Elephant’s Aloft

Kathi Appelt’s Elephants Aloft may be the best concept book since that old Rosie’s Walk. With a printed text that is exclusively prepositions, the pictures tell the story. Two baby elephants climb in a hot air balloon, float above the onion-domed structures, between stone pillars, behind a waterfall, beyond the rainbow, and “into the arms of Auntie Rwanda.”

For his wonderful pictures, Keith Baker used acrylics on illustration board, strong line and texture, and a lovely soft palette. What fun!