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Tahj The Tangerine Elephant

by Pearl Wright

18 pages; Saddle stitched; illustrated children's book; catalogue #06-1354; ISBN 1-4120-9598-0; US$9.57, C$11.00, EUR7.86, £5.50

Tahj is an orphan elephant who is tangerine coloured. He's outcast by the other elephants until he covers his skin with grey mud... unfortunately, it washes off in the pool!

About the Book

Tahj The Tangerine Elephant is a story about a young orphan elephant who has beautiful tangerine skin. He thought he looked the same as the other elephants in the jungle until one day he heard whisperings about him. It made him very unhappy that he was not liked because his skin wasn't the same colour as than others. One day he learnt there was a special 'do', some sort of Pineapple Parade. Jellies and cakes and all sorts of surprises. He bathed and made himself smart for the party but on reaching Elephant Square he peeped through the jungle leaves and suddenly was afraid to go. He took a deep breath and was all of a quiver but decided to tread right in the middle, when he heard a voice say, "who's the orange official?" His eyes dropped to the colour of his skin and he knew what they saw, was not within. So he retreated back quickly to a safe spot. He'd take a nap and think again, how can he get there and no one sees the colour of his skin. Later that day he decided to roll in the mud at a watering hole, to wash over his skin with a grey hue. He arrived in haste at the Pineapple Parade and saw the Barbeque Fred's and jelly Joes together with their Frothy Shake Flo's. Dancing and prancing. Tahj was accepted now and was having fun until he was invited to splash and swim in the pool. He was edged and pushed into the water - his mud came off and the tangerine elephant was now on display, amidst all sorts of dismay. They laughed and poked all kinds of jokes - Tahj's heart was heavy as he sank down into the water.

About the Author

Born in Essex in the autumn of 1946, October 22nd a tiny bundle of joy created by Gilbert Riley and Dorothy Downer, Pearl was to grow into a wild and rather colourful child and teenager - should have emerged form the womb wearing a tag - "handle with care, highly explosive on reaching maturity". Never to quite conform to society and never seemingly getting past the age of sixteen - even now! Educated at Craylands Secondary School, Basildon until 15 years old. Schooling is wonderful but I never really fitted me - school and me never did agree! From the time I started school at 5 years old until I left 10 years later, I would do anything and everything not to go there. I wish I had enjoyed it more, but as we lived on a smallholding, I would much rather be at home with my Gran baking cakes and bottle-feeding the goats. Later on I worked as a Legal Secretary in London and went on to have various market stalls selling fashion and sportswear etc. with my ex partner John father of the three sons I was to mother.

Excerpts