Book title “anemones and peonies”
Probably published in late 60’s or 70’s
Feminist slant
story about little pink and grey elephants all the pink elephants turn grey at the end
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
Book title “anemones and peonies”
Probably published in late 60’s or 70’s
Feminist slant
story about little pink and grey elephants all the pink elephants turn grey at the end
Hi there, somone posted this for me… its a book that my mom used to read to me where the little grey boy elephants were allowed to go out into the fields and eat the flowers and the little pink girl elephants had to stay in the pen and wear ribbons and bows… it ends with one little pink elephant getting out… somehow the little pink elephants get to eat the flowers and they all turn grey (thereby showing that it’s the imposed ideals that make the differences, as opposed to the inherent differences.) My mom gave the book to a friend who apparently sold it in a garage sale… and despite searching for years I’ve never been able to find it again.
If anyone knows the book I would really love to track it down again.
I have been looking for this book! The girl elephants have to stay in the pen and wear ribbons in their hair and eat anemones and peonies to keep their skin smooth and pink, while the boy elephants get to play on the savannah and turn grey. One of the pink elephants leaves the enclosure, takes off her bows, and eventually turns grey. I loved this book as a child. I remember the pictures were just beautiful. If you find it, let me know please!
Found it! It’s ‘Sugarpink Rose’ by Adela Turin and Nella Bosnia (1976). (It is also available in Spanish under the title ‘Rosa Caramelo.’)
From an online review: “It’s about a world where girl elephants are pink and boy elephants are gray. The girls must eat only anemones and peonies that grow inside a fenced enclosure, all of their lives to get and maintain the desired smooth, ‘sugarpink rose’ colored skin. They also wear pink booties and ribbons to accentuate their pinkness and are constantly told to eat these flowers “Or no boy elephant will ever marry you!” and other such things.
Out of all the girl elephants only Annabelle does not turn pink. She tries to eat more flowers to please her parents but she remains gray as ever. Eventually her parents give up on the hope that she will turn pink and she is free to go play with the boy elephants on the savannah. She has so much fun she never wants to wear pink booties, eat flowers or ever enter the enclosure again. Things in the story take a turn when the other girls see how much fun Annabelle is having being her natural, gray self…I don’t want to spoil it but I will say even as a grownup this story moves me. It’s such a cute story and the meaning behind it is a great confidence-builder for girls!”
Sugarpink Rose.