Written by James Foley

Stella the elephant is fighting interstellar discrimination one pachyderm at a time! Stella wants to be an astronaut. There is only one problem: Stella is an elephant. Every time she applies to Space Command, they come up with a new reason she can’t join. But where there’s a will, there’s a way and Stella is determined to reach for the stars.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

‘Foley’s cartoon-like illustrations bring multiple layers of meaning and humour to the story.’ Buzz Words Magazine

‘This story about an anthropomorphised, larger-than-life elephant can be read either as an ironic comment on privilege and diversity or the power of persistence. Readers will admire Stella’s resilience and problem solving as she challenges the status quo of Space Command’s space program. Foley’s use of humour and playfulness outweigh any dogma. Stella and her gang jump off the page with gumption and determination. The endpapers are fascinatingly informative. So much emotion is conveyed on Stella’s face, through her eyes, tongue and forehead wrinkles. The fold-out page at the end is also a delightful addition. This book has the potential for lots of rich discussion around who become powerful, educated, and celebrated and who doesn’t.’ The Children’s Book Council of Australia

R.E.A.L. Awards (Shortlisted 2023)
Better Reading’s 2022 Top 50 Kids’ Books (Winner 2022)
Children’s Book Council of Australia’s (CBCA) Sun Project: Shadowers’ Choice Awards: Picture Book of the Year (Winner 2022)
Children’s Book Council of Australia’s (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year (Honour book 2022)
WA Premier’s Book Award (Shortlisted 2022)
Speech Pathology Book of the Year (Shortlisted 2022)
Children’s Book Council of Australia’s (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year (Shortlisted 2022)
Aurealis Awards for Best Children’s Fiction (Shortlisted 2022)

James Foley makes picture books, middle grade novels and comics for kids. He’s the author/illustrator of the S.Tinker Inc graphic novel series for middle primary: Brobot (2016), Dungzilla (2017), Gastronauts (2018) and Chickensaurus (2020). The series stars Sally Tinker, the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve, and Joe Tinker, full-time baby. James also illustrated the Toffle Towers series written by Tim Harris; the cult-favourite and CBCA-shortlisted My Dead Bunny (2015); and its follow-up, There’s Something Weird About Lena (2020). James contributed to Total Quack Up (2018) and Funny Bones (2019), both anthologies of funny stories with proceeds going to charity. His earlier books In The Lion (2012), The Last Viking (2011) and The Last Viking Returns (2014) have all scored several honours, including children’s choice awards, shortlistings in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards, and selection to the International Youth Library’s White Raven list. His latest book, Stellarphant (November 2021), has been shortlisted for the 2022 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year, shortlisted for the 2021 Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Fiction, shortlisted for the 2021 WA Premier’s Book Awards and the 2022 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards.

James is an ambassador for Books In Homes and Room To Read. He is a massive Marvel movie nerd. He comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts.

ISBN: 9781760990732

Pages: 32

Publication year: 2021

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publications, Childrens Books, Space