Learning to Listen

The Elephant Squad by Kerry Gibb (Packman Publishing, 2022)

In this novel, perfect for Years 4-6 readers, young carers unite to find that their world, which so far has been a lonely and difficult place, suddenly opens up with possibilities. 

Cleo, Jayden, Ethan and Tiegan are four children who, at the start of the book, exist very much in an isolated bubble: each of them is a young carer but, until a special visitor appears in assembly one day, they are unaware that their challenges are in different ways shared by the others. This sharing of experiences and a beautifully natural empathy for each other (nascent - I adamantly believe - in every child) helps very strong bonds to form and within a very short time,  a very special and much-needed community is formed. 

Reading the book as an adult and a teacher of primary-school aged children, I was struck by the author's real sensitivity and understanding of children.  With major parts given to two boys and two girls, there's ample scope to explore the feelings of these children from different gender points of view and I love how the characters' voices come through loud and clear. Gibbs' development of the two boys demonstrates particularly astute understanding - Ethan and Jayden may have tougher exteriors, but their inner warmth and fierce protection is lightly and sensitively point. All four of her young carers are drawn in such a way that their loneliness is clearly sensed but the lasting memory of all four is the extraordinary resilience, intelligence and natural goodness that children demonstrate daily, if only we listen.

And listen we readers must. Because it is the unsaid, the 'between-the-lines' connection of dots that makes the difference. Cleo demonstrates (probably unconsciously!) just how important this is as, despite her own challenges - or maybe because of them, actually. She models listening to the silent voices of these young carers; she feels strongly the emotional weight of the parents, grandparents and siblings who are cared for by these children. And with a grace that is quite wonderful to see unfold, she shows the readers what 'caring' really means. 

This is a book that would be great to share as a class read. There's a fluency and ease to the storytelling that makes reading it a real pleasure and - oh my goodness! - what book talk, what connection, what empathy this story would engender.

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The Elephant Squad is published by Packman Publishing on 23rd May 2022. It is available from the author's own website, https://kerrygibb.com, and from all good bookshops. (Do support the independents where you can!)

An added bonus from Kerry: "When a safe arrives in the school yurt, the children must think up a code that only they can know! Follow The Elephant Squad blog tour to discover the code! Each blogger will release one number and direct you to the next blog! Once you have the correct combination, email it to kerry@kerrygibb.com to unlock your entry into a competition to win a signed copy of The Elephant Squad with a limited edition bookmark.

Today's number, the final one, is 3.

Good luck!