Umboo, the Elephant

"Umboo, the Elephant" by Howard Roger Garis is a lively animal story perfect for kids, set back in the early 1900s. It follows Umboo, a youthful elephant, as he tells about his life, from his wild jungle days to the tough times after he's taken away and put in a circus. The story looks at what it means to make friends, mature, and stay strong, all through Umboo's eyes. The book kicks off in a steamy circus where Umboo and some monkeys are trying to handle being locked up. The monkeys get annoyed by the heat and wish they were back in the jungle. Umboo, showing how fun-loving he is, uses his trunk to spray water and cool them off. This makes him reminisce about how he learned to get by and grow up strong in the jungle. With a mix of laughs and adventure, Umboo hangs out with his circus buddies, thinks back on his time in the jungle, and gets ready for the adventures and struggles heading his way as he tells stories from when he was young.