A Memory Of Forever Friends

The more we know about the kingdom of animals as a whole, the more we understand about the vital importance of every single member to all life on this planet.  There is an intricate network in place.  When we choose to shift our focus to a specific animal, it's astounding what can be learned about their physical characteristics.  Each one of those qualities helps them to adapt, survive and continue to be an essential link.

It's even more interesting and exciting to discover the personality and emotional traits animals exhibit.  They are more like humans in some respects than we might think and even better than us in other aspects.  Elephants Walk Together (Albert Whitman & Company, October 1, 2017) written by Cheryl Lawton Malone with pictures by Bistra Masseva was previously highlighted here with a conversation and cover reveal.  Based upon a true story this book will increase your appreciation for these giants who walk among us.

In the wild,
two baby elephants
walk together.

Alert and animated they seek food with their herd.  As the day comes to a close and the family moves, the two baby elephants, Precious and Baba, make sounds; a conversation between friends.  All is well with the duo until the arrival of hunters.  They take the baby elephants away.

Initially separated they are joyful at discovering each other inside a circus car.  At the circus they are trained to do things elephants would not normally do.  Precious is in pain from learning tricks demanding more than her body can handle.  Baba is frightened of the trainers.  Thankfully they have each other for comfort.

Their first performance does not go well.  They are separated; Precious to a variety of zoos and Baba to one circus after another circus.  Apart for decades they mourn the loss of their companionship.

To heal Precious's feet she is sent to a sanctuary.  Healing on the outside is much easier than healing an elephant's heart.  Hope is a curious thing.  Even the smallest protected spark in one's heart can create a miracle. 

A new elephant arrives.


Having lost count of the number of times this book has been read, it still brings me to tears at the end.  Author Cheryl Lawton Malone has taken the real life affection of two elephants and fashioned a story around its center. The repetition of certain words, walking and talking, is used as a unifying rhythm several times.  She takes phrases used to describe their lives together as baby elephants and brings those full circle at the conclusion.  Here is a sample passage.

In a rattling circus car,
Precious and Baba meet again.

They trumpet their joy.
They purr, side by side.


When I look at the opened dust jacket (I am working from an F & G.), the front speaks of the joy of the two adult elephants.  To the left on the back illustrator Bistra Masseva has depicted a circus tent entrance, a circus stool and a whip.  In the foreground on the left is foliage found in a zoo setting with a steel and chain fence in front of it.  It's a poignant contrast between what should have been and what was.  On the title page along the bottom are the five peaks of a striped circus tent with flags waving.

Rendered in acrylic paints each image elevates the text by taking readers into the moment.  The time of day and setting are depicted in appropriate colors with added details of flora and fauna and people.  Bistra alternates the size of the pictures from single and double pages, page edge to page edge, to accentuate the pacing.

Her perspectives are particularly superb.  She brings us close to Precious and Baba when they are experiencing joy.  When they suffer we are given a larger scene; training in the snow, the spectacle of the first circus act, and Precious in the zoo.  The bird's-eye-view of the sanctuary is wonderful.

One of my favorite of many images is the first two-page picture.  The sky is a blend of clouds, pale yellow and green with a sun shining over several mountain peaks.  In front of this is the green of the forest with some trees towering over the others.  Birds glide above the trees.  Along the forest edge the herd forages.  In a mud patch, on the left, close to readers, Baba and Precious are playing.  One of them is rolling in the mud.  The other has her front feet on the other's back.  Their trunks are raised.  Their mouths are open.  They are happy.  To balance the scene in the lower right-hand corner several leaves provide cover for one of the birds on the ground. 


Elephants Walk Together written by Cheryl Lawton Malone with pictures by Bistra Masseva is one of those books which serve to highlight the true beauty found in the animal kingdom.  In an author's note at the close of the title we are told about the story of the real Asian elephants.  Cheryl continues by speaking about elephants in general and reminding us how much they need our help.  She includes relevant organizations with their websites and selected sources.  You will want to have this book on your professional and personal bookshelves.  It would pair nicely with Katherine Roy's new title, How To Be An Elephant: Growing Up in the African Wild.

If you follow the links attached to Cheryl Lawton Malone's name and Bistra Masseva's name you will discover more about them and their other work at their websites.  At the publisher's website is a Q & A with Cheryl Lawton Malone about this book.   Also at the publisher's website you can view interior pages.

Elephants Walk Together Conversation and Cover Reveal

On March 1, 2016 Dario and the Whale debut picture book by author Cheryl Lawton Malone with illustrations by Bistra Masseva was featured here.  At the close of a question and answer conversation with Cheryl it was revealed another book similar in theme to Dario and the Whale was being written.  I am honored and excited today to be revealing the cover for Elephants Walk Together created by the collaborative team of author Cheryl Lawton Malone and illustrator Bistra Masseva and published by Albert Whitman & Company.  Both Cheryl and Bistra have agreed to answers questions about this new title prior to and after the reveal.

It’s indeed a pleasure to have you both back at Librarian’s Quest.

Are the elephants in this book based on a true story?  If so, how did it come to your attention, Cheryl?

Cheryl: Yes, that’s the part I love the most. ELEPHANTS WALK TOGETHER is inspired by the amazing lives of two real Asian elephants named Wanda and Gypsy. Like the majority of elephants in captivity today, Wanda and Gypsy were captured in the wild. At some point they were sold to the same circus. Film clips show them performing together. Their story turns extraordinary, when, after decades of separation, they reconnect at the Performing Animal Welfare Society’s (PAWS) elephant refuge in San Andreas, California. In real life, as in my story, they spend their remaining days walking side by side. Wanda died in 2015 from complications related to chronic captivity. To date, Gypsy is still roaming the reserve with her other elephant friends. I first heard about Wanda and Gypsy when my agent, Clelia Gore at Martin Literary Agency, asked me to watch an HBO documentary titled An Apology To Elephants. Wanda and Gypsy are featured in the film. The elephants’ historical facts and video are also published on the PAWS website. Clelia believed the plight of captive elephants could be brought to children in a heartfelt and appropriate way. After I discovered Wanda and Gypsy, I agreed!

I know, Bistra, in your comments regarding your art for Dario and the Whale that as soon as you get a manuscript images start to form in your mind like frames of a film.  Was it the same for Elephants Walk Together? Did you imagine the elephants first or the scenes in which they are placed?

Bistra: That's right. I can't seem to read a text without my visual thinking being switched on. Sometimes, it's just a word that can kick things off. I often know exactly how I'd like an illustration to look, however sometimes I'll just go with the flow and let the work emerge from the sketches.

Getting the characters right is very important. They guide you through the story. In this book my challenge was to create two elephants of the same species that are distinguishable from one another. In the illustrations they differ slightly in colour and Precious has freckles on her trunk, whereas Baba has them only on her ears.

What is the medium you used for the artwork, Bistra?

Bistra:  I used acrylic paints as I do in most of my art.


Would you talk a little bit about your research process, Cheryl and Bistra, for Elephants Walk Together.  Were you able to conduct most of it online?  Did you speak or consult with elephant experts?  Were you able to see elephants in person?  

Cheryl: The HBO documentary highlights the poor treatment and difficult living conditions endured by captive elephants in North America. The material was so intense I spent months noodling over approaches and story lines before I realized the friendship of Precious and Baba offered the perfect vehicle for telling this story. After that, I began reading everything I could about the life and care of captive elephants, including psychological studies, the use of training devices like bullhooks, medical reports, and articles about poaching and conservation efforts. I relied heavily on the PAWS’s website and their suggested reading material, as well as information published online by metropolitan zoos and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, an organization devoted to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education and recreation. I even traced the individual histories of Wanda and Gypsy in the Asian Elephant North American Region Studbook—an online publication that strives to provide complete and accurate origin and transfer data about all Asian elephants held in zoos and private collections. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet the elephants myself.

Bistra:  I actually first got acquainted with elephants as a little girl, during an extended stay in India.  I still remember being in awe of these funny-looking giants.  And then, years later, I went to the zoo to sketch elephants for a University assignment.  Observing a subject in real life and its natural habitat is the best visual research method.  That is not always an option obviously, but luckily there is a wealth of information online on elephants nowadays.  I looked through a large number of pictures and some videos to acquaint myself better with elephant appearance and personality.  And I made a lot of sketches.

With the reading of each new article or book, my fascination continues to grow regarding the emotions displayed by animals.  Their connections to each other and to humans in their lives are extraordinary.  Do you Cheryl or Bistra have another story about elephants which you find intriguing?  About any other animals?

Cheryl: Elephants are so intriguing, and so human-like in their family connections, interaction, grief, and care-giving that I find myself sharing videos of elephants on social media whenever possible. My current focus and writing efforts, however, have shifted to another fascinating, endangered species—wolves!


Bistra: I think stories like this one teach us to be more aware and accepting of others, be that people or animals. We share this earth with so many amazing creatures. We should learn to be more respectful of what we don't understand or know little of. How we treat one another is what distinguishes us.

Would you speak a little bit about the particular illustration on the cover, Bistra?  Why did you choose to show the elephants as older adults rather than as babies in the wild?  Did this cover go through many revisions?

Bistra: Baby elephants are adorable, but on the book cover I wanted to show the passage of time and also suggest that the elephants go through a lot of trials and tribulations. They are symbolically leaving hard times behind them and walking towards freedom and sunnier skies, together. This was my concept from the start and the final art matches my initial sketch.

I was wondering Cheryl about your impression when you saw the front cover illustration for the first time?

 Cheryl: Quite simply, I fell in love. With their pink and gray skin tones and trumpeting trunks, the elephants look ready to march off the page. In one illustration, Bistra captured the soul of an extraordinary story. The interior art amazes as well.  

Now we readers need to wait for the release date on October 1, 2017 to discover the story of two remarkable elephants, Precious and Baba, in Elephants Walk Together.

Cheryl Lawton Malone and Bistra Masseva have my sincerest thanks for creating this book which will certainly increase readers’ appreciation of the marvelous creatures we call elephants.

Started in 2012 for the past five years around the globe we have been celebrating World Elephant Day on August 12th. You can learn more about how PAWS views this event here and be sure to visit the PAWS's section dedicated to the elephants.

Gift

When it happens regardless of whether it's the first time or the tenth time, we marvel standing in breathless wonder.  Unless we are a naturalist with specific intentions, most of us leave the inside to go outdoors with no expectations other than to accomplish our immediate goals.  Experiencing a close encounter with a living being in the wild is a gift; some more surprising than others.

You might be reaching for a large stick wondering how it got in your yard, only to discover it's a garter snake of granddaddy proportions.  One Sunday morning this past October while standing in our new backyard, Xena and I were both shocked to see a large fox trotting down the sidewalk across the street carrying a morning meal in its jaws.  In these moments of awareness we are reminded all forms of life are sharing the same space.

Sometimes these appearances come not only when we least expect them but when we need them the most.  Dario and the Whale (Albert Whitman & Company, March 1, 2016) written by debut picture book author Cheryl Lawton Malone with illustrations by Bistra Masseva is about a unique bond formed between a boy and a whale calf.  In a desire to belong, connections can come from places other than where we are looking.

Every spring 
when the sun
wakes up the land,
Dario and his mother
move to the seashore.

They are not the only ones moving to the north.  A whale and her baby are swimming in the same direction.  Each parent is compelled to make this change based upon need.

Unbeknownst to each other, the boy and the whale are going through similar episodes in their desire to call this new place home.  Dario inadvertently destroys a sand castle being constructed by a girl on the beach.  A green turtle is the recipient of a big bump courtesy of the whale.  That is intentional.

In the afternoon, Dario, alone, racing along the beach flying a kite sees the whale breach the water.  The whale sees Dario.  Time stands still as they gaze at each other.  Both Dario and the whale excitedly reach out to their mothers with the news of this sighting.

In the following days Dario and the whale search for each other on the beach and in the water, devising signals; a whistle, a wave of hands, a spout or a breach.  Shared hours fill their mornings and afternoons.  When Dario is kept away from the shore, he worries the whale will not be there when he returns especially after comments made by the castle-making girl.  In minutes of remarkable clarity the boy receives an answer.


Sparked by a real life event Cheryl Lawton Malone writes with the sure knowledge this kind of contact can bring.  In a poetic cadence she traces the similarities between the boy and the young whale comparing the two until the defining connection.  Her word choices are specific and easily understood by the youngest of readers.

Interspersed in the English narrative are words spoken by Dario in his native language.  These help readers to further understand how Dario feels in a place far from home.  Malone is careful to define their meaning in the context of the story.  Here is another sample passage.

"Wow!" Dario shouts.
"Mae, venha ver!"
Ma, come look!

SPLASH!
The whale slaps the water with his tail.
His mother hurries over.


Opening the matching dust jacket and book case readers become fully aware of the splendor of being so close to a whale.  The whale's body extends beyond the spine with its tale raised high above the water.  A seagull has braked in flight to avoid the splash.  This illustration is fully alive, sending off the sounds of the shore, ocean and the happiness experienced by both the whale and the boy.  The color from the text, spine and water is carried to the opening and closing endpapers.

On the title page beneath the words two whale tails are breaching the water.  The verso and first page feature an illustration of Dario and his mother walking along the boardwalk on the bay.  Behind them are the sandy shore, the water, rocky stretches of land and a lighthouse.  Seagulls glide on the air currents as a ship moves in the distance.  Illustrator Bistra Masseva transports us to the setting with this initial image.

Most of the pictures span two pages with varying perspectives.  In one we are a seagull watching the whales arrive at the bay.  In another we are the whale watching Dario.  We may be Dario sitting on the beach looking in earnest for the whale.  To enhance the pacing Masseva selects to create a series of smaller visuals or do single page comparisons.  With each image we are deeply aware of the emotional moods through facial features and body movements.

One of my favorite illustrations is of the two whales swimming north to the bay.  Having never seen whales outside of an aquarium I can only imagine the sight of seeing them in the wild.  To see them from above, shapes partially above and beneath the vastness of the ocean is breathtaking.  The subtle shades of the water convey the ever-changing nature of the seas.  A lone seagull flies toward the lower left hand corner of this double-page image.

Illustrator Bistra Masseva graciously replied to an email inquiry about her work.  Here is what she has to say.

 Images always appear in my head the moment I start reading the manuscript, forming a sequence much like the frames of a film.

Then I would research the subject (I love this part of my work) and make sketches to develop the characters. I looked at a lot of right whale photographs to get the character of the whale, well, right. ;-) Simultaneously, I would sketch out the storyboard for the book in tiny thumbnails, to determine the composition in each spread and how the different pages relate to each other. And when I finally have my visual story I would paint the illustrations by hand in acrylics.

It was a pleasure to work on Cheryl's story. I have always been fascinated by the sea and its wondrous creatures! 

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask questions of Cheryl Lawton Malone and receive her replies.  

After you saw the whale did you know there was a story to be told from that connection?

Yes, immediately after we saw the whale, I knew there was a story. I didn't know 'what' story necessarily or who would tell it or how it would end. I only knew that the climax would be the moment when a human and a whale connected. Because I'd felt that connection. The rest of Dario's story came after much work and many drafts.

How many years has it been since you and your dog were a part of that magic until the publication of this book?

DARIO's launch date is March 1, 2016.  In 2011, I participated in a writing retreat at the Norman Mailer House, Provincetown, MA, sponsored by the Norman Mailer Writer's Colony.  The kind people who ran that program allowed me to bring my dog Chief, which is why we found ourselves on Race Point Beach very early one April morning.  Whales of all kinds migrate through the Cape at that time of year, including the very rare and very endangered North Atlantic whale.  Seeing their spouts and tails in the distance was common.  Coming face to face with a juvenile right whale immediately off shore was EXTRAORDINARY!  Unfortunately, I lost Chief later in 2011 after a difficult illness.  I consider that month in Ptown as one of my great life experiences.  Not only did he and I get to meet a real live whale but those were Chief's last happy days.  To share that extraordinary experience with such a kind friend was unforgettable.

I read that you have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to live in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.  Would you care to share more about why this happened?  Did those experiences of being in unfamiliar places help you to develop your character of Dario?

Absolutely, yes.  My father worked for an international engineering company that constructed major energy refineries.  As he completed projects and started new ones, our family moved.  And moved.  The experience of leaving school, packing up a house, saying good bye, traveling to another town either here in the US or in Europe, unpacking the house, finding new friends, and starting a new school was never easy.  My parents helped by keeping the interior of our house the same-for example, the living room couch was the same no matter if it was in The Hague or Massachusetts.  My curtains were the same.  My bed, the same.  Tuesday night was meatloaf night no matter if we were in London or New Jersey.  Without a doubt, I drew on my experience as an American child living abroad when I created Dario, having experienced first hand his need to find, any friend, and fit in.

On the jacket flap it states that Dario and his mother are from Brazil.  Have you ever visited this country?

Yes, Dario and his mother are Brazilian.  I have not been to Brazil.  Not yet!  My research tells me it's an amazing country of vibrant colors, wonderful food and passionate people.  Many hardworking Brazilians live in New England, particularly on the Cape.  I have visited another country in South America, Peru, and my husband and I are planning a hiking trip to Chile and Argentina.  As a result of traveling so much as a child, I have the travel bug.  We love to visit other countries.

At several points in the narrative, Dario speaks his native language.  These seem to be very emotional instances.  Is he speaking Portuguese?  Do you speak this language or another language other than English?

Yes, Dario speaks Portuguese, which is the official language of Brazil, and the language he learned from his mother, much like a whale learns to communicate from its mother.  Brazil was once a colony of Portugal.  Portuguese is still the language spoken by the majority of Brazilians.  Like many immigrants, Dario reverts to his first language when something important happens.  My first language is English.  I speak a little French and a tiny bit of Spanish.  As a child, I spoke Dutch fluently, but have forgotten most of it.  Unfortunately.

The illustrations of Bistra Masseva reflect the rhythm of your story beautifully.  Did you ever have the opportunity to communicate with her during the publication process?  Do you have a favorite illustration? 

I agree! Bistra's illustrations are fantastic. Everything I could have hoped for. My two favorites are when the whale chases a school of herring and later when Dario asks, "But you'll come back, right?" I absolutely love Dario's face on that spread. I think he's beautiful. I have not had the privilege of talking to Bistra yet but would welcome the chance to meet and thank her. As odd as it might sound, many picture book writers never meet their illustrators. Picture books are a unique art form where the text and the illustrations push each other to a higher place, as in the proverbial whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  For that reason, publishers tend to discourage active collaboration or dialogue between the author and illustrator during the publication process.

Are you working on another book?  Can you give us a hint about the story?

I am working on another book! Yes! Yes! Several, in fact. Two are picture books - one is a DARIO type story NOT involving whales but incorporating similar themes. The second is a silly dog book inspired by my current writing assistants - two Irish wheaten terriers named Lorcan and Muri. Also, I'm mapping out a MG novel in verse set in a Montana type location involving themes of family, loneliness and conservation. 

Thank you so much, Margie, for giving me this forum to express myself.

Thank YOU Cheryl for taking the time to answer my questions.  This kind of conversation makes the book experience far richer for readers.

Dario and the Whale written by Cheryl Lawton Malone with pictures by Bistra Masseva is an inspirational story when the possible becomes exciting and real.  These friendships remain; guiding us for the rest of our lives.  At the close of the book Cheryl Lawton Malone speaks about her encounter on that day at the beach.  She also talks about the North Atlantic right whale and the dangers they face.  

To learn more about Cheryl Lawton Malone and Bistra Masseva please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  On educator Carrie Gelson's blog There's a Book for That Dario and the Whale's cover is revealed along with other insights by Carrie and her students.  Several pages are available for preview on the publisher's website. For further information about North Atlantic right whales visit ARKIVE.