One day a tired old elephant plods out of the forest and falls asleep in a farmer’’s barn. Amid the ensuing commotion, six curious blind mice enter the fray: ‘’… An elephant is like a wall,’’ says the oldest mouse, as he falls against the elephant’’s massive, solid side. ‘‘No,’’ says a younger mouse, touching one of the sharp tusks. ‘‘An elephant is like a spear!‘‘A tree… a rope… a snake? Each mouse has his or her own interpretation after touching different parts of the elephant. But then the huge creature awakes - and only then is the full wonder of his being revealed.Based on a classic Indian fable, Jude Daly’’s new picture book, set in the South African countryside, is an inspiring, multi-layered allegory.
