Picture Book Exploration: Clara, The First Rhinoceros to Visit Europe

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Do you remember the first time you went to the zoo and saw a real, live, honest to goodness rhino face to face? I’m sure it was a bit of a shock but you had seen pictures and maybe movies, so you knew what to expect. But if you had never even heard of a rhino and then met one face to face? What do you think your reaction would have been then? That is exactly what happened to hundreds of people in Europe in the mid 1700s when an adventurous sea captain brought home to Rotterdam, Holland a baby rhino, Clara. Let’s explore how Clara’s life impacted the whole of Europe!

Clara: The (Mostly) True Story of the Rhinoceros Who Dazzled Kings, Inspired Artists and the Hearts of Everyone… While She Ate Her Way up and Down a Continent! By Emily Arnold McCully

Wow, what a title! But at least you know what you are getting into, right? And I absolutely love it! This is one of Emily Arnold McCully’s most delightful picture books. Her lively and humorous text and her beautiful watercolor illustrations bring the life of Clara, the first rhinoceros to go to Europe to life. I love all of the work of Emily Arnold McCully, if I am being honest. She is one of these author/illustrator who has a special gift of drawing you into a story to the extent that when you close the book you feel that you are just waking up from a dream. Most of her picture books are biographies and you will learn so much about each person. Her enthusiasm and passion about these beautiful lives she writes about and illustrates is contagious. Emily Arnold McCully is one of my favorite picture book authors/illustrators of all time.

Clara the rhino

Clara was an Indian Rhinoceros rescued from certain death by a Dutch East India Company trader while a baby. Captain Van der Meer adopted her shortly after and became Clara’s “mother”. The captain could not bear to be separated from his adopted daughter and when he returned to Rotterdam, Holland, he brought Clara home with him. Van der Meer also hoped to retire from his life at sea by exhibiting Clara, for a price. Clara grew up on the road, so to speak, touring Europe for 17 years. She met kings, was the subject of the greatest artists of her age and a source of curiosity for all who crossed her path. No rhinos had ever been seen in Europe, they were the stuff of legend, of myth. Clara managed very well at making the best impression possible on all who encountered her.

Let’s explore!

This is one of my favorite kinds of picture books! So many rabbit trails to follow! So many new things to discover! I could literally spend hours and hours researching and discovering and learning so many things from this book! It’s wonderful! A true living picture book! But I have tried to stick to just the ones that appealed to me the most.

Geography

Oh the maps on the end pages! They are just so delightful! Not only are they precise and intriguing but they are also beautiful. Can you imagine the sights she has seen? All the main capitals of Europe, some of the most beautiful coastlines and countrysides in the world. This is the type of map that entices me to research the names that I am not familiar with on the map. Many of them I have had the chance to visit and I am familiar with most of the German cities I have never seen. I am so curious to discover what does a name like Schaffhausen or Regensburg hide? What history lies behind the name? What does the town look like? Was it an important center and is that why Clara and the captain visited there? Why was it important? You get the idea… My mind is travelling at a gallop to discover new places. So grab a good encyclopedia and an atlas and start discovering one, or more,  of these places that Clara visited.

Art

I have seen some of the original art pieces that represent Clara and they are honestly impressive. Imagine what it must have been like for these artists to have the opportunity to make a portrait of a real live mystical beast! It must have been something beyond their wildest imaginations! Now imagine if you were a broadside artist and you had to make a poster announcing Clara’s arrival in your town, but you have not seen her yet! All you have are basic descriptions of what she looks like: huge, with a shell like skin, and a horn on her nose. What would you draw? Put pen to paper and create your own 1750s broadside announcing Clara’s arrival in your town of choice, maybe the one you research up above.

Nature Study

I have to say that the rhinoceros has never really appealed to me… It is not very pretty, per my definition, and I have always taken it for granted. But after reading this story and its in depth description of Clara’s diet, habits, growth spurts and appetite I am more and more intrigued by the Indian rhino. How does it live in the wild? How does the mother care for her young for up to two years? What do they eat if they don’t have any oranges on hand? What is their habitat? Do they make a nest or just sleep wherever? So many questions. My girls and I will be exploring the Indian rhino in depth and create a beautiful Nature Journaling page about it that will gather all of the facts that we have discovered, and of course we will leave to mention Clara.

Oranges

There could be so many more rabbit trails to follow, but I think this is a very good start! Just one thing is missing: joining Clara in a treat after all of our hard work. Since Clara was so fond of oranges, I tried to find a delicious and intriguing orange based recipe. I fell in love with these Knotted Orange Sweet Rolls. They are the perfect addition to a nice, hot cup of tea on a beautiful spring afternoon. 

I hope you enjoyed this picture book as much as I did and that you will be able to explore many of the rabbit trails and even go down your own! We will be back next month with a new Picture Book Exploration! But if you cannot wait this long, did you know that you could step into a year of stories with A Daily Picture Book Membership—where each month unfolds a thoughtfully curated collection of living books, gentle rhythms, and meaningful moments to share together.
Inside, you’ll find rich picture book lists woven around history, nature, and culture—paired with simple, hands-on activities that invite children to explore, create, and wonder. From seasonal inspirations to history-centered learning, everything is designed to help you cultivate a life of curiosity without overwhelm.
Come join us!
Love,
Mattie