The Elephant's Pillow: A Chinese Bedtime Story

This book about a little boy who befriends the grouchy imperial elephant is one of the best children's stories I have ever read. The story line is simple, yet conveys a lot of messages, i.e. how Sing Lo develops empathy for the elephant's situation, how giving can be more fulfilling than receiving, how we all go to sleep more easily when we are well taken care of, etc. What a wonderfully rich book!The illustrations in this book are absolutely exquisit. You just don't get tired at looking at them. I have read this book many times to my sons. However, when this book was read to a group of us by another adult, I discovered so many new things I had not seen before. This is a must have for every child's library.

Sun washed yet brilliant the unique illustrations of South African artist Jude Daly enhance this story of how a young boy learns to be helpful. Sing Lo is the son of one of the wealthiest merchants in Peking. He's a rather spoiled child who has been cosseted since birth. One day during an outing in his rickshaw Sing Lo becomes bored, and asks his driver, Li, what might be the greatest sight of all. Upon learning that this extraordinary sight might be the Imperial Elephant, Sing Lo determines that is precisely what he wishes to see. Cautioned by Li that the animal is reputed to be bad tempered since the death of the Emperor, Sing Lo decides to take him a gift of buns "glazed with honey and sprinkled with poppy seeds." When Sing Lo delivers them he learns that the elephant hasn't slept since the Emperor died. What can Sing Lo possibly do to bring rest to the unhappy animal, and is he willing to expend time and energy to bring comfort to another? This story, which is based on a bedtime tale told to the author by her father, is as relevant today as it was years ago. - Gail Cooke

My daughter received this beautiful book as a gift and we enjoy reading it again and again. The story tells of a wealthy, sometimes seemingly selfish, young boy who rather unselfishly reaches out to the emporer's elephant who has not slept since the death of his beloved master. The little boy reacts lovingly and works diligently to ensure care and rest for the sad animal.The art is bold and each page is a museum-goer's dream. The pictures jump off of the pages and work exquisitely with the text.I cannot do this book justice, I know. Just find and read it to your children!