The Six Blind Men and an Elephant

One day a tired old elephant plods out of the forest and falls asleep in a farmer’s barn. Amid the ensuing commotion, six curious blind mice enter the fray: ‘…An elephant is like a wall,’ says the oldest mouse, as he falls against the elephant’s massive, solid side. ‘No,’ says a younger mouse, touching one of the sharp tusks. ‘An elephant is like a spear!’ A tree…a rope…a snake? Each mouse has his or her own interpretation after touching different parts of the elephant. But then the huge creature awakes – and only then is the full wonder of his being revealed. Based on a classic Indian fable, Jude Daly’s new picture book, set in the South African countryside, is an inspiring, multi-layered allegory.