My toddler daughter recently fell in love with the Elmer books by David McKee. I first brought home Elmer in the Snow for her to read during Christmastime. She immediately took a shine to the patchwork elephant and his adventures. Here are some of our favorite Elmer books.
Elmer (1968)
Elmer (1968) is the first book in the Elmer series by David McKee. The book introduces young readers to Elmer, the patchwork elephant. Unlike other elephants who are elephant-colored, Elmer is yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, green, black, and white. All the other elephants laugh at Elmer — because of his games and jokes — although Elmer thinks that the others are laughing at him because of he is a patchwork elephant. One day when Elmer happens upon a bush with elephant-colored berries, he tries to disguise himself as a plain, elephant-colored elephant. Will Elmer find happiness by fitting in? Or will Elmer discover that he is happiest being himself?
Elmer Again (1991)
Elmer Again (1991) is the second book from David McKee in the Elmer series. As the elephants prepare for another Elmer Day, the day on which Elmer paints himself elephant-colored while the other elephants paint themselves in magnificent colors, Elmer finds himself feeling bored. After seeing himself reflected in the water, Elmer enlists his friend Harold in another Elmer joke. The next day, the elephants awake to find a herd of patchwork elephants. Will the elephants figure out who the real Elmer is?
Elmer and Wilbur (1994)
Elmer and Wilbur (1994) introduces young readers to Wilbur, Elmer the patchwork elephant’s cousin who is a ventriloquist. Elmer loves practical jokes, and so does Wilbur. When Wilbur comes to visit one day, Elmer and the other elephants have trouble finding him. Wilbur sounds like he is all over the forest including in the pond and down a rabbit hole. When the elephants finally hear Wilbur up in a tree, Elmer must figure out a way to bring his tricky cousin back down to earth.
Elmer in the Snow (1995)
Hot and cold are relative, as Elmer the patchwork elephant shows the rest of the elephants in Elmer in the Snow (1995). When the elephants complain that the temperature is too cold, Elmer takes the herd for a walk. The elephants walk for a long time — up the mountain, past evergreen trees, and finally into the snow. After playing in the snow and on a frozen pond, Elmer plays a treat on the rest of group. The elephants then head home, happy and excited to have seen snow for the first time. But will the elephants keep complaining about the temperature back home?
Elmer Takes Off/Elmer and the Wind (1997)
In Elmer Takes Off (later republished as Elmer and the Wind) (1997), Elmer holes up in a cave with Wilbur, some other elephants, and some birds on an extremely windy day. Ever the jokester, Elmer decides to play a trick on the other elephants. With Wilbur’s help, he pretends to be swept off by the wind, making the other elephants who panic look silly. Once the laughter dies down, Elmer assures the other animals that an elephant is too heavy to worry about the wind. However, when he again ventures outside, he finds himself proven wrong and really blown away.
Elmer and the Lost Teddy (1999)
In Elmer and the Lost Teddy (1999), Elmer is just settling down for the night when he hears Baby Elephant crying. Baby Elephant has lost his teddy bear! Elmer offers his own bear for the night, and promises to find the lost teddy the next. The following morning, Elmer heads off in search of the lost toy. Wilbur, lion, tiger, and all the other animals promise to call if the lost bear shows up. As night falls, Elmer starts to worry. Will Elmer ever find the lost teddy bear for Baby Elephant?
Elmer and the Stranger/Elmer and the Kangaroo (2000)
In Elmer and the Stranger (later republished at Elmer and the Kangaroo) (2000), Elmer finds himself faced with a peculiar problem. The kangaroos are planning a jumping contest, but Kangaroo cannot jump. Kangaroo is a spectacular bouncer, but, when he thinks about jumping, he falls over. Can Elmer solve the problem and convince Kangaroo that a bounce is just a kind of jump?
Elmer’s Special Day (2009)
As the other elephants prepare for another Elmer’s Day in Elmer’s Special Day (2009), the other animals start feeling grumpy because of all the noise. When Elmer talks to his other friends, he discovers that the other animals are feeling left out. Elmer decides to make his day even more special by inviting all the animals to Elmer’s Day. But the animals have an even bigger surprise for Elmer.
Elmer and the Hippos (2010)
Elmer finds himself faced with another problem in Elmer and the Hippos (2010). The hippos have come to live with the elephants. And the elephants are not happy. The hippos inform Elmer that their river has dried up. When Elmer sets out to investigate, he finds that some rocks have fallen and are blocking the river. Can Elmer convince the elephants to help move the rocks? Will the hippos ever be able to return to their own river?
Elmer and Super El (2012)
In Elmer and Super El (2012), Elmer finds himself face to face with Super El, a small superhero elephant. Only Super El has ripped his costume and does not want the other animals to see for fear that he will no longer be super. Elmer must figure out a way to get Super El to his Aunt Zelda, who can sew Super El’s costume back up. Can Elmer sneak Super El all the way through the forest without the other animals spotting him?
What is your favorite Elmer book?
Image Credits
Cover of Elmer © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer Again © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer Again © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer and Wilber © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer and Wilber © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer in the Snow © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer in the Snow © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer Takes Off © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer Takes Off © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer in the Wind © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer in the Wind © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer and the Lost Teddy © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer and the Lost Teddy © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer and the Stranger © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer and the Stranger © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer and the Kangaroo © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer and the Kangaroo © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer’s Special Day © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer’s Special Day © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer and the Hippos © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer and the Hippos © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Elmer and Super El © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Elmer and Super El © 2014 Heather Johnson
