An Elephant Family Adventure:
The Elephants in the Land of Enchantment
ISBN13: 978-1-932926-58-3 (ebook version)
Copyright © 2009 by Beverly Eschberger.
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Kinkajou Press
9 Mockingbird Hill Rd
Tijeras, New Mexico 87059
[email protected]
www.kinkajoupress.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Eschberger, Beverly Sue, 1968-
The Elephants in the land of enchantment / by Beverly Eschberger; illustrated by Jim Gower.
p. cm. -- (An Elephant family adventure)
Summary: Ambassador Elephant, Mrs. Elephant, and their children, Harold and Penelope, visit their friend Maria in New Mexico, where they enjoy the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a quinceanera, and other special events.
ISBN 978-1-932926-02-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Albuquerque (N.M.)--Juvenile fiction. [1. Albuquerque (N.M.)--Fiction. 2. Elephants--Fiction. 3. Hispanic Americans--Fiction.] I. Gower, Jim, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.E74465Ejl 2009 [Fic]--dc22
2009022011
An Elephant Family Adventure:
The Elephants in the Land of Enchantment
By
Beverly Eschberger
Illustrated By
Jim Gower
Kinkajou Press
Albuquerque, New Mexico
To my son Christopher, who inspires me daily.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: A Letter from America
Chapter 2: Leaving London
Chapter 3: Land of Enchantment
Chapter 4: Cooking
Chapter 5: Elefant is Loco
Chapter 6: Dinner and UFO’s
Chapter 7: Dawn Patrol
Chapter 8: Visiting Old Town
Chapter 9: The Quinceañera
Chapter 10: The Party
Chapter 11: Dancing
Chapter 12: The Art Piece
The Elephants’ Guide to British Terms & Food
The Elephants’ Guide to Speaking Spanish
The Elephants’ Guide to New Mexico Food
Fun Facts About New Mexico
A Letter from America
Once upon a time, a family of elephants lived in London. Mr. Elephant was the Ambassador to London from their home country of Elephas. Mrs. Elephant helped her husband to be the ambassador. She was also an artist who loved to paint and make statues.
Mr. and Mrs. Elephant had two children named Harold and Penelope. They went to school in London, where they had many friends.
Penelope was the smartest student in their class. She planned to be a paleontologist when she grew up.
Penelope loved to read books about dinosaurs and other extinct animals. But she did not just like books about dinosaurs. She loved to read any book about any subject.
Harold was not as good a student as Penelope. He liked to spend his time playing games with his friends. His favorite games were those he made up with his toy soldiers.
Harold had a large collection of toy soldiers. He was always careful to save his pocket money. Then he could add new soldiers to his collection.
Harold wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up. Harold and Penelope’s teacher was named Miss Wren. She often reminded Harold, “Now, Harold. You must study harder if you want to travel into space. You will need better grades in math and science.”
One day, Mrs. Elephant opened a letter. “Oh, look,” she said. “This is from one of my old students.”
Before the family had moved to London, Mrs. Elephant was an art teacher. She had taught art classes at the Elephas University. She was an excellent teacher. And her classes were very popular with the students.
“Which one?” asked Mr. Elephant.
“Maria Gonzales,” said Mrs. Elephant. “You remember her. She came to Elephas from the United States to study art.”
“I remember her!” piped up Harold. She used to make yummy empanadas.” He rubbed his stomach and smacked his lips.
“Oh, Harold,” said Penelope. “You always remember food!”
“What is wrong with that?” asked Harold. “And she made flan, too!”
Mrs. Elephant continued reading her letter. “Maria says she is back in America. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Oh! How wonderful! She is going to have her first big art show. And she wants us to come see it!”
Harold and Penelope jumped up and down. “Yay!” cried Harold. “Can we please go? I want to see cowboys and Indians fighting!”
Mr. Elephant laughed. “I do not think you will see too many cowboys. Not in the city of Albuquerque. You might see some Native Americans. But they will not be fighting cowboys.”
“But I want to see someone get scalped,” said Harold.
“Oh, Harold. Do not say such horrible things,” said Mrs. Elephant. “Nobody gets scalped anymore. At least, I hope not,” she shuddered.
“Well, I want to see the dinosaurs,” said Penelope. “The desert is a great place to find fossils.”
“Dusty old bones,” said Harold.
Penelope stuck out her tongue at him. “And the things the Native Americans left behind. Like stone carvings, pottery, and arrowheads.”
“Arrowheads?” asked Harold. “If I can’t see somebody get scalped, I’d like an arrowhead.”
“It is settled then,” said Mrs. Elephant. “I have always wanted to visit the American Southwest. The views are wonderful. I must pack extra paints and canvasses. Then I can paint some landscapes.”
“What sort of art is Maria showing?” asked Mr. Elephant.
Mrs. Elephant read the letter again. “Hmmm, she does not say.”
“What kind of art did she study?” asked Mr. Elephant.
“All different kinds,” said Mrs. Elephant. “She took classes in drawing, painting, and making statues. She just could not make up her mind.”
“Well, I guess we will find out in Albuquerque,” said Mr. Elephant.
Mr. Elephant became serious. “Remember that elephants are not very common in America. People might become afraid if they see an elephant in New Mexico. So we must continue to wear our disguises.”
In England, Mr. and Mrs. Elephant wore raincoats and carried umbrellas. Harold and Penelope wore school uniforms. When they wore their disguises, they looked like an ordinary English family.
Leaving London
On the day of their trip, the Elephants left the Elephas Embassy. They squeezed into a taxicab that took them to Heathrow Airport. On the way there, they pointed to their favorite sights.
“Look,” said Harold. “There is Big Ben! Do you remember when we first came to London?”
“Yes,” said Mr. Elephant. “You and Penelope were afr
aid you would not like it. You did not want to leave your friends in Elephas. Have you changed your minds?”
“Yes, Daddy!” said Harold and Penelope together.
“We love London. There are so many museums here,” said Penelope.
“And soldiers on horses!” said Harold. He pointed out the taxi window. One of the Queen’s Guards was riding a horse.
At the airport, a porter loaded their suitcases onto a cart. He led the Elephants to the airline desk.
Mr. Elephant said, “I have tickets for four. The name is Elefant. E-L-E-F-A-N-T.
When Harold and Penelope had first heard this spelling, they were confused. Penelope had asked her father, “Daddy? Why did you spell our name Elefant with an F? Instead of with a PH?”
Her father had replied, “This is part of our disguise. What would people guess if they met a family named Elephant?”
Now, Harold and Penelope found it funny when their parents used this false spelling. It kept people from becoming suspicious that there were elephants around. They began to giggle, but Mrs. Elephant shushed them.
“Ah, yes, Mr. Elefant,” said the desk clerk. “I have your tickets right here. I hope you have a wonderful visit to New Mexico.”
“Thank you,” said Mr. Elephant. “I am certain we will.” Mr. Elephant led his family to the first class area of the airplane.
The airplane soon took off. Harold and Penelope watched through the window. They saw the city of London disappear beneath their airplane.
“Look what I brought, Penelope,” said Harold. He pulled some metal toys out of his pockets.
“More toy soldiers?” asked Penelope.
“No,” said Harold. He held them up closer for her to see. “They are cowboys and Indians. Just like in the movies.”
Mr. Elephant looked at Harold’s toys. “I do not think you will see anyone who looks like that. Not many Native Americans carry bows and arrows. Or wear feathered headdresses. At least not everyday.”
“I do not care,” said Harold. “I still think they are fun.”
The Land of Enchantment
It was a long flight to New Mexico. When the airplane was landing, the Elephants looked out the windows.
“Look at the mountains!” said Penelope.
“The blue sky is so beautiful!” said Mrs. Elephant.
“Can you see any cowboys and Indians?” asked Harold.
After their airplane landed, the Elephants walked to the baggage claim.
Mrs. Elephant pointed to a statue. It was a Native American and eagle taking flight. “How lovely,” she said. “The art in New Mexico is unique. It is giving me so many ideas already.”
Mr. Elephant also pointed to the statue. “That is probably the only Native American you will see dressed like that.” He said to Harold.
Harold said, “I know I will see someone wearing a headdress!”
The Elephants claimed their suitcases. They saw a familiar woman waiting for them.
“Look!” cried Penelope. “There is Maria!”
“I wonder if she brought any sweets,” said Harold.
Harold and Penelope both ran to Maria. She gave them both big hugs. “My, my. You two are getting so big,” she said.
“That is because I am 10 now,” said Harold. He stood up straight and puffed out his chest. “Did you bring us any sweets?”
“You have not changed at all, Harold.” Maria laughed. She pulled out a bag of skull-shaped candy. “I remember how much you like calaveras de azucar.”
“Yummy!” cried Harold. He popped a candy into his mouth.
Maria added, “You are lucky it will soon be time for El Día de los Muertos. The Day of the Dead is the best time for skull candy.”
Maria then hugged Mr. and Mrs. Elephant.
“It is so good to see you again,” said Mrs. Elephant. “We have certainly missed your wonderful cooking.”
“Yes,” said Mr. Elephant. “I love the New Mexican foods you cooked. With the peppers and chiles. And the hot spices. We cannot find them in London.”
“You must take plenty of peppers and chiles back to London,” said Maria.
Maria took the Elephant family outside to her car. They all squeezed inside. Maria drove them to her house.
“Oh, the mountains are so beautiful!” cried Mrs. Elephant. “I am so glad that I brought extra canvasses. I can hardly wait to paint them.”
“Those are the Sandia Mountains,” said Maria.
“Sandia means ‘watermelon’ in Spanish!” said Penelope. She had been studying Spanish for their trip.
“That is right,” said Maria. “You will soon be speaking Spanish fluently.”
“I hope so,” said Penelope.
“We must go to Santa Fe while you are visiting,” said Maria. “You will love the buttes even more. The shapes and colors of the rocks are amazing.”
Harold suddenly pointed. “What is that over there? It looks like hot air balloons!”
“Yes,” said Maria. “Albuquerque’s balloon festival is this week. We will see many balloons. Sometimes they fly over my house.”
“I have read about the balloon festival,” said Mr. Elephant. “Albuquerque has the largest hot air balloon festival in the world.”
“Wow!” said Harold. “Mummy, can we ride in a balloon?”
“Yes, Mummy,” said Penelope. “It will be educational!” Penelope winked at Harold.
“Oh, dear,” said Mrs. Elephant. She looked at Mr. Elephant. “I do not know about that.”
They arrived at Maria’s house. Many of her friends and family were waiting for them. They were cooking and making decorations.
Maria said, “We are having a big dinner tonight. It is to welcome you to Albuquerque. But we are also getting ready for a party tomorrow. My niece Alma is having her quinceañera.
The Elephants were very confused. “What is a quinceañera?” asked Penelope.
“It is a very special party,” said Maria. “When a Latina girl turns fifteen, we have a quinceañera. She is no longer a child. She is a woman. We have a party, and she gets special presents.”
“That sounds like fun,” said Penelope. “Mummy, can I have a quinceañera when I turn fifteen?”
Mrs. Elephant laughed. “We must learn more about it before we decide.”
“What more is there to learn?” asked Penelope. “It is a party with presents. What else do you need to know?”
Maria became serious. “Oh, no. There is much more to a quinceañera than just the party. In New Mexico, it is very important. You will learn more at Alma’s quinceañera.”
Cooking
Maria took the Elephant family to their room. Bright wool rugs lay on the floor. And bright wool blankets covered the beds.
There were bright reds, yellows, greens and blues. The colors stood out against the white walls and dark wood floors.
Mrs. Elephant looked at some pottery on the dresser. “These are beautiful pieces, Maria. Did you make them?”
Maria blushed. “I made some of them. Others are very old. There have been many artists in my family. And we all like different types of art.”
“That reminds me,” said Mrs. Elephant. “Your letter did not say much about your art show. What kind of art will you be showing?”
Maria smiled, “That is a surprise. You will find out soon.”
“Oh, please!” cried Penelope. She jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “Please tell us. Is it more pottery? What about some paintings? Maybe statues?”
Maria laughed. “I see you have not changed either, Penelope. No, you must wait. But I will tell you this much…” Penelope leaned forward, hoping to hear a big secret. “I think you will like it,” said Maria.
Penelope was upset to not know what Maria’s art was. She did not like it when people had secrets. Unless they told the s
ecrets to her.
Maria left the Elephants to unpack their suitcases. They put away their clothes in the big, wooden dresser. Mr. and Mrs. Elephant hung up their raincoats in the closet.
Mr. Elephant gave them each a baseball hat to wear. “These hats will help us to fit in here,” he said. “We would look very out of place wearing raincoats in the desert.”
With their baseball hats, the Elephants looked like an ordinary American family.
Then they all went into the kitchen. Maria and several other women were cooking big pots of food.
Maria introduced them all by name. There were her mother, sisters, aunts and cousins. And the wives of her brothers. There were so many names to remember.
“And this is my abuelita MariCarmen,” said Maria. “My grandmother. She is the most important person here.”
“Wow,” said Penelope. “You have a big family, Maria.”
Maria laughed. “Family is very important to us in New Mexico. We like to have big parties whenever we can.”
“I like parties, too,” said Harold. “As long as there is food, I mean.”
The women gave Harold and Penelope some cookies.
“Can I do anything to help?” asked Mrs. Elephant. She felt a little shy.
“Mrs. Elephant is a wonderful cook,” said Maria. “She taught me all of the recipes I learned in Africa.”
“Well, then, we can use her help,” said Rosa. She was one of Maria’s sisters. She handed Mrs. Elephant an apron and a spoon. She pointed to a pot.
Mrs. Elephant tied on the apron. It was embroidered with flowers and birds. She began to stir the pot.
Mr. Elephant cleared his throat. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
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