Queenie: One Elephant's Story

(For) children of all ages... (Simple), rich text by Fenton is well complemented by Gouldthorpe’s illustrations

More than just a children’s book, with beautiful illustrations and an enchanting story. It’s an important record of the life of one of Melbourne Zoo’s most popular exhibits.

A respectful and affectionate account

Together (Fenton and Gouldthorpe) provide a moving tribute to a part of our history that stirs competing emotions.

Fenton has researched this ultimately tragic story in meticulous detail and it is brought to life in gorgeous pictures by Peter Gouldthorpe. It’s certain to inspire trips to the zoo to see Queenie’s successors.

For more than 40 years, Queenie the elephant was a fixture at Melbourne Zoo. She carried generations of children for tuppenny rides, walking the same circuit, six days a week. Few inmates of the zoo since have enjoyed Queenie’s celebrity. Children sent her fan mail, and she even appeared in a parade in Swanston Street. This book tells Queenie’s story, from capture in India to her war-time death. It is exquisitely and sensitively illustrated, with much period detail. But parents should be warned, part of the story is achingly sad.

This is the true story of a gentle Indian elephant called Queenie, who was a legend at Melbourne Zoo, loved by generations of children and adults. From around 1905, Queenie began to carry passengers and people came from everywhere to ride on her back. A poignant tale from our past, with divine illustrations and a sad ending, handled well.

Her story will move anybody who reads it.

"Queenie resided at Melbourne Zoo in the early 20th century where for tuppence visitor’s could ride on the elephant’s back. Vigorously researched, this picture book is a short biography of Queenie, following her birth in the Indian jungle, her separation from her family and long passage to Australia... It’s a moving story of an animal whose natural inclinations are tamed by humans. Peter Gouldthorpe’s illustrations bring this story to colourful life.

A poignant tale from our past, with divine illustrations

Queenie is a superbly crafted book that elegantly recreates a period of Melbourne’s history through a succinct story and evocative page design... an original and thought provoking picture book.