Elephant's Big Solo

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Author(s)

Sarah Kurpiel

Publisher

Greenwillow Books

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

August 30, 2022

ISBN

978-0063093201

Buy This Book

Everyone is excited about the chance to perform a solo in the class recital—except Elephant. How will she deal with her anxiety and stage fright? Elephant’s Big Solo is a warm and sensitive celebration of meeting life’s challenges while staying true to who you are. This picture book will be adored by fans of The Rabbit Listened and Little Elliot, Big City.

Elephant’s favorite class is music. She loves playing the French horn and performing with all her friends. But when Ms. Gator suggests that everyone play a solo at the school concert, Elephant hesitates. The thought of performing alone makes her heart race and her stomach twist.

Luckily, Elephant thinks of another way to perform a solo; one that allows her to shine alongside a full orchestra of her friends.

Sarah Kurpiel’s accessible text is pitch-perfect and her expressive artwork is irresistible. Elephant’s Big Solo explores social anxiety in a sensitive and thoughtful way, always assuring young readers that Elephant stays true to herself. Readers will applaud when Elephant gains the confidence to show her true talents. Elephant’s Big Solo is an excellent choice for social and emotional learning, as well as story-time sharing.

Editor review

1 review

picture book about finding your own way to shine

September 30, 2022

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

ELEPHANT'S BIG SOLO is a sweet picture book about shining in your own way. Elephant always seems to stand out, even when she would rather not. Music is one of her favorite classes since she gets to be a part of the team. However, the music teacher has a new idea where everyone will have a solo at the recital, but Elephant does not want to have one. The teacher signs her up anyway, and Elephant is encouraged by all the people around her, even though it is not what she wants. Elephant has written a song to perform, and when push comes to shove, she finds a new way to shine through the music she has written instead of by performing alone.

What I loved: This book will really speak to readers who have preferred to stay in the background and shine in a more quiet way. Elephant's anxiety around the performance leaps off the page as she considers the upcoming performance and how it has completely changed how she feels about music. What is particularly great is that when Elephant expresses how she feels, her friends and teacher rally around to help Elephant find a new way to shine that works for her. This type of accommodation is really great to see and will encourage readers to speak up when they need it.

The art is soft and lovely with some great animal friends and the emotive Elephant taking the lead. The flow of the writing works well to convey the story and all the emotions. The text itself is clear and easy to read which helps when reading aloud.

Final verdict: ELEPHANT'S BIG SOLO is a lovely picture book about finding your own way to shine and accommodating others.