Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and species.
Stella wants to be an astronaut. There is only one problem: Stella is an elephant. Every time she applies to Space Command, they come up with a new reason why she can’t join.
Stella the elephant is fighting interstellar discrimination one pachyderm at a time! But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Stella is determined to reach for the stars. Does she have the right stuff?
James Foley makes picture books, middle-grade novels and comics for kids. He’s an award-winning author-illustrator whose books, The Last Viking and The Last Viking Returns, have scored several honours, including children’s choice awards. Foley is also an ambassador for Books In Homes and Room To Read. Stellarphant is his latest book.
Foley’s vivid illustrations paired with his extraordinary storytelling create an unforgettable tale. I’ll be recommending Stellarphant to every parent and child I know. It’s the perfect way to introduce traits of hard work, determination, perseverance, and self-belief to young readers aged 3+. It teaches you to never stop chasing your dreams – no matter how out-of-this-world (pun intended) they may be.
Stella truly is stellar. She studies, strengthens, practices, and prepares, but it still isn’t enough for her to reach her astronaut dream. Despite the many obstacles in her way, she doesn’t stop reaching for the stars – literally! At the heart of the book, Stellarphant teaches you that you’ll have setbacks and there will be people who tell you that you can’t achieve your goals but persevere and push through, and you’ll get there. And on a deeper level, there are important undertones of discrimination and feminism.
Foley’s colourful illustrations and cinematic double-page spreads really immerse you in Stella’s world. At the end of the book, there is a double-spread true history of animals in space. While no elephants have become astronauts (yet), animals including earthworms, tardigrades, koi fish, and even a cat named Félicette, all have. This book is the perfect present for the upcoming gift-giving season.
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