Elizabeth, or Lizzie as she friendly liked to be called, befriends a nurse’s son, Karl, at the old folks’ home and tells him about an elephant in her garden. Karl with his mother, the nurse, listens to Lizzie as she tells about her elephant. Would you like to know? Karl’s mom is here to tell you Lizzie’s story.
Elizabeth, or Lizzie as she friendly liked to be called, befriends a nurse’s son, Karl, at the old folks’ home and tells him about an elephant in her garden. Karl with his mother, the nurse, listens to Lizzie as she tells about her elephant. Would you like to know? Karl’s mom is here to tell you Lizzie’s story.
What would you like for your birthday present? Elizabeth’s mother, whom she and her brother Karli call Mutti, gave her the best present she could ever have on her 16thbirthday, even in the time of war. What do you think could it be? You guessed it! An elephant! Marlene, named after Mutti’s favorite singer Marlene Dietrich, was the greatest inspiration for Elizabeth, her little brother Karl, Mutti, and their new friend. Karli was a little boy with one leg shorter than the other. He was also affected by asthma. Mutti worked at the zoo because the women were needed to step in for the war effort. She cared for Marlene since her mother had died. She had seen the baby elephant come out in the world; so Mutti got to name her. Elizabeth, Karli, and Mutti were out in the park taking an agitated Marlene for a short walk at night when American bombs fell on the city of Dresden where they lived. In a short time, there was no more city but rather a huge fire. Of course, they knew they had to run, but where to? On their travels, they met with RAF navigator Peter Camm. They were German, but Peter was American, and he was in the German area. They knew that both the American army and the Russian army were advancing, and the German police might catch Peter. By what they had heard, the American army was by far better than the Russians, so they traveled toward the Americans. Their travel was so full of anxiety and danger. Shhhhhhhhhh! Don’t let anyone know or else they would be captured and sent to prison. The almost always peaceful Marlene showed them the way out with her long, nimble trunk. The four stuck together like a family and trusted and covered for one another even though Peter was not family.
What would you like for your birthday present? Elizabeth’s mother, whom she and her brother Karli call Mutti, gave her the best present she could ever have on her 16thbirthday, even in the time of war. What do you think could it be? You guessed it! An elephant! Marlene, named after Mutti’s favorite singer Marlene Dietrich, was the greatest inspiration for Elizabeth, her little brother Karl, Mutti, and their new friend. Karli was a little boy with one leg shorter than the other. He was also affected by asthma. Mutti worked at the zoo because the women were needed to step in for the war effort. She cared for Marlene since her mother had died. She had seen the baby elephant come out in the world; so Mutti got to name her. Elizabeth, Karli, and Mutti were out in the park taking an agitated Marlene for a short walk at night when American bombs fell on the city of Dresden where they lived. In a short time, there was no more city but rather a huge fire. Of course, they knew they had to run, but where to? On their travels, they met with RAF navigator Peter Camm. They were German, but Peter was American, and he was in the German area. They knew that both the American army and the Russian army were advancing, and the German police might catch Peter. By what they had heard, the American army was by far better than the Russians, so they traveled toward the Americans. Their travel was so full of anxiety and danger. Shhhhhhhhhh! Don’t let anyone know or else they would be captured and sent to prison. The almost always peaceful Marlene showed them the way out with her long, nimble trunk. The four stuck together like a family and trusted and covered for one another even though Peter was not family.
This touching story, set in the time of World War 2, is written by Michael Morpurgo. After reading this, you will understand the struggles of the common people during any war.
This touching story, set in the time of World War 2, is written by Michael Morpurgo. After reading this, you will understand the struggles of the common people during any war.
