISBN 10 | 0761461116 |
| Title | The Elephant from Baghdad |
| Author | Mary Tavener Holmes |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Amazon Publishing |
| Year published | 2012-05-01 |
| Number of pages | 40 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |