Ella Sets Sail by Carmela D'Amico, Steven D'Amico

Children's Literature

Ella, that most beloved elephant, is back for another adventure. In typical children's book fashion, Ella is allowed to run off to visit the local carnival without her mother staring over her shoulder. Always elegant and apparently generous too, Ella puts up with her friend Belinda's belligerent attitude and lends her a hat and some money to try to win a parrot. While Belinda waits in line, Ella and the others explore "The House of Mirrors." When the clouds begin rolling in and the Parrot Man closes up shop before Belinda gets a turn, the naughty friend jumps aboard the Ferris wheel and Ella's precious red hat is swept into a now-churning sea. Ella commandeers a sailboat and after a botched attempt to rescue her hat, she fears she has lost it forever. "At last, the boat [washes] ashore on an island" new to Ella. As is expected of such a delightful elephant, Ella makes new friends and after a brief mix-up, the hat is returned to its rightful owner. Ella heads home to dish the details of her escapade, patch things up with a repentant Belinda and return shortly to the island with a pineapple pie for her new friends to enjoy. Steven D'Amico has a remarkable ability to capture personality with a single chin line. Fans of Ella will be overjoyed to add this latest volume to their personal collections. For libraries large and small. Reviewer: Kristy Lyn Sutorius

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2- At the annual Elephant Islands Carnival, Ella reluctantly lends her treasured red hat to her friend Belinda, who loses it on the Ferris wheel. As the hat floats into the sea, Ella borrows Mr. Pelican's rowboat and sets off despite the rainy weather. Caught in a storm, she is washed ashore on an unfamiliar island. Luckily, Ella is welcomed by a friendly family who invite her in for lunch. Their fisherman father coincidentally has found Ella's lucky hat. When the storm passes, Ella safely returns home. After enduring a gentle scolding from Mr. Pelican and her mother, she promises never to take a boat out in stormy weather again. The next day, she sets off in Mr. Pelican's boat to bring a freshly baked pineapple pie to the family who came to her aid. Whimsical, fanciful, and refreshingly old-fashioned art is the hallmark of this series. While this adorable and independent little elephant's latest adventure is a bit far-fetched, fans of Ella the Elegant Elephant (2004), Ella Takes the Cake (2005), and Ella Sets the Stage (2006, all Scholastic) will enjoy setting sail with her.-Rachel Kamin, Des Plaines Public Library, IL

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