Norma Jean: The Circus Elephant who stayed in Oquawka
By: Forgottonia Times™ Report
The small Mississippi River village of Oquawka, Illinois, has long been home to an unusual landmark: a towering twelve-foot monument marking the grave of Norma Jean, a circus elephant whose tragic death in 1972 left an indelible mark on the community. Fifty years later, her story finds new life in Joel Estes’ picture book, “Norma Jean,” illustrated by Larry Jon Davis and newly released this weekend.
Told through the eyes of a young boy, “Norma Jean” captures the wonder and heartbreak of a small-town circus visit gone awry. Estes, a retired educator, first drafted the story twenty-five years ago after visiting Norma Jean’s gravesite with his family. “Being an educator, I wondered about the perspective of a child to such an unusual and troubling occurrence,” Estes explained. “Larry and I hope that readers will get a sense of small-town life from fifty years ago… and will develop an appreciation for elephants, for the small traveling circus, and for people that lived in small towns like Oquawka.”
Although Oquawka is not located in Warren County, its proximity and the intrigue of its unique history make it an irresistible draw for visitors and storytellers alike. Estes captures that allure in his narrative, transporting readers to a time when a circus arriving in town was a monumental event.
The book’s release marks another collaboration between Estes and Davis, who previously worked together on the picture book Last Pick. Estes credits Davis’ attention to detail and artistic sensitivity for bringing his stories to life. “Larry is detail-oriented and… has a keen sense of people, of interpreting appearance and actions.” The collaboration extends beyond illustration—Davis contributes to text refinement, and Estes provides input on the art, a synergy Estes describes as “an enjoyable shared experience.”
Though first drafted over twenty-five years ago, Estes has frequently revisited the story, refining it as he uncovered more details about Norma Jean’s life and death. The elephant’s role in the Clark and Walters Circus highlights the pivotal function elephants once played in small traveling circuses. “The perspective of the treatment of animals, specifically elephants in circuses, has changed greatly in the last fifty years,” Estes noted.
After working with students for more than forty-five years, Estes believes he has a unique grasp on what motivates them to pick up a book and read. At 3,200 words, “Norma Jean” is a longer picture book targeted primarily at third-grade readers and up, but Estes believes it will resonate with older audiences as well. The January 1 release marked the culmination of a lifelong love of writing that Estes has embraced more fully since retiring. “Nothing pleases me more than to have a young person say they loved one of my books. Hopefully, this will happen with ‘Norma Jean,’” he said.
The book is now available online in hardcover and paperback, with in-store availability expected by mid-January.
As Oquawka’s unusual history enters the literary world, Estes and Davis invite readers to revisit Norma Jean’s story—not just as a tale of a circus elephant but as a lens into community, history, and the changing values that shape our treatment of animals.
Author Joel O. Estes
Illustrator Larry Jon Davis