Children’s picture books are generally fun, engaging and interesting stories. They are a riot of colour, packed with whimsy, endless possibilities and some excellent messages behind them. The simplest images on their pages can spark the imagination. Picture books are excellent at captivating young hearts and minds with their colourful and playful art and charming tales, sparking creativity and joy from the opening of the very first page. And none more so than the iconic Elmer, the patchwork elephant who is definitely not elephant colour.
Elmer, written and illustrated by David McKee, introduces us to a rather extraordinary elephant. Unlike other elephants with their grey skin, he stands out from the herd in the most vibrant way – he is very unique as his skin is a mosaic of vibrant patches of colour. Elmer is a charming tale and celebration of individuality, the beauty that comes from being different and embracing differences.
Elmer is a charming and humorous tale told with warmth and a playful verse. While it is a tale of a very different elephant it isn’t a tale of standing out from the crowd, it is about embracing differences and where being different is something to be cherished rather than hidden.
Elmer is very different to the other elephants in the herd. His vibrant patchwork of colours makes him stand out from the others. But he is very well liked by all the other elephants and jungle animals and always makes them smile with his antics – he just loves to play practical jokes. But Elmer wants to be the same as the others as he thinks that they laugh at him and sets about making some changes, but this leaves all the other elephants quite sad.
Overall, Elmer is an iconic picture book that despite being about 36 years old is still going strong and is still as much-loved today as it was when it was first published in 1989. The colourful patchwork elephant practically dances out of the pages with the bold and lively illustrations and the playful text is packed with humour.
While the story is a joy to read and the illustrations grab the attention of young readers, Elmer stands out, not just because of his amusing antics, but because he and the other elephants embrace and cherish him being unique.
Children, and adult readers, will find themselves grinning on every page at Elmer’s antics, especially when trying to break up the herd’s otherwise uniform world. The text is lively with its rhythmic language, making it a perfect story for bedtime reading, enticing young readers and listeners to interact, laugh and engage with this uniquely patchwork friend.
Elmer is a fun tale of diversity and inclusion, highlighting that being different is something to be cherished rather than hidden, and it tackles these themes in a gentle way. In a world that sometimes seems to favour conformity, Elmer explodes from the pages in a vibrant protest – a powerful message that life’s true beauty lies in its variety.
And as the elephants embrace Elmer and have their own Elmer Day every year, why don’t you join in with Elmer Day on Saturday, 24 May 2025! You can download a FREE Elmer Day Celebration Pack – it is packed with activities to help everybody celebrate the most colourful day of the year!
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (Paperback)
For more information about Elmer, visit www.elmer.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
