The Elephant with a Knot in His Trunk - Tapa dura

Kofi, a young elephant, was born with a knot in his trunk. His disability keeps him from eating, drinking, and trumpeting as other elephants do. His peers bully him, and Kofi feels isolated and inadequate. When he discovers Big Ebo, the meanest bully, caught in a whirlpool, he faces a challenging decision. Should he attempt to rescue the bully? Can succeed? Should he even try? As in her other award-winning books, Patz's lively watercolor and pencil paintings show clearly the emotions of the characters and bring Kofi's story to life.

Nancy Patz has won many awards for her children's books, which often address emotionally sensitive topics. In The Elephant with the Knot in HIs Trunk, Patz and orthodontist Stuart Sheer tell the story of an elephant born with a knot in his trunk--a disability that keeps him from using his trunk as other elephants do. Born in Baltimore, Patz attended public schools and Goucher College; she graduated from Stanford University. Her paintings, prints, and drawings have been exhibited in museums and galleries, and she often lectures to schools and teachers' groups on her books and the art of the picture book. The Special Collections Library at Goucher College houses the Nancy Patz Collection of artwork, manuscripts, and correspondence. Orthodontist Stuart Sheer has treated children with dento-facial problems in Bhutan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and other countries, and at his office near Baltimore, since 1983. His desire to ease the emotional and physical burdens these children experience led to his collaboration with Nancy Patz and the creation of The Elephant with a Knot in His Trunk. Dr. Sheer received his orthodontic certificate from Columbia University, and he serves as director of the dental program in Cambodia for Health Volunteers Overseas. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Maryland Dental School.