Special Stripes, the story of an elephant that stands out in a sea of other elephants, carries just the right tone for our world right now.
So, here we are gripped in the claws of a pandemic. It’s been over three months of life as we never could have imagined it. When I last visited Sofia it was January, and I had already booked my ticket for March. And then …everything came to a crashing halt.
If you are a long distance grandparent like I am, you are feeling the pain of being unable to see your sweet grandchildren, and it is excruciating. Until our world becomes safer, we are forced to stay apart.
I am thankful for Face Time and Zoom, the technology that lets us feel closer to our families if not right next to them. Some children will allow their elders to read them books or play games remotely, and there is an app called Caribu which makes it even easier.
I am still collecting books that I think Sofia will enjoy, and this one is sure to be packed in my suitcase whenever I can travel to see her again. Special Stripes, by Lois Mirsky, is the story of a one-of-a-kind African elephant, born with three stripes on his back that set him apart from all the others.
Striper, as he came to be known, was loved deeply by his mother but bullied by his peers because he was different. His mother gave him good advice:
“Be proud of your yellow stripes,” she said. “They make you special … Tell the elephants that often tease you that it feels good to be the only elephant in the world to have shiny yellow stripes.”
Striper figured out that with his three yellow stripes he would be able to help other elephants in distress. He could stand out in the crowd when an elephant was sick and needed quick attention from the veterinarian. Happily, Striper realized he had a purpose. Not only that, he gained the admiration and friendship of the elephant community.
This is a sweet story with a simple message that needs to be instilled in our children. Special stripes, or differences, are what make us unique. We can teach our children at a young age to accept what makes us different, not fear or hate it.
We have a long road ahead of us in this turbulent time, but there is no better time than now to teach young readers to embrace differences. Special Stripes is a gentle introduction to tolerance, acceptance, and love.
I received a copy of Special Stripes from Place for Words Press for an honest review, which is the only kind of review I write.