Sky Full of Elephants is the debut novel of author Cebo Campbell, published in 2024. It follows a Black father (Charlie Brunton) and his biracial daughter (Sidney Waggoner) as they navigate a world in which all the white people disappear, and Black folk going about rebuilding and healing from their collective history of violence, racism, and enslavement.
Sharon Black and Nicole Ussery hosted the October 24, 2026, Tabahani meeting. They selected a Mardi Gras theme for the evening reminiscent of the vibrant ending of the book. Tabahani members were greeted and adorned with multi-colored beads. Mardi Gras music was playing, lavender oil was diffusing, and fruit baskets were on display. They sat at festively decorated tables for a Mardi Gras dinner in Mobile, Kingdom of Alabama and selected entrees from the Mardi Gras menu at Mimi’s Café. A playlist representing Nona’s music collection was played during dinner and throughout the evening. Cupcakes with a personalized Tabahani Book Circle Mardi Gras edible appliqué were served for dessert.
Decor
The meeting space was transformed into various locations in the book: New Howard University, Washington, D.C.; an open highway road; Oshkosh, Wisconsin; and Mobile, Kingdom of Alabama.
Charlie Brunton’s office at New Howard University was represented by an external faculty sign for Professor Charlie Brunton, Solar and Power Systems. Inside Charlie’s office was a near empty botte of Wild Turkey Kentucky Bourbon, a land line, several Electrical Engineering books (Power Systems Analysis, Field and Waves in Electromagnetics, and Fields and Waves in Communication Electronics). In a plastic bag, was the letter Elizabeth sent to Charlie at the Sussex State Prison in Virginia.
Oshkosh, Wisconsin was represented with a backdrop of Sidney Wagonner’s three-story home with white columns, the address sign for her home 2580 Sunset Lane, a family photo, and a lavender bush.
A large backdrop depicted an open highway road with a colorful sky at sunset.
Mobile, Kingdom of Alabama was indicated with a city limits sign. A garage backdrop multiple tools marked the spot where the machine was repaired leading up to Mardi Gras.
The Opening
The hostesses set the stage for the evening, by showing Simon and Schuster’s pre-release film clip for Sky Full of Elephants. After the clip, they reenacted chapter one’s phone call between Sidney and Charlie in a one-act play. Sidney (Nicole) was in the Oshkosh, Wisconsin location when she called Charlie (Sharon) sitting at his desk in his office at New Howard University.
Road Trip Activity
A colorful posterboard map of the of the United States was displayed on an easel. Using a blue Matchbox Toyota Prius, the route Charlie took from New Howard University in Washington, D.C. to pick up Sidney in Oshkosh, Wisconsin was traced. After leaving Oshkosh, Sidney and Charlie traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and then drove to Chicago, Illinois, where they eventually boarded a plane to Jackson, Mississippi. A plane was affixed to the map to represent their flight from Chicago to Jackson. In Mississippi, they crossed the border to the Kingdom of Alabama by car and were taken to the King and Queen’s house in Mobile.
Sky Full of Elephants Activity
Members were asked to reflect upon what the title of the book meant to them. Each member put their thoughts on a multi-colored elephant Post-It note. Some shared their thoughts with the group. All elephant notes were attached to the sky of the open highway road backdrop, creating a colorful display of a “sky full of elephants.”
Following this activity, the hostesses played a video clip of the author discussing the origins of the title of the book, Sky Full of Elephants, and what it meant to him.
People, Places and Things Activity
Tabahani members played a word search game with people, places and things mentioned in the book. La Shawn won first prize, and Tracey received the second prize. Each winner received a crossbody bag decorated with an elephant.
Powering the Machine Activity
Charlie successfully fixed the machine. In doing so, he realized that the machine was not only a transmitter, but also a receiver gaining energy from Black power and musical rhythm. Small percussion instruments were distributed to members. Instrumental drum music was played and Tabahani members enjoyed jamming to the beat with handheld instruments to “power the machine.”
The Ending
The ending of the book left some members confused and unsatisfied. The hostesses played a video clip of the author discussing his rationale for the ending and the polarity between the beginning and ending of the book for the two main characters: Charlie and Sidney.
Book Discussion and Rating
Members had a spirited discussion; the book was rated with mixed reviews.