
caron levis Scribbling for kids, teens, and groan-ups
WAROOO!
From author Caron Levis and New York Times bestselling illustrator Charles Santoso—the award-winning team behind Feathers Together; Ida, Always; and This Way, Charlie—comes Mighty Muddy Us, a moving, full-color picture book story of sibling love, inspired by a real-life elephant family.

The moment he is born, Ely delights in the welcoming trumpets of his adoring big sister, Enid. She is so excited to play—but Ely’s legs are injured and it’s hard for him to move. To help keep Ely safe, Enid sticks close to her determined brother as they grow together through the seasons, trunk-twirling, mud-wallowing, and making silly sounds!
But as Ely grows more confident, he’s ready for more adventures, and he feels squished by Enid’s worries and rules. Enid is glad that he can run and play, but she’s nervous he could get hurt—or that he won’t need his big sister anymore. When a drought threatens the whole family, Ely shows what he is capable of, and both he and Enid discover that whether they are helping or playing, dusty or muddy, siblings are mighty special.
Inspired by real life elephants and the mighty researchers and team at
Amboseli Trust for Elephants!
https://www.elephanttrust.org
I came across the story of Ely, Enid, and Echo right away when I started looking at the work of Dr. Cynthia Moss. Dr. Moss and Martyn Colbeck along with the team at A.T.E. observed and documented the "EB" family for many years. I encourage you to check out their books and watch the documentaries on Echo and her family. Originally produced for the BBC you can find the films and clips in several places online.
Documentaries: Echo of the Elephants, Echo of the Elephants: The Next Generation, Echo, Ely and Friends: Africa’s Forgotten Elephants, Echo of the Elephants: The Final Chapter?
The real Ely, Enid, and Echo.

Photo © by Martyn Colbeck
from Little Big Ears by Dr. Cynthia Moss

Mighty Muddy Us is a work of fiction inspired by a real story and informed by the work of mighty researchers.
Dr. Cynthia Moss, Dr. Joyce Poole, Katy Payne and more.
I learned so much and gained a greater appreciation of these magnificent beings we share the earth with.
Discover the lives of elephants with your families and students.
