• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

We Bought a Zoo meets Jurassic Park in a gripping story set in an elephant sanctuary, featuring the perennial appeal of human-animal friendships.

Samantha (Sam) lives at the elephant sanctuary her dad runs and views the elephants there as much a part of her family as her single dad is. When a beloved elephant dies in childbirth, Sam develops a special connection with the baby, named Woolly because she has an unusual amount of hair. It soon becomes apparent that Woolly is . . . different. Woolly's mother was part of a special breeding project, and Woolly's DNA is not elephant but that of a rare specimen -- a woolly mammoth -- procured by the eccentric billionaire genius who runs the program. He will stop at nothing to protect Woolly, his multimillion-dollar investment, even it means turning Sam and her dad's world upside-down. An astonishing fact-based look at elephant behaviour and an endearing girl-elephant friendship.

Eric Walters is the author of many acclaimed and bestselling novels for children and young adults. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Silver Birch, Blue Heron, Red Maple, Snow Willow, Ruth Schwartz, and Tiny Torgi, and have received honours from the Canadian Library Association Book Awards and UNESCO's international award for Literature in Service of Tolerance.

Eric lives in Mississauga with his wife, Anita, and three children, Christina, Nicholas, and Julia. When not writing or touring across the country speaking to school groups, Eric spends time playing or watching soccer and basketball, or playing the saxophone.

To find out more about Eric and his novels, or to arrange for him to speak at your school, visit his website at www.ericwalters.net.

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Eric Walters' profile page

• Short-listed, Diamond Willow Award
• Short-listed, Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
• Nominated, Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award

One of Winnipeg Free Press’ Ideal Book Gifts for Kids
One of CCBC’S Best Books for Kids & Teens (Spring 2019)
PRAISE FOR Elephant Secret:
"Walters packs in numerous details about these magnificent and highly intelligent creatures [elephants] while raising complex ethical questions regarding humans’ relationship with animals.” --Publisher's Weekly

"Walters’ depiction of the bond that exists between Sam and her elephants is captivating. The elephants, who are presented as majestic and intelligent creatures with humanlike characteristics and rich emotional lives, will leave readers awestruck."--School Library Journal

"Cliffhangers and elephants will keep readers engaged."--Kirkus

"Walters interweaves his beautiful family story with a thorough description of elephant behavior—their intellect, compassion, and loyalty—and factual scientific possibilities of cloning an extinct species...A must-read for anyone with an interest in elephants and their welfare."--Booklist

"Engaging, suspenseful, and educational, Elephant Secret will leave readers satisfied, yet full of questions.” -- CM Magazine