Zola's Elephant

For the child feeling nervous about a new neighbor, this whimsical story shows how imagination can both fuel our anxieties and help us overcome them.

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About This Book

Reach for this book when your child is feeling hesitant about making new friends or seems stuck in their own head about social rejection. It is a perfect choice for children who are prone to overthinking or who use their vivid imaginations to create elaborate, though often incorrect, reasons why someone might not want to play with them. The story follows a young girl watching her new neighbor from afar, convincing herself that the other girl must have a pet elephant that keeps her far too busy for a new friend. Through its gentle humor and playful logic, the book validates the very real anxiety of being the new kid while showing how a simple act of outreach can dismantle those imaginary barriers. It is a sweet, beautifully illustrated tool for normalizing social nerves in children ages three to seven.

Anxiety & Worry Making Friends Friendship & Social Creativity & Imagination Art & Creativity Friendship & Loyalty Animals Loneliness & Belonging

What Parents Should Know

Sad ThemesMild

Brief feelings of loneliness and exclusion before the resolution.

Sensitive Topics

The book handles the fear of social exclusion metaphorically. The elephant represents the barriers we build in our minds. It is entirely secular and grounded in a hopeful, realistic resolution.