The Boy and the Elephant - Week 4 of Summer Reading Book Club 2026

Welcome to Week 4 of Summer Book Club! This week we are sharing a beautiful wordless picture book told entirely through illustrations from an award-winning illustrator, Freya Blackwood. The Boy and the Elephant is an unforgettable story that celebrates the power of imagination, the beauty of nature, and the difference one child can make.

Hidden amidst the busy streets is a wild patch of land where towering trees shelter birds and animals. For one young boy, this is a very magical place. For within the twisting branches, he discovers a elephant-shaped tree that is brought to life through his imagination. Together these friends watch the landscape transform from lush green canopies to golden autumn leaves and welcome the quiet stillness of winter.

But when construction begins and the treasured trees are marked to disappear, the boy refuses to let his magical friend and this special place be lost. With courage, creativity, and determination, he sets out to protect the world he loves. This moving picture book invites readers of every age to create the story for themselves while inspiring conversations about conservation, empathy, and how even the smallest voices can create meaningful change.

Day 1: Read & Discuss

Begin by reading the story aloud together, taking your time and pausing to look closely at the illustrations. Freya Blackwood has created vibrant and detailed illustrations that make the world of this story come to life. When you've finished looking at all the illustrations and narrating the story with your own words, ask your children what stood out about this book and what were some of their favorite images and moments from it. What parts made a big impression? What questions did the story stir up (like have they ever imagined an entire animal and had adventures with it daily!)?

These kinds slow and thoughtful conversations are simple ways that encourage a story to really sink in so that kids remember them long after turning the last page. 

To help guide the conversation, we've put together a list of some discussion questions and prompts specific to The Boy and the Elephant below.

• Have you ever seen a tree that has an unusual shape?  
• What would you do if you saw a parade of tree animals walking through the city? 
• Have you ever felt very attached to a natural place, tree, or large rock?
• What would you do if all of a sudden the area you loved was going to be changed through construction?

Day 2: Writing & Drawing Prompt

On the second day, return to the story and retell it together. Share some more of your favorite parts and moments. One of the beautiful traditions in Waldorf education is extending a story through art, writing, dramatic play, and conversation. 

Drape a playsilk over a table or doorway to create a simple puppet theater where children can retell the boy and the elephant's journey through movement and imaginative play. Or gather crayons, colored pencils, and paper alongside the book, creating a cozy invitation to draw, write, and revisit the story whenever inspiration blossoms.

To help bring this story to life we've created a few prompts to inspire drawing and creative writing.

• Wordless stories allow you to tell the story your own way. Read the story again and write down the another version of this story that you haven't told yet.
• Now imagine a different character than the elephant. What character would you want to be your imaginary friend in this magical wooded space?
• Draw your character and see if you can create a wordless version of your story, just like Freya Blackwood did. 

Day 3: Paired Craft: Make DIY Shadow Puppets and a Puppet Theater

To continue developing your kids storytelling muscle, this DIY Shadow Puppet and Theater craft allows them to bring the story to life in a new way. Shadow puppets invite children to step into the role of storyteller, using light, imagination, and a few simple materials to create their own magical performances. So grab some construction paper, popsicle sticks and cardboard and let the shadows come to life.