Never Forget the Elephants
by Sakina Dewji
Illustrated by Heidi Teremetz
About Never Forget the Elephants
The winning story in the category for writers in years 3 and 4 in ISEB’s 2024 Time to Write competition, Never Forget the Elephants is a fun and adventurous story about a child on a safari who finds herself with a chance to go back in time to try to save the near-extinct elephants. Landing in the midst of a tribe of poachers, she realises she has an important choice to make that could change the course of history forever.
“An original idea and neatly shaped narrative that produces a well-structured and engaging story with a surprise ending.” The Time to Write judging panel.
About the writer
Sakina Dewji is from the UK and was 9 years old at the time of writing Never Forget the Elephants. Reflecting on the book, she said, “I wrote this story because ever since I started creative writing it always put a grin on my face. When I found out about this competition I knew that I would love to participate. I love elephants so much and I find them super fascinating. I am so grateful to have won - this is a dream come true!”
About the illustrator
Heidi Teremetz is a talented picture book illustrator who loves to combine humour, whimsical characters, and bright colours. A graduate of Arts University Bournemouth, her work brings stories to life with a unique charm. When she’s not illustrating, she loves spending time on the beach, getting cosy with her cat, Lola, or enjoying a chai latte.
Never Forget the Elephants
Written by Sakina Dewji
Illustrated by Heidi Teremetz
The scorching savannah rocked back and forth, blown by the ruthless wind. The crisp grass danced wildly. From our Jeep, I saw a majestic but seemingly sombre creature stumbling around by itself. Something was wrong. Experts might say it’s impossible, but I swear I saw a tear running down that elephant’s cheek.
“Just over 100 years ago there was a tribe called the Waka Pichu that poached the African Forest Elephants for their valuable ivory tusks. Now, only one elephant remains,” explained our guide.
As I stepped out to get some fresh air, I caught sight of a gargantuan cave; it had a minuscule entrance that you could easily have missed but it caught my eye and I felt drawn to it. Once inside, I feasted my eyes on towering piles of shimmering gold, illuminating the mysterious cave. I filled my pockets to the brim; I was rich! I rummaged excitedly through the greatest array of treasures to have been discovered since Aladdin’s cave. Suddenly, I chanced upon a peculiar looking, rusty alarm clock. I decided to press ‘Play’…
“You have two options,” a booming voice bellowed. “You may either travel 120 years into the past or 120 years into the future. Choose wisely…”
Instinctively I wanted to choose the future; I had always thought it would be so cool to travel forward in time. But then the image of the sorrowful elephant flashed across my mind, and I realised by going back 120 years I could save the elephants! As I pressed the rewind button, my heart skipped not one, but two beats. With a hurling puff of smoke and the blink of an eye, I was outside the cave again, but the atmosphere had transformed. I could hear hypnotic chanting and I nervously followed the sounds.
“Excuse me, do you know where the Waka Pichu tribe is?” I asked bravely.
A man with a surprisingly friendly demeanour (for someone with such a tall and powerful stature) came forward and told me they were the Waka Pichu tribe and asked me how they could help. As I contemplated my next move, I noticed the gaunt and wailing children longing for food and it dawned on me why they needed the ivory; the Waka Pichu were poor.
At that moment, an idea hit me like a large hail stone. What if I could give them something more valuable than ivory so they wouldn’t need to poach the elephants? The only thing I had to trade was the gold but that was for me!
Once again, my mind replayed the elephant’s lonely face, and I knew what I had to do. My pockets and heart were both feeling lighter as I returned to the time machine and said a quick prayer for the elephants to be saved.
When I got back the sun was shining gleefully, and the African Forest Elephants were thudding around freely. Mission accomplished! Suddenly, I felt a playful tickle and an elephant’s trunk was stroking my back. It was almost as if he knew I had saved him! I guess what they say is true: an elephant never forgets!
I reached back into my pocket and pulled out a glistening gold necklace… you didn’t think I would give all of it away, did you?
THE
END
About Time to Write
ISEB’s 2024 Time to Write competition, launched in celebration of the exam board’s 120th anniversary, was about celebrating the past and looking forward to the future. The innovative creative writing competition was open to all schools everywhere, and asked children of four different age groups to submit short stories written in response to a set theme.
A time machine is found hidden in a cave. Inside, there is a clock with two options: the first, to travel in time 120 years into the past, and the second, to travel in time 120 years into the future. Who finds it, and what happens next?
More than 2,000 children from schools all over the world entered the competition in its first year, with entries shortlisted collaboratively by a pool of judges using cuttingedge adaptive comparative judgement technology, in partnership with RM Compare. This resulted in a reliable, fair and accurate ranking of entries. The top ten stories in each category were reviewed by a panel of judges, including a children’s book author, a children’s book editor from Oxford University Press, a senior researcher from the University of Winchester, and heads of English from Eton College, St Swithun’s School, and St Catherine’s School, Bramley.
To find out more about ISEB’s Time to Write competition, visit write.iseb.co.uk.
ISEB would like to thank RM Compare; the judging panel: Ali Sparkes, Anna Camilleri, Ellen Spencer, Emma Drage, Naomi Anson and Sarah Strachan; sponsors Altec Lansing, AWS, Ingram Micro, Oxford University Press, Scanning Pens and TTS; all who took part in the shortlisting process; and all of the young writers who entered the Time to Write competition.
The four winning stories
A time machine is found hidden in a cave.
Inside, there is a clock with two options: the first, to travel in time 120 years into the past, and the second, to travel in time 120 years into the future.
Who finds it, and what happens next?
When a young child on a safari finds herself with a chance to travel back in time to save the elephants from extinction, she is presented with an important choice. Can she think on her feet and find a way to keep the elephants safe?
The winning story in the category for writers in years 3 and 4 in the 2024 ISEB Time to Write international creative writing competition.
“An engaging story that explores the theme of conservation with empathy and compassion.” The Time to Write judging panel.