An Elephant in Our City - by Friederike Dammermann (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A simple story of boundless imagination and a child's willingness to believe." - Kirkus Reviews

It's always peaceful in our city. Except for today. Because today, an elephant has suddenly appeared. Just like that. Out of the blue. In the street in front of Ben's house. What on earth?

An Elephant in Our City is a delightful and humorous book that offers a whimsical take on friendship and surprises. With its unique illustrations featuring different textures and papers, the story brings to life the fun and comical situations that arise as the elephant interacts with people going about their day, including trips to the swimming pool and more. Because what can go wrong when an elephant lives among us?

Awarded second place in Clavis' International Key Colors Competition 2020, this endearing tale is designed to ignite the imagination and entertain young readers with its charming and unexpected twists.

A funny book about friendship ... and an elephant. For children ages 4 years and up.

Review Quotes

"When an elephant appears in the city, Ben's parents fret, though the young boy knows why the pachyderm is there.
It's an odd sight, an elephant on a bicycle in the middle of a busy street. As Ben's parents gaze down on the scene from above, they begin to wonder why the elephant is there in the first place. They imagine silly scenarios that involve the elephant going shopping, doing a cannonball into a swimming pool, and blowing everyone away with a giant sneeze. All the while, Ben is quietly preparing to leave, because he knows exactly why the elephant is in town: "for their ice cream date, of course!" Translated from Dutch, the matter-of-fact text is paired with whimsical artwork; readers see the large gray elephant looking bewildered while squished on a bus, then joyfully jumping into a swimming pool. The splash looks like a delightfully realistic spray across the page; the sneeze a splotchy mess. Children will enjoy the silliness of a wild animal cohabitating with people, especially one that feels larger than life. Leave it to adults to worry and wonder while young Ben simply enjoys the elephant's company. Ben and his parents have pale skin; background characters vary in skin tone.
A simple story of boundless imagination and a child's willingness to believe. (Picture book. 3-5)" - Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Friederike Dammermann was born in Brunswick, Germany, in 1972. She spent her childhood and youth there and put her first drawings on paper. Later she studied art and German language and literature in Hamburg and Bremen with stays abroad in New York, Paris and Nîmes.

Friederike has been working as a teacher in Flensburg since 2002. But when the chalk is at rest she turns to art. Many of her pictures have been exhibited in a number of places. Writing and illustrating picture books is particularly close to her heart. She is delighted that her books have now been published not only in German, but also in Flemish, Chinese and Portuguese, and in English on the American and Canadian market.

There's also a lot going on in her home town of Flensburg: from September 2023 to February 2024 she had the special privilege of exhibiting at the Museumsberg in Flensburg, one of Emil Nolde's old haunts. Under the title "Frog finds crown - a children's book is born" children and their parents were offered an insight into her latest picture book and its development.

Together with her partner and their dog Bill, she enjoys cycling tours in the beautiful surroundings of Flensburg.