This is a true story, narrated by a zookeeper, about the graves at a zoo in Tokyo. The story takes place during WWII and officials feared if the zoo were destroyed during a bombing, the animals would run wild and wreak havoc on the city. To keep this from happening, zoo officials decided the animals needed to be put down. The elephants were starved to death, since other measures failed, and this was extremely painful for the zookeepers who loved them. This book is controversial because it deals with both war and death. However, it could be used during a unit about WWII to discuss the often overlooked consequences of war, including animal treatment. The illustrations are powerful and expressive watercolors. As a reader, I thought this story was both heartbreaking and interesting, because I had never thought about this side of war. As a teacher, I feel this book would be best for upper elementary students. After reading, students could write in journals about their feelings or discuss other solutions to the problem these zookeepers faced. Wartime sacrifices around the world and in the US could also be discussed as a class.
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