The Blue Elephant

Join Joy the elephant and her butterfly friend Hope as they go on a journey together following the loss of Joy’s grandmother in a story of grief and loss, friendship and love.

Joy, the little blue elephant, knew from birth that she was different from the rest of the herd. The Blue Elephant is Joy’s courageous story of grief and loss, as seen through the eyes of her wise butterfly friend, Hope. Be a part of their incredible journey as they discover Joy’s unique purpose in life.

Elizabeth Liechty has been working with children and for children’s causes for the past fifteen-plus years. She became involved with children’s bereavement camps sixteen years ago through Hospice of the Chesapeake, where she saw how the arts helped children heal and work through their grief.

It was her trip to South Africa in 2007, where she saw children with no opportunity to express their grief with the use of arts, that was the impetus for creating The Blue Elephant. Beginning with the quest to bring art to children to assist in their grieving process, she began to fundraise to bring art supplies to South Africa. These efforts evolved into The Blue Elephant Canvas project of children’s artworks that were auctioned to help the Hospice in South Africa and her local hospice, the Hospice of the Chesapeake. Elizabeth was eventually inspired to create The Blue Elephant as a book to offer children and families a way to discuss and process grief and loss together as well as discuss the importance of celebrating and embracing our differences. She is also in the process of creating an animated series based on the book. It is her dream to see The Blue Elephant used widely and often not just at hospices, but around the world.

As chair of the Hospice of the Chesapeake’s children’s programs, Chesapeake Kids, Elizabeth has been acknowledged both for her leadership and volunteer efforts, proudly accepting the Legacy Award from Lincoln Financial Advisors for her humanitarian efforts in 2018. In 2014, she was acknowledged not only by her peers statewide as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women but also by those in her financial industry, receiving the Elite Award for Community Outreach from the National Life and Health Underwriters.