[.ca] Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People, and War (ISBN 0395861373)

A difference between the Japanese and English versions:
I've read this book in English and recently in Japanese with the help of a Japanese friend. The Japanese version I read was the same story, but written and illustrated by different people (a man named Mamoru Tanabe was the author of the version I read). At any rate, the Japanese version made mention of something that I don't think is included in this English translation. The official reason from Tokyo for killing the elephants was that in the event that Tokyo was bombed, the cages could be destroyed and the animals might be let loose upon the city. But the book also says that although that was the official reason, the underlying reason that government officials probably had in mind was to show the people of Japan that in this war, they would have to be ready to sacrifice anything for their country. If it was necessary, the lives of animals or even other people would have to be given up for the good of Japan. A previous reviewer mentioned the same thing, but as far as I remember the English version of the story doesn't address that idea at all. So for all those people wondering why the elephants had to die in such a cruel way, there's your answer: to show the Japanese people the true horrors of war, and make them feel ready to sacrifice anything in order to bring that war to an end.

This book is HORRIBLE!! DO NOT BUY!!!:
I am a 21 year old college student, who was forced to listen to this story in my choldren's lit class (used to illustrate what we should NOT read to children in our future classrooms). This book graphically describes the slow, painful, torturous deaths of three innocent elephants at a Japanese zoo. Yes, it did really happen.. and yes, war is awful... but there is no need for this type of book to be purchased or read by ANYONE. My entire ADULT class sat through this horrible book not only crying but also wondering why if these zoo keepers loved their elephants so much why didn't they quickly end their suffering with a bullet? The book implies that American troops are the "enemy" which is the reason these poor creatures have to die. Great... inaccurate ... message to share!

The Horror or Telling This Story to Young Kids:
Our School FFCA, in Calgary read this book to an entire school of grade 1 - 4 students. They intended it to be used as a teaching tool during our Remembrance Day celebrations. Not a good idea! Our children were torn to pieces emotionally at the thought of the terrible death that these animals were put to. This is not a teaching book for young kids! And, it is especially not a way to teach our kids about our heros that lost their lives for us. Do not read this book to kids unless you want to deal with sleepless nights of crying about how the poor elephants were killed! Children below middle school age are not mature enough to deal with such horrifying issues - all that they hear is that animals died! NOT APPROPRIATE!

The Elephants Story Shoudl Be Read With A Critical Eye:
This story is excellent but it is propoganda. The story is laden with historical innacuracies and furthermore does not contain logic. It was used by the Japanese as a form of propoganda and was read yearly to children there. This story is great to illustrate how we can be swept away emotionally into believing things. The elephants were not killed because of the war. As a matter of fact bombs weren't coming down day and nigth at all. Had fear been the real case they could have shot the elephants with the Zoo's pistol. The truth of the matter is that these elephants were killed because they were beloved, and the government knew the people woudl rally behing their cause, thinking it was the Americans fault their beloved elephants were being killed. The elephants in that sense were killed in the name of governmental manipulation and propoganda. Enjoy

Sad but true:
This story about zoo animals caught in the horrors of war is one of the saddest stories I've ever read. You can teach a class a lot about war, animals, and suffering with this book alone. You can actually feel their pain as you read. This is a classic piece of history that anyone with a heart should read.