The World’s Greatest Elephant
By Ralph Helfer
Penguin Young Readers Group, 2006

Review by Pooja Makhijani
From Kahani Winter 2007

Unbelievable but True
Based on the real life, eight decade-long friendship between trainer Bram Gunterstein and elephant Modoc, The World’s Greatest Elephant (Penguin Young Readers Group, 2006), written by Ralph Helfer and illustrated by Ted Lewin, chronicles the pair’s unbelievable adventures. From her early days in Germany to a starring role in Ringling Brothers’ Circus—by way of months of teak hauling in India and a stint supporting the Pakistani army—Modoc’s story is a heart-stopping, emotional must-read. This non-fiction picture book is perfect for animal lovers everywhere.