The Blue Elephant

I was prepared to not watch this movie with my 4 year old son. It looks really lame on the cover. I was half watching, half reading until I saw the bandits. I closed my book and watched in awe as a beautiful Chinese fable unfolded on the screen. The elephants and humans don't speak to each other but they try to understand each other and everyone learns several real life lessons: Yes fighting is bad and we shouldn't do it, but sometimes you must defend your country and your family....your freedom.

The blue elephant's mother tells him that fighting is bad but then when he is in the middle of a war he fights for what is important to him. This is a wonderful movie to use as a teaching tool for children who have family members in the service, to teach young children that they should not hit but that they shouldn't take a beating also....."is it worth it to get into a fist fight over a toddler toy at preschool - NO, but if someone is hurting you then you can defend yourself." It also works as a defense against adults - if a child understand bullying and tyranny they are more likely to fight against it.

a wonderful movie, especially if you use it as a learning tool.