"Trunk Sale" to Support The Elephant Sanctuary (Buy books, save elephants, win prizes!)

My elephant-loving friends at Tilbury House, independent publisher of two picture books about The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, Travels with Tarra and Just for Elephants, are holding their first-ever "Trunk Sale" promotion from now through December 31, 2009.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, founded in 1995, is the nation's largest natural habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered African and Asian elephants. It operates on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee — 85 miles southwestof Nashville.

The Elephant Sanctuary exists for two reasons:

1. To provide a haven for old, sick or needy elephants in a setting of green pastures, dense forests, spring-fed ponds and heated barns for cold winter nights.
2. To provide education about the crisis facing these social, sensitive, passionately intense, playful, complex, exceedingly intelligent and endangered creatures.

For every 100 copies of their elephant books sold, Tilbury House has pledged to sponsor a much-needed item from the Sanctuary's wish list. These gifts will include 100lbs of peanut butter (a favorite treat), a day's worth of meals for one elephant (including more than 10lbs of fruits & veggies and 100lbs of hay!), and an elephant-sized piece of land (to support the Sanctuary's recent expansion.)

The Elephant Sanctuary has received major media attention recently, including features on Oprah, CBS Evening News, and in People Magazine. Videos of the Sanctuary's now famous residents, Asian elephant Tarra and her canine best-friend, Bella, have charmed millions on YouTube, and their story is the subject of a forthcoming book from Putnam, Tarra and Bella.

This CBS News video about Tarra and Bella is a must-see:

If you're reading via RSS or email, click here to watch the video.

To coincide with their promotion, Tilbury House is organizing a virtual book tour for author and Sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley from September 1-8, with interviews, giveaways, and other web-exclusive content. Updates on the tour will be posted regularly on Twitter (@tilburyhouse) and Facebook.

Here are the two elephant books included in the Trunk Sale: 
Both are beautiful picture books with captivating elephant photographs. Minimal text. Large font. Suitable for young/old readers. Would make lovely coffee table or waiting room books!

 

Just for Elephants by Carol Buckley is the story of two circus elephants who were reunited after many years when they were rescued by the Elephant Sanctuary.

[Official book description] "Most elephants in America live in circuses and zoos, and their lives are very different from what they would be in the wild. But there's a very special place in Tennessee called the Elephant Sanctuary, where elephants can finally have the freedom to roam and have elephant friends. Why do elephants come to the Elephant Sanctuary, and what is their everyday life like there? Some are like Shirley, who performed in a circus before an injury forced early retirement and a transfer to a zoo. She lived at the zoo for many years and received good care, but she didn't have elephant friends. 

Then plans were made for Shirley to move to the Elephant Sanctuary, a place just for elephants. It was a big surprise to everyone when Shirley recognized another elephant when she arrived—they greeted each other with great excitement and joy and lots of trumpeting. Jenny had been a baby elephant at the circus where Shirley had worked so long ago. (Elephants do remember!) Shirley and Jenny spent that first night standing close, with their trunks wrapped around each other. And in the morning, Jenny led Shirley outside to explore the fields and ponds and woods and meet all the other elephants. Now Shirley has a special family, in a place just for elephants."

Here is a heart-warming video of Shirley (a former circus elephant) who has now been at the Elephant Sanctuary for a decade and seems to be thriving in her retirement:

If you're reading via RSS or email, click here to watch the video.

Travels with Tarra by Carol Buckley is the story about how Carol (co-founder of the elephant sanctuary) came to adopt baby elephant Tarra and how their relationship has evolved over decades:

[Official book description] "What happens when you fall in love with a three-foot-tall, 700-pound infant covered with thick black hair? 

Carol Buckley was a college student, studying exotic animal care, when she looked up from her homework one day to see a baby elephant walking past her house. The local tire dealer had bought the tiny elephant as a promotion gimmick for his store and was taking her for a stroll. Carol quickly volunteered to help care for and train Tarra, tried to meet the baby elephant's emotional and social needs, and ended up buying her. 

Tarra was bright, playful, and loved attention, so Carol taught her to do lots of tricks (including roller skating and the hula), and for about twenty years they appeared at circuses, theme parks, and zoos, changing their lifestyle as Tarra's needs changed and balancing the performing life with time at their farm. 

But Carol began to dream of a place where elephants could just be elephants, where abused elephants could find a haven, and where old elephants could live out their days peacefully. She established the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, an 800-acre refuge now home to Tarra and five other elephants, with room for many more. A place just for elephants--no visitors--the Elephant Sanctuary has been featured on the Emmy award-winning PBS Nature documentary, "Urban Elephants". Carol Buckley and co-founder Scott Blais were named "Heroes of the Planet" by Time Magazine for their work at the Sanctuary. 

Illustrated by dozens of photographs, Carol's 28-year odyssey with Tarra is the fascinating story of a lifetime commitment to an elephant, but it also asks us to reconsider the real needs of captive wild animals. Travels with Tarra has been choosen as a "Louisiana Young Readers' Choice" book. This means many more children will have the opportunity to learn about the lives of captive elephants. This delightful book has just been published and has made the Smithsonian's 'Notable Books for Children' list."

Here is a really cute video of a very chatty Tarra, vocalizing different sounds as she plays at the Elephant Sanctuary:

If you're reading via RSS or email, click here to watch the video.

Want more elephant inspiration?
Want a chance to win some elephant prizes?

Here is the complete schedule for the virtual book tour:

Tuesday, Sept. 1: Reading Rumpus
Wednesday, Sept. 2: Sacred Elephants (you are here)
Thursday, Sept. 3: Read These Books and Use Them!
Friday, Sept. 4: Maw Books 
Saturday, Sept. 5: Shelf Elf
Sunday, Sept. 6: Bees Knees
Monday, Sept. 7: Through The Looking Glass
Tuesday, Sept. 8: Bri Meets Books 

Blog Comment Prizes!
Comment on any of the blog posts that make up the virtual book tour (including this post!) and you will be eligible to win one of these 3 prizes:

• A copy of Just for Elephants signed by Sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley.
• A copy of Travels With Tarra signed by Carol and stamped by Tarra the Elephant
• A package of Tilbury House Animal Books— The Goat Lady, Thanks to the Animals, and an advance copy of Bear-ly There.

Details: No purchase necessary. Comments must be on one or more of the respective tour posts (September 1-9, 2009.) Winners will be announced on September 10, 2009. Prizes can only be shipped to the United States or Canada.

Email/RSS Subscribers:
Click here to make a blog comment on Sacred Elephants.

Twitter Prize!
From now through September 9, 2009, anyone who tweets about the tour using the hashtag #trunktour will be entered to win of these 2 prizes:

• A copy of Travels With Tarra
• A copy of Just for Elephants. 

Details: No purchase necessary. Tweets must contain the hashtag #trunktour on or before September 9, 2009. Winners will be announced on September 10, 2009. Prizes can only be shipped to the United States or Canada.

Travels With Tarra and Just for Elephants are available from independent booksellers across the country — if they're not on the shelves at your favorite store, please tell them about the Trunk Sale! Books are also available from online retailers, as well as directly from the Elephant Sanctuary.

The virtual book tour and contests are held September 1-9, 2009.

However, the Trunk Sale is on through December 31st! Tilbury House will be tracking all new (not used) books purchased between now and the end of the year, then making their agreed upon donations to the Elephant Sanctuary.

Also, these books would make lovely holiday gifts (as do their elephant holiday cards.) So please consider gifting them to your friends and family, knowing that you're also giving back to the Elephant Sanctuary!

    

Comments

[Sarah]

Thanks so much for your great post! We so appreciate your helping to spread the word about our efforts to support the Elephant Sanctuary.

[Lori]

We'd love to win this giveaway! We're fascinated by elephants over here at our house!

Lori

[Marya Jansen-Gruber]

What a delightful blog post. I am so happy to discover that elephants have such a passionate advocate. I loved the video. If you haven't seen it already take a look at the video of Shirley and Jenny when they see each other for the first time in many years. It is very moving.

[Jaya Schillinger]

Hello Lori and Marya. Thanks for dropping by Sacred Elephants and supporting the Elephant Sanctuary!

BTW, I got an email update from Sarah at Tilbury House publishers:

"Just a quick note about the prizes - We had so many great responses that we've decided to add a sort of bonus prize, an extra donation to the Sanctuary on behalf of everyone who participated in the tour. For the 100 or so people who posted comments, tweeted, or hosted a stop, we will be sponsoring 100 lbs of peanut butter, a favorite snack of "the girls" at the Sanctuary. :)"

Yay! Thanks for making an extra donation on our behalf! You're the best!

Jaya