She Leads: The Elephant Matriarch

PreS-Gr 1–Through lyrical text accompanied by facts on each page, this book celebrates the strength and leadership of an elephant matriarch. She is a powerful and nurturing figure responsible for many important tasks: passing down knowledge to younger generations about gathering food, finding water, and caring for the orphans of other elephants. Soft illustrations in muted colors accompany the text. The narrative is well told and offers enough information to educate readers without overwhelming them. The focus on female leadership is powerful and timely and presents opportunities to draw connections with other animal societies (including human ones). However, what is noticeably lacking is any sort of back matter—in particular, a list of sources or suggestions for further reading. While the illustrations are lovely, they simply mirror the facts that are shared on the page without adding much to the overall reading experience.