Bandoola: The Great Elephant Rescue

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

In this moving tale, join war veteran James Howard Williams as he encounters Bandoola, a working Asian elephant for the first time. Working together on a teak plantation, the two develop a rare friendship, which even today set standards around elephant care and conservation.

But when another war forces them to leave their home in the Burmese jungle, the two undertake a journey that will test their friendship, taking trust, understanding and bravery to the very limit. Together, they lead a group of refugees and over 70 elephants to safety, scaling 5000 ft mountains as they cross the border from Burma into northern India.

About the Author

William Grill is a London based illustrator whose main interest lies in narrative illustration and publishing. He draws most of his inspiration from the natural world, and enjoys working in colored pencils and relief printmaking; his first book Shackleton’s Journey won the 2015 Kate Greenaway award and was named one of the New York Times’ Best Illustrated Books. It has been translated into over 14 languages. As well as running a weekly art club William has given workshops at The Design Museum, Southbank Centre, schools and universities.

Author Residence: London, UK