Stellarphant

Written and Illustrated by James Foley
hardcover

Stella the elephant is fighting interstellar discrimination one pachyderm at a time! Stella wants to be an astronaut. There is only one problem: Stella is an elephant. Every time she applies to Space Command, they come up with a new reason she can’t join. But where there’s a will, there’s a way and Stella is determined to reach for the stars.

This story about an anthropomorphised, larger-than-life elephant can be read either as an ironic comment on privilege and diversity or the power of persistence. Readers will admire Stella’s resilience and problem solving as she challenges the status quo of Space Command’s space program. Foley’s use of humour and playfulness outweigh any dogma. Stella and her gang jump off the page with gumption and determination. The endpapers are fascinatingly informative. So much emotion is conveyed on Stella’s face, through her eyes, tongue and forehead wrinkles. The fold-out page at the end is also a delightful addition. This book has the potential for lots of rich discussion around who become powerful, educated, and celebrated and who doesn’t.’ - The Children’s Book Council of Australia

‘A great read aloud, an informative introduction to the idea of space travel as well as promoting inclusivity, Stella is an engaging character who will cheer readers with her positive outlook.’ - ReadPlus

‘The book’s winning combination of interesting text and delightful artwork create an inspiring tale of success against all odds.’ - Writing WA