Star the Elephant by Remy Lai

Title: Star the Elephant

Author: Remy Lai

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 12^th April 2022

Format: Paperback

Pages: 112

Price: $16.99

Synopsis: A heartfelt and hopeful early reader graphic novel series featuring adorable animals surviving in the wilderness despite the perils of climate change, from the award-winning creator of Pawcasso.

Hi! I’m Star and I’m an elephant. There isn’t enough food left on my island, so my herd has to split up. But the world out there is so big! Soon I am lost and alone, facing giant spiders and a big, wild ocean and the scariest thing of all … humans! Will I ever see my family again?

From the creator of Pawcasso comes an inspiring graphic novel series for young readers, the perfect introduction to the wonders and perils of the natural world – and how we can all do our part to protect it.

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Star lives in Malaysia with his family, but soon the food starts to run out, and they must split up so the herd can survive. But soon Star is alone and must try and survive without his family! Can he do that, and will he find his family again?

The second in the Surviving the Wild series explores elephant sanctuaries, and one that started in Malaysia in 1990. It illustrates the journey that Star took, and the unique sanctuary he ends up in that protects elephants within and near their natural habitat, as deforestation increasingly takes away their habitats. The star of this novel is the Asian or Indian Elephant, identifiable by its smaller ears which are in the shape of India. However, South Africa has similar reserves for African elephants – bigger elephants, and whose ears look like they’re in the shape of Africa. I’ve been to one of these places, and the elephants are well cared for, and able to explore their native land, walking around with a human friend who spends the day with them.

Star’s story highlights the devastating loss of habitat that affect many animals around the world, and the threat that humans encroaching on these environments pose. Again, Remy Lai has captured a topical issue in an accessible way, in a story that readers of all ages and abilities should have access to, so they can engage with climate change and environmental issues that have been around for decades. Again, the evocative images by Remy give the words gravitas and emotion that might not always come through in text for younger readers. Seeing the impact is powerful and engages the reader in a different way to simply reading it.

Another fantastic story.