Caught in a storm, Arnold the elephant washes up on a tiny island. Along comes Mouse in a little dingy and Arnold steps aboard . . . uh-oh! They use the wreckage to make the island bigger. And here's Dog-can this boat take Arnold's weight? Uh-oh! None of the animals can save the shipwrecked elephant but each broken vessel provides new materials for another intricate construction. Wheels and pulleys create a Ferris wheel, an elevator, a waffle maker. Soon there is a whole community and enough space for everyone! As with all Leo Timmers picture books, Elephant Island has many layers of discovery. Each new building is a magical fun park packed with mechanical detail and busy animals all working together.

"Elephant Island is full of the complex and playful visual detail and humour that Leo Timmers' readers love, with levers, pulleys and contraptions." Julia Marshall, Publisher

About the Author
Leo Timmers is one of Belgium's preeminent picture book authors, with a large and loyal following. Trained in graphic design, he illustrates magazines as well as picture books. He lives in Brussels with his wife and daughters. Leo Timmers is one of Belgium's preeminent picture book authors, with a large and loyal following. Trained in graphic design, he illustrates magazines as well as picture books. He lives in Brussels with his wife and daughters.

Reviews

"Yet another triumphant experiment for the award-winning Timmers."

-- The New York Times, Best Children's Books of 2022

"This light-tension, winking tale of a makeshift homecoming is sure to delight audiences at story time."

-- Foreword Reviews, starred

"A refutation for anyone who thinks their island is too full to accommodate outsiders."

-- The Times, Children's Book of the Week

"The tender yet dynamic verbal and visual narrative never falters in this engaging picture book."

-- Booklist

"A picture book tribute to the power of collective, constructive play, and to heeding the call to freedom."

-- Publishers Weekly

"From endpapers to assemblages, Belgian Leo Timmers never ceases to delight."

-- The Listener, Top Children's Books of 2022

"A fascinating and funny tale."

-- The Scotsman

"The sheer inventiveness of the entire endeavor is to be commended. Come for the elephant. Stay for his island."

-- Betsy Bird, US



Book Information
ISBN 9781776574346
Author Leo Timmers
Format Hardback
Page Count 48
Imprint Gecko Press
Publisher Gecko Press