An Elephant in the Garden: Inspired by a True Story

Lizzie and Karl's mother works as a zoo keeper. The family becomes attached to Marlene, an orphaned elephant at the zoo who faces destruction as a precautionary measure to prevent animals from running wild if the zoo is bombed. The family convinces the zoo director to allow Marlene to stay in their garden instead. When the city is bombed, the family flees with thousands of others. Their journey becomes complicated by the presence of an elephant and the need to keep themselves safe. Along the way, they meet Peter, a Canadian navigator who risks his own capture to help the family survive. Morpurgo notes that the story is inspired by historical truths and his admiration for elephants. The narrative follows an unlikely group of survivors whose reliance on kindness and love sustains them through their ordeal.