![]() ![]() The three year old next door loved this book as much as I did. They much prefer his multicoloured and fun loving persona, and reassure Elmer that they love him because of his differences, and not in spite of them. When Elmer’s true colours are revealed, his friends are surprised and delighted. In this book children may begin to think of the value of friendship and family, identity and diversity, as well as being true to oneself. He experiences what it feels like to be treated like an outcast, and to be ostracised by his old friends. When he alters his appearance and no longer looks like himself, he is ignored by his friends. He is unique and has a special talent to make everyone happy. Elmer is different, but he is accepted and valued just the way he is. The character of Elmer also stars in a children’s television series.įrom the start of this first story, the message is clear. David McKee himself has produced Elmer board books, bath books, colouring books, an Elmer flap book, an Elmer hole-in-the-page book and an Elmer pop-up book. Across Great Britain, libraries and bookshops have held Elmer-themed events. Serendipitously, just as all the elephants in this story celebrate “Elmer Day” at the end of the story, this year the publishers declared 28th May 2016, to be “Elmer Day”. Elmer has now featured in 34 books by David McKee, and the series has sold nearly 5 million copies in 40 languages around the world. In this edition, the name ELMER is printed on the cover in shiny gold, reflective print. The current edition uses illustrations by the author from 1985. “Elmer the Patchwork Elephant” by David McKee was originally published in 1968, and has been in print ever since. The first book that he sold was of a story he had told at college, “Two Can Toucan”, which is also still in print.Įlmer is an absolutely delightful picture book. He has illustrated books by other authors, such as some recent “Paddington Bear” books, and those by his wife, Violet McKee, and his son, Chuck McKee. Sometimes David McKee uses the pseudonym Violet Easton. He has produced mainly children’s books and animations, including several other series. The author of Elmer, David McKee, originally comes from South Devon, in England. So every year, on the day of the parade, “if you happen to see an elephant ordinary elephant colour, you will know it must be Elmer.” Everyone in the herd was so happy to have their popular prankster back that they decided to celebrate with a special day every year, On “Elmer’s Day”, every elephant would decorate themselves with unique and colourful patterns, and Elmer must decorate himself to look. ![]() And then the weather changed so that magically Elmer’s true colours were revealed. They were overjoyed to have Elmer back in their midst again. When he did what only Elmer could have done, all the elephants became helpless with laughter too. the more he looked at the serious, silent, still standing elephants, the more he wanted to laugh. Why were they all so serious, quiet and morose? So he disguised himself, with the help of some berries, and it seemed to work! Nobody recognised him on his return, and even his friends greeted him politely, but rather distantly. Was that why they were laughing at him? So, sadly, he crept away, determined to somehow cover himself with grey, so that he would blend in with the others. Why did he look so different from all the others. “And the think that he was thinking was that he was tired of being different.” “If there was even a little smile, it was usually Elmer who started it.”īut one night Elmer began to worry. Elmer is cheerful, optimistic and sometimes very silly. His personality is also larger than life and matches his appearance. His body is a patchwork of yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, green, black and white. He is most decidedly not the same colour as the other elephants.Įlmer is a beautiful kaleidoscope of all sorts of colours. In fact there are many variations in how they look. They might be young or old, tall or short, fat or thin. Elmer the very young elephant is just that little bit different.
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