The Elephant and the Sea

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Ed Vere

Interest age: 4 to 5
Reading age: 5+

Published by Penguin, 2024

Picture books

About this book

An old elephant called Gabriel who lives in Cornwall (he’s the kind of elephant who wears clothes rather than running around the plains of Africa) thinks back to his time as a young elephant when he was desperate to be part of the lifeboat crew.

At first he was too young to join, THEN he was too BIG to join… but he never gave up his dream. Gabriel made a plan and against all the odds he achieved it with incredible bravery, and saved lives as part of the crew.

The Elephant and the Sea is a lovely picture book to remind children to follow their dreams and that it can take time. It’s absolutely beautifully illustrated by Ed Vere, with every illustration pulling you into the drama of the story.

A comforting, cosy read that is specially recommended as a book for grandparents and older relatives to read out loud to younger family members, possibly followed by some stories about their own childhood dreams.

About the author

Ed Vere studied fine art at Camberwell College of Art and has been writing and illustrating children's books since 1999. He is published in both England and the US. Ed is also a painter, working from his studio in East London and is represented by galleries in London and Los Angeles. After a year and a half living in Barcelona, Ed now lives and works in London.