My new picturebook tells the true (and I think, incredible) story of a Yorkshire man in Thailand who plays piano for elephants. The story is about how they respond. Paul Barton (the fellow on whom its based) has many followers on utube but now this book makes his story newly accessible for children. The illustrations by NABILA ADANI are sumptuous .
Published by Magic Cat
Paperback | 280 x 240 mm | 40pp | ISBN: 9781917044066
Publishing August 2025 ISBN: 9781917044066
An incredible and uplifting true story about how music has healed troubled elephants in a sanctuary in Thailand.
The Elephant and the Piano tells the spectacular true story of Paul Barton and the elephants who loved to hear him play.
Some stories are true. Others are make-believe. And some true stories are so amazing that it seems they must be make-believe even when they really happened…
This is one of those stories.
In a sanctuary in Thailand lived an elephant called Bonti. Short-tempered and destructive, Bonti was alone – the other elephants (and humans) knew to keep their distance. But when a musician came to play the piano for Bonti, something incredible happened…
What people are saying about Colette Hiller
‘Will bear up under repeated childhood readings’
Such books are to be treasured
Available from August 2025
Pre-order from your local bookshops
Colette Hiller

I started off as a dancer at NY’s High School of Performing Arts and came to London with the original production of Annie. I spent many years on the London stage, before joining The BBC where I worked as a producer. For the past ten years, I’ve produced cultural projects across the world, filling city streets with public pianos, ping pong tables and Talking Statues. I’ve also written a best selling children’s CD – Applehead – a story with songs. Colossal Words for Kids is my new book –for 7 -11 year old. It enables even young children to master all kinds of interesting words. If you have favourite word rhyme from the book, , I’d love to know! Do pop me an email or video and show or tell me.

Contact
Amazon Author page
https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Colette-Hiller/author/B08CVN5CPQ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
To contact me directly:
Colette@singlondon.org