An Elephant in the Garden

A thrilling and moving novel about an extraordinary animal caught up in a very human war, from beloved children's author, Michael Morpurgo. Elizabeth and Karli's mother works at the city zoo in Dresden, 1944. When the zoo director tells her that the dangerous animals must be shot before the town is bombed, she moves her favourite, an elephant named Marlene, into the family's back garden to save her... But then the bombs start to fall, and the family must flee the devastated city and hide from the encroaching Russian troops. Hard enough to do, even without an elephant in tow.

Michael Morpurgo, geboren 1943 in London; lange Zeit tätig als Lehrer, bevor er mit seiner Frau in Devon das Projekt "Bauernhöfe für Stadtkinder" ins Leben rief, das sie inzwischen seit über zwanzig Jahren leiten. Zahlreiche Kinderbuch-Veröffentlichungen, davon diverse ausgezeichnet.
Michael Foreman has written and illustrated many books for children. He has won the coveted Kate Greenaway Medal in the U.K. twice, as well as the Smarties Book Prize, the Bologna Book Prize, and many other prestigious awards. Michael divides his time between London and St. Ives in Cornwall.

Praise for An Elephant in the Garden "This is a handsome, very pickupable book. Brightly and informatively jacketed, its text punctuated by lovely, fluid ink and wash illustrations by Michael Foreman, it deserves a prominent place on school library bookshelves and, if there is any justice in the world, in bookshops." Guardian "A thrilling and moving new novel about an extraordinary animal caught up in a very human war, for anyone who loved The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips or The Butterfly Lion!" Waterstones "For readers aged eight and over, this captivating novel offers an insight into how Hitler came to power, refracted through the gaze of the young narrator." Telegraph "Following the stage success of War Horse, Michael Morpurgo returns with another gem in his animals in war series, An Elephant in the Garden." Telegraph