What Elephants Know

Written by Eric Dinerstein

Narrated by Kirby Heyborne

Abandoned in the jungle of the Nepalese Borderlands, two-year-old Nandu is found living under the protective watch of a pack of wild dogs. From his mysterious beginnings, fate delivers him to the King's elephant stable, where he is raised by unlikely parents-the wise head of the stable, Subba-sahib, and Devi Kali, a fierce and affectionate female elephant. When the king's government threatens to close the stable, Nandu, now twelve, searches for a way to save his family and community. A risky plan could be the answer. But to succeed, they'll need a great tusker. The future is in Nandu's hands as he sets out to find a bull elephant and bring him back to the Borderlands. In simple poetic prose, author Eric Dinerstein brings to life Nepal's breathtaking jungle wildlife and rural culture, as seen through the eyes of a young outcast, struggling to find his place in the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781501928413

Reviews for What Elephants Know

[antmusic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed, but not overly loved by my kids. I expected more reaction, but maybe because it was an audiobook, they didn't grasp it as much? WHAT ELEPHANTS KNOW is great, but I'm basing my 4-stars on their overall reaction.

[readysetgo-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Early Reviewer Audio Book:A lushly descriptive tale of a young boy on a journey of wisdom, nature and painful growth. The story is well told, at times jumpy in it's introduction of story line. Not my taste, messages are a little too weepy and round-a-bout, little too easternish.Read well, not great but well. The narrator here seems to overemphasize a wispy, almost whiny voice throughout. Not a lot of differentiation to the small amount of characters.3/5 stars, better than average just not outstanding.

[lempsterlibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this to be an interesting story. It gives the reader a look into life in Nepal, and the importance of the elephant. This would be excellent for young readers as well as adults. The story is somewhat predictable, but pleasant all the same. A good read.

[cynthiam-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a charming adventure story of 12-year-old Nandu living in Nepal. He is an orphan but grows up with his adoptive father in an elephant stable. With the threat of closure for the stable, Nandu works on a plan to save it. This is adventurous but also provides insight into the jungle of Nepal and how elephants are used in this culture. I recommend this story for 4th-6th grades, and it would appeal to children who enjoy The Jungle Book and adventure stories.

[st5croixsue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Set in the jungles of Nepal, an abandoned boy is taken in by the owner of an elephant stable, and nurtured by Devi Kali, an affectionate female elephant. He struggles to find his place in the world in this story which brings the jungle to life.

[browsers_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

[This review first published in High Points magazine, September 2016]With a nod to The Jungle Book, Dinerstein tells the tale of Nandu, a teenager working in the King of Nepal's elephant stable. When just a toddler, Nandu was found in the wilderness, being protected by wild dogs. Unlike most orphan stories, however, this is not a tale about finding his lost roots, but instead about finding his place in the present.The Borderlands, a wild jungle between India and Nepal, is a seemingly timeless setting at the beginning of the book. After the first few chapters, you think you're reading a pleasant Nepalese fable. Soon, however, we learn of the inevitable encroachment of Land Rovers into the area, and governmental budget cuts mean the king needs to close Nandu's elephant ranch. He gives the ranch one year to prepare to move all their elephants to a larger, more centralized ranch.During that year, Nandu's experiences—boarding school, a terrible fight with bandits, befriending a few strangers, personal tragedy, and his change in stature at the stable—give him the courage to try to save the stable from closure, using the plan of his best friend's sister.Ultimately, this is a coming-of-age story, as many young adult novels are. But it may never make the bestseller list, because this is a throwback to older writing: no grandiose plot of saving the world, only saving a stable; no fantastic alternate reality, but the rustic setting of a Nepalese jungle. The basis in reality is actually surprising for a book published by Disney, which is no stranger to hyperbolic fantasy. However, the author spent many years as a scientist in Nepal, and after reading this book, you'll feel like you know a little about the Borderlands and the life of an elephant driver. The Borderlands, like America, is a place of mixed cultures. In the story, we see Hindus, animists, Muslims, and a Christian missionary; and I can't even keep track of the different ethnicities that inhabit the area. Despite this jumble of people, respect is the order of the day. If for no other reason, this mutual respect of race and religion makes the book a good read for anyone, not just young adults.And what, exactly, do elephants know? Well, you'll just have to read the book and find out!

[jugglingpaynes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What Elephants Know by Eric Dinerstein is Nandu, an orphan who was found and raised by the head of a royal elephant stable in Nepal and Devi Kali, the female elephant who found him when he was only two. Now twelve, Nandu struggles to find a way to keep the elephant stable from closing to keep his family together. The story is well written and well told by Kirby Hayborne. His storytelling keeps you in the world of Nandu, and he is very good at switching between characters so that you don't lose track of who is speaking when there is dialogue. The story itself is a year in the life, with happy and sad moments and points where the situation makes you angry at the unfairness of it or laugh out loud at the humor. Many of the secondary characters are well-rounded, like Nandu's teacher Father Artry and Rita. The author does a good job of giving you the feeling of being right there in Nepal, walking along a dusty path or in a bustling city or an elephant market. Definitely worth listening to.

[bogreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You will feel the life of the jungle around you as you listen to "What Elephants Know" by Eric Dinerstein and narrated by Kirby Heyborne. Twelve-year-old Nandu would love to continue his life as an elephant caretaker in the king's stable, however the stable is to be closed. In addition, Nandu's adoptive father and head of the stable, Subba-sahib, has plans for Nandu to study away from the jungle and the elephants. This adventure follows Nandu's story as he works against forces beyond his control.

[janarose1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nandu has been raised among the King’s Elephant Stable in Nepal. When the king decides to shut down the stable, Nandu and his adopted father do everything they can to save the community. Nandu was a very likeable and interesting character. The setting was fascinating, I love reading about other cultures and lifestyles. Although the book is definitely aimed at a younger audience, it has something to offer for all age ranges. Overall, highly recommended.

[eduscapes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WHAT ELEPHANTS KNOW by Eric Dinerstein tells the compelling story of a boy living in the Nepalese Borderlands.Abandoned as a toddler, Nandu grows up in the King’s elephant stable. When the government threatens to shut down their operation, twelve-year-old Nandu must convince his adopted father to turn the stable into an elephant breeding center. Along the way, Nandu faces issues of political corruption, cultural identity, environmental ethics, and social justice.Dinerstein’s beautiful prose brings a fascinating array of supporting characters to life including a nurturing mentor and caring elephant. Readers will be engrossed with the heartwarming tale from beginning to end.Written for a middle grade audience, librarians will find this book has a number of audiences including animal lovers, history fans, and those who enjoy stories set in other cultures.This “out of the ordinary” story of human connections with the environment in a far-off land is a refreshing break from mainstream children’s literature.Published by Disney-Hyperion on May 17, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.