Nightwalkers - Hardcover

Judy K. Morris has been intrigued by elephants her whole life. She is the author of several books for children, including The Kid Who Ran for Principal. She teaches writing to children and adults in Washington, D.C., her home for the past thirty-seven years.

Gr. 4^-6. When James chooses an elephant for his school report, he has no idea that the zoo-escaping, night-walking Daisy will, in turn, choose him to help her. This huge African friend takes 10-year-old James on several nocturnal journeys, and he can only guess at her mission as he struggles to aid her. James, having lived in foster homes all his life, approaches his relationship with Daisy in the same way he deals with substitute parents: he has no control over what is happening, so he accepts what is offered without understanding motives or histories. The novel is sensitively written, with many parallels drawn between the plight of James and the trials of Daisy. Readers will be inclined to suspend disbelief of the amazing pachyderm's actions. The author's concluding note says that all events could actually happen--but probably not to the same elephant. The story is full of hope and has much to say about human and animal families. Susan DeRonne