How to Be an Elephant

This book is from the David Macaulay studio. I have to think that the author's drawing was somewhat influenced by Macaulay's later, looser, blockier style. The illustration was interesting enough that I headed over to the author's web site, which has a bunch of cool videos, of elephants and of her

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in the process of drawing the cover page.

Many of the illustrations occupy the entire two page spread. These pages may have no text at all, or a small amount of text superimposed on the illustrations. The illustrations are vigorous, colorful, and dynamic. They are also explicit. An early two page spread shows the baby elephant still attached to an umbilical cord, a later illustration shows the baby elephant consuming fresh adult elephant poop. Some of the illustrations are diagrams, showing the elephant's olfactory system, or infographics, showing animal populations, or metaphors, like the gallery of the elephant's ancestors. All, however, use the author's distinctive style.

Finally, the last few pages contain more in-depth information about elephants, the author, and so forth. I would certainly like to try another of her works. And if you pay attention, the author herself can be found on the end pages, observing elephants from some sort of rough vehicle.

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