The Elephant Of My Heart

Summary

"The Elephant of My Heart" is an unusual children's story. Jessica Clements, the author and narrator, had a normal childhood until she was nine years old. That was when her life changed dramatically when she had a brain haemorrhage. It was in her hospital bed that she heard a knock at her door. She got up and opened the door and there was an elephant! It turned out he was the Animal of her Heart. This elephant took her on an amazing inner journey to meet all of her other animals. They are a snake, a dragonfly, a phoenix, its fleas, a black panther and a goldfish. They taught her that the scars that criss-cross her head can be seen in a different way because now they are sutured with a black panther’s whisker and held by a dragonfly. This gave Jessica a new way of looking at her scars. It reframed them offering a more positive way of being with them.

This is a book written in the childish voice. It dispels the notion of hiding from trauma and instead makes it the main character. It is this that each of the animals Jessica meets takes her to. Reassuring her that there is a life beyond major brain injury and that it is full of fun, light, self love and self-belief. This makes it a wonderful story that can be enjoyed by children from the ages of 4 and above.

The preface are letters written by Elizabeth Clements, Jessica's mother explaining why Jessica came to be in the hospital. These provide the background for the adult readers.

"I love children's books like this that weave in wisdom and humour for adults. There's a thread of playfulness expressed through the quirky creatures....The imagery is captivating, and there's an atmosphere of mystery and subtlety which is often absent in modern children's books. This story ripples through the heart and mind long after finishing it." Mr S Freedman

"A book filled with words of wisdom and healing offered within a most enchanting and heart-warming story." SCC