August 23, 2010– “After meeting a very special elephant in Thailand and becoming dedicated to the plight of these extraordinary animals, I wanted to do something, to make some difference and help in any way possible”, Marieke L. van der Velden says.

What began as the Elephant Poetry and Prose Project, eventually grew into a 40-page tribute to pachyderms. “Tales & Tails” is a book filled with poetry, prose and photos about elephants that is destined to inspire animal lovers and convert new elephant lovers.

People from around the world, inspired by these gentle giants, generously submitted their words, from a 6th grade class in Ithaca, New York to award-winning writer Barbara Gowdy. Plus, all profits from the book go directly to Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary.

To preview and order “Tales and Tails”, please visit Blurb. Free shipping until August 31.

Enjoy the book and check out the resource list in the back… it mentions The Eyes of Thailand elephant conservation documentary!

-Windy Borman

Director/Producer

The Eyes of Thailand

Corinne Morton taught her 6th Grade Science classes in Ithaca, NY (USA) about the plight of elephants in the wild and captivity. Ms. Morton writes:

I did a big unit on elles in science for all 90 of my students and still weave in elles whenever I can, inducing my poetry reading class unit. That is where they wrote the elle poems… They have a lot of knowledge about elles now and of the many sanctuaries. I talk about why elles shouldn’t be in zoos and circuses, tourism, illegal forestry logging, street entertainment, etc., it was an extensive unit,  powerful, wonderful.   The kids are amazing and very passionate about the plight of elephants on this earth!  The children will change the world!!

Inspired by The Eyes of Thailand trailer, three students wrote poems about Thai elephants.  Below is the first poem:

It Will Come Soon, Hope

by Morgan Bell age 11 Ithaca, NY Boynton Middle School

Called Suste by her Mahout Master
Some stop in moment to take charity
She’s getting yelled at and urged on faster
Kindness in her world is a rarity

One single tear rolls down her wrinkled face
Covered with colors from head to toe
She dances for the waiting eye with grace
Oh No! A wrong step waiting for her foe

Scars from her mistake start to bother
She closes her eyes as he does the job
She wonders if there’s a soul who loves her
Left there about to break into a sob

She told herself not to look down and mope
But to look up, smile, it will soon come…hope!

Please tune in next week for the second poem…

-Windy Borman

Producer, Director and Writer, The Eyes of Thailand