The Elephant Road

Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Annabel Wright

Publisher: Walker Books

Wilen is proud his village lies on the route the elephants take as they journey between forest reserves. But elephants are passing through increasingly often, damaging crops and houses, and life is already hard: each year they must clear more forest for crops simply to feed everyone.

Uncle Denngu from the city, riding his shiny motorbike, wearing flashy clothes, brags they can make some real money by clearing the forest to mine coal instead. Many villagers listen. Only Grandpa protests: the forest gives them life, providing food, water, building materials. Can Wilen help his village reconcile these competing demands?

Wilen's character - lively, inquisitive and questioning - and his particular story provide an engaging context in which much wider, complex environmental issues are explored in this compelling story.

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