A charming and significant story set prior to the Civil Rights
Movement about a boy who finds a way to challenge segregation laws.
Frank has always been obsessed with elephants. He loves their hosepipe
trunks, tree stump feet, and swish-swish tails. So when Miss Fancy, the
elephant, retires from the circus and moves two blocks from his house to
Avondale Park, he's over the moon! Frank really wants to pet her. But
Avondale Park is just for white people, so Frank is not allowed to see
Miss Fancy. Frank is heartbroken but he doesn't give up: instead he
makes a plan!
Frank writes to the City Council so his church can host a picnic in the
park, and he can finally meet Miss Fancy. All of his neighbors sign the
letter, but when some protest, the picnic is cancelled and Frank is
heartbroken all over again. Then Miss Fancy escapes the zoo, and it's up
to Frank to find her before she gets hurt.