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We Needed To Share This
Hey Baby – The Elk That Survived! tells the story of an injured young elk who is rescued, cared for through a long, harsh winter, and eventually nursed back to health so he can return to his herd. What inspired you to create this story?
I believe Annie mentioned it to her grandchildren, and they loved our story about the Elk. A few days later I thought we needed to share this with children everywhere. It sat on my desk for over 9 years while I was caring for my husband Jay with early-onset Alzheimer’s. I promised him I would publish it someday, and the time was now after he passed away in October 2024.
Were there moments from the real experience that were too emotional or difficult to include in the book?
The look in his eyes as he sat alone every night while we could hear the coyotes.
One of the book’s strongest messages is that we can love wild animals without trying to keep them. Why was that lesson important for you to share?
Rarely will we have the opportunity to help a wild animal, as nature usually takes care of them, whether good or bad.
There are times when you just know it is safe and can help the best way you know how.
What emotions did you hope readers would feel when Hey Baby returned to his herd?
First and foremost the wonderful satisfaction the animal is alive and can go back to his home in nature. The excitement of how the animal accepts help. The sadness that we had to lose him in order to save him.
Author Links: pamelahowardauthor.com | pamelajhoward.com
The elk was given the name ‘Hey Baby’ during this life saving adventure.
Read how he was saved and how the elk accepted help along the way.
The story will warm your heart and make you look differently at wildlife.
‘Hey Baby’ – The Elk that Survived!
‘Hey Baby’ – The Elk that Survived!, by Pamela J. Howard, tells the story of a young injured elk found on a snowy road in the San Juan Mountains near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. PJ spots him limping and badly hurt, and when official help doesn’t come, she and Annie begin caring for him with water, hay, patience, and tenderness. Over the long winter, the elk they both call “Hey Baby” slowly heals, grows stronger, and eventually returns to his herd, leaving behind a bittersweet memory of trust, kindness, and letting go.
I found this children’s book genuinely touching because it understands something children often feel deeply: animals matter, even when they aren’t ours to keep. The writing is simple and direct, sometimes almost conversational, which gives the story the feeling of being told by someone who still remembers every cold morning and every worried drive past that pine tree. I appreciated how the book doesn’t rush the hard parts. Hey Baby is hurt, lonely, scared, and uncertain, and the story lets that sadness sit on the page.
This isn’t just a rescue story. It’s also about restraint, about loving a wild creature enough to help him survive and then letting him belong to the mountains again. That part felt quietly powerful. The artwork supports that feeling with snowy blues, wide mountain landscapes, soft animal expressions, and scenes that make the winter valley feel both beautiful and harsh. The illustrations are polished and vivid. The strongest images, especially Hey Baby alone beneath the tree or returning to the herd, have a tenderness that carries the story beautifully.
I came away from ‘Hey Baby’ – The Elk that Survived! feeling warmed by its sincerity. It has a homespun quality, but that’s part of its charm, and its compassion feels earned rather than decorative. I’d recommend it for young animal lovers, children who are learning about empathy and wildlife, and families who like picture books that open the door to gentle conversations about helping, hoping, and knowing when to say goodbye.
Pages: 30 | ASIN : B0FDKB1J8F
