by Nancy Jainchill (Author), Grey Ivor Morris (Illustrator)
Thai Thai's Very Curly Tail is a happy story about a young girl, Katie, who is volunteering with her mother at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. The sanctuary cared for elephants who were older, or who had been working too hard, or who had been hurt. Every morning, as volunteers, they prepared breakfast for the elephants. One morning Katie discovers a puppy with the elephant, Boon Mee, his tail curled tightly around her trunk. Feeding Boon Mee her favorite food-watermelon including the rinds-they separate the puppy from the trunk. Katie knew the puppy would go home with her, but first they had to visit the doggy doctor. "His tail may never straighten," the doggy doctor said. Katie didn't care. Soon she and her mother have to return home to the United States. A month later the puppy makes the 30 hour trip to join Katie across the world. His tail was as curly as it was at the sanctuary. "I'll call him Thai Thai," Katie said, "since he's from Thailand."