Maw Books

Maw Books – book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more!

Today you are getting four book reviews in one post!  The focus is on the wonderful Ella picture book series which are:  Ella the Elegant Elephant, Ella Takes the Cake, Ella Sets the Stage, and Ella Sets Sail by Carmela and Steven D’Amico.  In this delightful series, Ella, a sweet little elephant, lives on Elephant Island which is somewhere in the great, wide Indian Ocean and hidden by fog so think no human being has ever found them.  Ella is the shyest elephant in school but wearing her grandmothers big floppy hat always makes her feel brave.  Her mother owns the bakery in town and she and Ella live above the shop.  She loves to help her mother bake yummy goodies.  Her two friends are Belinda, who always seems to find trouble, and Tiki, who is her smartest friend, and they always can count on each other to either get in trouble or help each other out!

Ella the Elegant Elephant.  Ella has just moved to Elephant Islands and loves her mother’s new bakery and the apartment above it.  But Ella is really worried.  School starts in two days and is nervous about making new friends.  But things are looking up when her grandmother sends her a big wooden hatbox.  Inside is her grandmother’s good luck hat which was very special to her.  Ella knew that that’s exactly what she needed.  At school, Ella meets Belinda and Tiki but instead of being impressed with Ella’s new hat, they make fun of her and call her names.  Ella is very sad but goes to school the next day still in her hat.  When Belinda dares Ella to climb the safetly wall to rescue a ball, Ella is aprehnsive.  What results next is something amazing!  Because of her lucky hat, Ella rescues her new friend and becomes a friend to all!

Ella Takes the Cake. It’s been nearly a year since Ella moved to Elephant Islands and the bakery is busier than ever during spring vacation.  Ella wants to help but all’s she can do is sweep the floor.  What she wants to do is help take out the hot cookies from the oven or cut the cakes.  When Mr. Banjo forgets to take a cake when picking up his day’s deliveries Ella promises to take the forgotten cake directly to the lighthouse.  She’s excited to be trusted with such a large responsiblity.  As soon as she’s on her way she runs into Belinda who insists on squeezing in.  Along the way, they offer to help Mr. Sneed deliver his library books, which happens to not be on the way.  Ella loses the cake when her cart snaps off of her bike and rolls down a huge hill!  Can she catch it?  Will she ruin the cake?  Can she follow through on the promise to her mother that she’d deliver the cake safely?  In my author interview with Carmela and Steven D’Amico we are given a special cake recipe!  It would be perfect to pair with this book!

Ella Sets the Stage.  In this third Ella book, the school on Elephant Island is holding a talent show and everyone is excited.  Everybody seems to have a special talent but Ella doesn’t seem to have one.  She tries out drums, juggling, and singing but she’s just no good at any of them.  When she sees that the talent show committee is looking for help, she’s excited to help organize and help everybody with their acts.  She made signs, made awards, put together the program, and on the day of the show helps everybody with their last minute fiasco’s and emergencies.  During the middle of the show, a monkey threatens to ruin everything but luckily Ella’s quick thinking and her lucky hat save the show!  When she’s called on stage to be applauded for her work she realizes that she does have a very special talent after all.  Very cute book that reminded me a lot of The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker.

Ella Sets Sail.  Ella loves her lucky red hat.  She wears it everywhere she goes.  It’s never failed to help her in all of her adventures.  She wears it to the Elephant Islands Carnival and Belinda is determined to win a parrot at one of the carnival games and insists upon borrowing Ella’s lucky hat.  Ella reluctantly lets her borrow it and Belinda runs off to the booth.  When she discovers the man is shutting down his booth for the day she decides to take a ride on the caruousel instead.  But unlucky Belinda loses the hat to the wind and Ella sees it being blown out to sea.  Has she ever had a day more unlucky than this one?  While attempting to rescue her hat, Ella ends up rowing out to a neighboring island that she’s never visited.  There she makes friends with a new family and when the father comes home with Ella’s lucky red hat, she’s disappointed when he gives it to his wife.  Will Ella be able to get her lucky red hat back or will she end up giving it away?

The entire Ella series reminds me very much of H.A Reys Curious George or the Babar the Elephant books by Jean de Brunhoff.  And that’s a very good thing.  These books are cute and would be the perfect book to either read-a-loud or for the young reader who’s ready to read on their own.  Ella is a wonderful character.

Visit the official Ella the Elephant website and Steven D’Amico’s website.

Could this week get any better?  Why yes it can!  Up next an interview with both the author and illustrator of the Ella series, Carmela and Steven D’Amico!

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