What This Book Is About
Deep in the Borderlands jungle of Nepal, a two-year-old boy is found abandoned in a stable, being kept alive by the warm breath of an elephant named Devi Kali. The elephant drivers take him in and name him Nandu. Raised among the elephants and the Tharu people at a wildlife camp, Nandu grows up speaking to elephants the way other boys talk to friends. But his world is under threat: poachers are killing the rhinos and tigers, the government wants to shut down the elephant stable, and a flood of biblical proportions is bearing down on the jungle.
Author Eric Dinerstein is one of the world's leading conservation biologists, and every page of this novel pulses with his real-world expertise. The descriptions of jungle life—tracking rhinos at dawn, bathing elephants in the river, reading the forest by its sounds—are astonishingly vivid. Part coming-of-age story, part environmental thriller, What Elephants Know is a rare book where adventure and conservation education are woven together so seamlessly that readers absorb both without realizing it. Think of it as The Jungle Book for the 21st century.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why UWC Chose This Book
What Elephants Know is a perfect embodiment of UWC's commitment to environmental stewardship and service to others. The novel immerses students in the realities of wildlife conservation—poaching, habitat loss, human-animal conflict—while telling a deeply human story about belonging and identity. For students in Singapore, a nation that takes biodiversity seriously despite its small size, the book opens a window into how conservation works on the ground in a very different part of Asia.
The story also celebrates indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural understanding. Nandu learns from the Tharu people, the elephant drivers, and the animals themselves, demonstrating that wisdom comes from many sources—a core UWC value. The book's South Asian setting provides welcome cultural representation and gives students a rich, immersive experience of a world far from their own, building the international-mindedness that is central to a UWC education.
Reading Level Guide
Too challenging at A1. The nature vocabulary and cultural context will be difficult. Start with animal-themed chapter books like The One and Only Ivan.
Sweet spot. The vivid descriptions and adventure plot keep you engaged, while the nature vocabulary expands your English naturally.
A comfortable, immersive read at B2. Great for building environmental vocabulary. Try Born Behind Bars for another South Asian story with more challenge.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.