Wanda and Winky

The True Story of the Detroit Zoo's Last Two Elephants

Children - Animals
38 Pages
Reviewed on 12/01/2017
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Eileen Johnson for Readers' Favorite

In Wanda and Winky: The True Story of the Detroit Zoo's Last Two Elephants, Linda K. McLean has clearly captured the plight of elephants held in captivity through a compelling use of poetry and prose. The words tell the real- life story of two elephants who were captured in Asia and Africa and brought together in the Detroit Zoo after spending time in circuses and zoos. McLean describes how a gentle zookeeper in Detroit recognized that a zoo in a cold climate was not a good habitat for an elephant. What happens next in the story provides the happy ending for a story that might have ended very differently. The book is richly illustrated by Susan VanDeventer Warner. Warner's simple and colorful paintings and drawings add appealing substance to the story by showing the playfulness and the relationships of the elephants.

Wanda and Winky by Linda K. McLean uses the technique of alternating poetry and prose. This technique is very effective in telling the story of Wanda and Winky, while also providing facts about elephants through "Elephant Talk." One of the best parts of the book is the list of sources included at the end of the book. These sources allow the reader to get additional information about elephants and efforts at preserving them. How to Love an Elephant provides school age children with actions they can take to help preserve these gentle giants. Although the book is targeted at children from 5 to 12 years old, adults will love the book and will almost certainly learn more about elephants as they read along with their children. Wanda and Winky: The True Story of the Detroit Zoo's Last Two Elephants by Linda K. McLean is highly recommended for all ages!