Gretel the Wonder Mammoth

When Gretel bursts forth from her icy cage, having slept for ‘a very long time’, she shouts, ‘Hello World,’ and is greeted by a flock of white birds who welcome her happily.  They are so excited and surprised and full of admiration because she is the very last mammoth on earth, and everyone loves her because she’s strong and gentle and kind – and she tells ‘the best bedtime stories’! But all is not well in Gretel’s new world.  She finds it very noisy and confusing, and very unlike the world she was used to.  This makes her unhappy, worried and frightened ‘all at the same time’- not like a ‘wonder mammoth’ at all – even though she is loved and made much of.  Her bird friends are great, but she is afraid that if she explains her problems, it might make them sad too.  So she acts like all is well, when she really only wants to be alone.  Being alone helps for a little, but things get much worse, and when her friends come to find her, she must admit that all is not well; this is the bravest and only thing she can do, and they rally round.  They listen carefully to all she has to say, and they find ways to help her so that soon she is beginning to ask questions about this place she finds herself in and discovers there are interesting things to do there.  She becomes her real self and is interested, enthusiastic, and cheerful ‘all at the same time’.  The illustrations show us a sad and lonely mammoth, who becomes a brightly-dressed rock drummer ready to take on this new world.  Delightful and full of surprises.