This is a warm and affectionate story about the power an imaginary friend can bring.

     
     Having  much experience in playing alone in childhood, I really know what the little boy felt  and  understand why he got an elephant as his company, for that's the nature to be accompanied. To my great surprise, the grandpa understood his grandson's loneliness and pretended to believe there's an elephant in the room.  In most cases,the boy would be treated as a naughty coconut making a lot of excuses.  

     When I was telling the story, my kids and students could probe into deeper thought and had discussion about the elephant.  Inkids' minds, the boundary between the reality and imagination is not that arbitrary,for they treat everything sincerely and directly.  A great book says little but elicits more.  This book does, too.