Zola's Elephant by Randall de Seve illustrate by Pamela Zagarenski

This book - Zola's elephant is a feast for the eyes. Zola has a big box and our narrator is sure there is an elephant inside. She can smell fresh hot toast and this confirms her idea because she know elephants love hot toast. Our narrator goes on to imagine all the things Zola might be doing with her elephant - taking a bubble bath, playing hide and seek, building a cubby house and more. 

Eventually she knocks on Zola's door.

"Okay, so maybe Zola doesn't have an elephant. But do you know what she does have?"

YES a new friend! and someone to share your wild imagination. 

This book contains a riot of colour and a riot of images. You and your young reading companion will most certainly want to linger over every page. This is also a book you are sure to return to many times. Take time to notice the scrumptious end papers and the hot air balloons which are a trademark image by Pamela Zagarenski. Also look for all the crowns. Hopefully you will find this book in your school or local library. It was published in 2018 and so is now sadly out of print. 

When Zola moves into the house next door, a young girl imagines all of the reasons why a friendship between them is impossible. Kirkus Star review

Bookseller blurb: Illustrated by two-time Caldecott-honor winning artist Pamela Zagarenski, this tender, witty friendship story of imagination gone wild, by New York Times bestselling author Ranall de Seve, shows how assumptions often cause us to misjudge - and miss out. But with a little courage, new opportunities and new friendships can be made. When Zola moves into the neighbourhood, her new next-door neighbour is too shy to go over and introduce herself. Plus, Zola already has a friend to play with - an elephant! What we imagine is not always true, as the little girl discovers. Luckily, she also discovers that being brave can lead to new friendships - and even richer imaginary worlds - in this heartwarming book about friendship, moving, and the power of imagination.

Here is the web site for Randall de Seve. She lives in New York city. Here is an interview with Randall and Pamela. In this post from Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast you can see many examples of art by Pamela Zagarenski.

You may have seen greeting cards by Pamela Zagarenski. I have gifted these to many friends over the year.