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madhamster's review
4.0
An exploration of the exploitative nature of colonisation, and the tragedies of war.
It is an inspirational story of cross-species friendship and support.
Muted and folkart-like illustrations add to the historical atmosphere, while also softening any violence.
It is an inspirational story of cross-species friendship and support.
Muted and folkart-like illustrations add to the historical atmosphere, while also softening any violence.
duke_and_turk's review
5.0
Beautifully drawn and told story with facts and historical and social context woven throughout.
mat_tobin's review
5.0
Set with the country of Myanmar, William Grill's 'Bandoola' tells the story of the famous elephant and its carers during the rule of the British Empire and the dawning of the Second World War. Lavishly illustrated in coloured pencils and presented with a series of beautiful spreads and highly accessible facts about Bandoola and all elephant-kind, William Grill's book is a little masterpiece. Wonderful to share and read alone too.
amy_louise's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Colonisation, and War
hweezbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
In 1897, an extraordinary elephant was born in the jungles of Myanmar. Barely escaping death from a tiger’s attack, he was named Bandoola after a brave war general.
Thousands of kilometres away in England, James Howard Williams was also born that same year. Fortunate to survive WW1, he joined the Bombay Burma Trading Corporation which produced wood from teak trees with the help of thousands of elephants.
Much has been written about this amazing story of a man and the elephant, but award-winning illustrator William Grill has now made this a totally immersive experience.
Between the ages of 15 and 20, wild elephants were captured and trapped, beaten and denied food to break their spirits and force them to obey humans. It was a brutal process.
Williams believed this did not need to be so, and with the help of Bandoola’s oozie (or keeper) Po Toke, he set up a compassionately-run “school” to train the elephants.
Deliriously ill with malaria one time, Williams clambered onto Bandoola’s back on a ten-day trek to seek help, saving his life.
WW2 came upon them far too soon, and Bandoola and a team of elephants became The Elephant Company of Force 136, a branch of the British secret service based in the deep jungles of SE Asia.
“It was time to show the world what these amazing animals could do.”
In March 1944, Williams received orders to evacuate the jungle and travel to the safety of Assam, India in British territory.
He couldn’t bear to leave his friends, knowing the fate of those who stayed would not be a kind one.
He decided to take them.
I finished this book heartbroken, but so uplifted. It’s really a story we all need in this world today. I highly recommend this to anybody, actually.
📚: Times Distribution
Thousands of kilometres away in England, James Howard Williams was also born that same year. Fortunate to survive WW1, he joined the Bombay Burma Trading Corporation which produced wood from teak trees with the help of thousands of elephants.
Much has been written about this amazing story of a man and the elephant, but award-winning illustrator William Grill has now made this a totally immersive experience.
Between the ages of 15 and 20, wild elephants were captured and trapped, beaten and denied food to break their spirits and force them to obey humans. It was a brutal process.
Williams believed this did not need to be so, and with the help of Bandoola’s oozie (or keeper) Po Toke, he set up a compassionately-run “school” to train the elephants.
Deliriously ill with malaria one time, Williams clambered onto Bandoola’s back on a ten-day trek to seek help, saving his life.
WW2 came upon them far too soon, and Bandoola and a team of elephants became The Elephant Company of Force 136, a branch of the British secret service based in the deep jungles of SE Asia.
“It was time to show the world what these amazing animals could do.”
In March 1944, Williams received orders to evacuate the jungle and travel to the safety of Assam, India in British territory.
He couldn’t bear to leave his friends, knowing the fate of those who stayed would not be a kind one.
He decided to take them.
I finished this book heartbroken, but so uplifted. It’s really a story we all need in this world today. I highly recommend this to anybody, actually.
📚: Times Distribution
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