HALF OF AN ELEPHANT

In this odd import from an artist born in Argentina, the front and back halves of an elephant, split apart when the world suddenly divides, go in search of each other. As it happens, all of the other animals that they encounter have the “exact same” problem, so each demi-pachyderm tries out a succession of wildly mismatched new partners, from a worm to a flamingo. Gusti illustrates this twin odyssey with digital assemblages of cardboard and found junk connected with rusty screws; the elephant’s trunk is an old spring, its body two neatly separated pieces of weathered yellow board, the tail a small paintbrush. Just as the disparate parts get used to being alone, the world reunites and they find each other again—but, having tasted independence, they decide to remain separated. This is not likely to have a broad audience, but some children may pore over the clever visuals, and some enjoy the tale’s silly twists. (Picture book. 6-8)